Birthday parties with a twist
Parents, businesses finding new ways to celebrate while socially distancing
KENTVILLE — A boy stands on the side of the road in rural Nova Scotia with his mom, grinning, amidst a cacophony of car horns, as he holds a sign that says, “Honk! It’s my 6th birthday!”
Parents around Atlantic Canada are trying to find special ways to celebrate their child’s birthday despite isolation orders that prevent traditional parties.
Piper Scott of Woodville, Kings County, who turned eight in March, says she felt sad at first knowing she wasn’t allowed to have a birthday party. By the end of it, she says the day was better than she had imagined.
Piper’s mom, Sarah Scott, posted on Facebook that it would be her daughter’s birthday and for people to send a message or a card. Birthday greetings flooded in from all over the world, says Piper.
Neighbours then sent a video clue to find a present.
“They had hidden a homemade present in a tree in the woods behind our house. We had to find the right tree from their video clue, which was harder than it looked,” said the birthday girl.
Another neighbour sneaked into their backyard and planted clues for a backyard hunt, while the mailbox filled up with cards from her friends, and “even old ladies I don't even know,” said Piper.
“My birthday just wasn’t one day. I got cards and things through the whole month.”
Josie Connell from Kentville will also turn eight during isolation. Her mom, Melissa, has spent a lot of time talking with her about the importance of staying home and socially isolating. Even though Josie understands, says Connell, it is still disappointing, “especially this year, where we just lost my grandfather with whom Josie shared a birthday.”
Connell also turned to Facebook and asked people to mail Josie a card so she could still feel the love and kindness from her family and friends.
Additional plans include a menu for the entire week of her birthday including her favourite meals, a sign for the lawn made by her grandmother, a sparkly birthday shirt ordered online to wear that day, FaceTime dates with friends and family members, and waking up to a decorated bedroom door.
NEW OPTIONS
Many local businesses across Atlantic Canada are responding to the need for virtual birthday parties and coming up with alternatives for children.
For kids, their birthday means the world to them and they want to be celebrated and share it with their friends, said Troy Stuckless of Jelly Bean Entertainment in St. John’s, N.L. Kids are much more comfortable with technology and celebrating it virtually can be just as good as in-person if done right.
“Besides, kids need to view this time positively for their mental health,” adds Stuckless.
Stuckless says Jelly Bean Entertainment (jellybeanentertainment.ca) is offering virtual reptile shows using a video call application, where he takes the animals out and teaches the kids some cool facts about the animals. They can also ask questions in realtime. Of course, he says, the questions get silly at times with kids.
Video birthday parties work well, says Jamie McCabe of The Clay Café Avalon in St. John’s, N.L. (claycafeavalon.ca), whose business has created art-to-go kits people can virtually do together. McCabe says one woman ordered 19 paint kits and dropped them off to her child’s friends with a cupcake to eat after they all sang happy birthday. Everyone will paint together on Zoom.
Get Messy NL in Paradise (facebook.com/getmessynl), is doing something similar for birthday parties. They provide all the supplies, parents get them via contactless curbside pick up and drop them to guests. The company will also set up a live Zoom link and walk participants through the steps of the chosen activity, said Joanne Newman.
Party options, says Newman, include canvas, slime, string art, plaster and air-dry pets. They also offer an option for people outside the area that cannot pick up the supplies: Get Messy NL provides a materials list for parents to pick up on their own and the team leads the activity.
For those hosting virtual birthday parties in P.E.I., check out Donna MacLeod’s Happy Potter in Stratford (happypotter.ca). Normally a drop-in paint your own pottery studio, the business is now offering pottery-to-go kits using no-fire paints, so the finished products do not need to be returned to the studio for firing in the kiln, said MacLeod.
From there, MacLeod says parents can set up a video conference on their own, or the Happy Potter can facilitate. Because participants do not need to be guided through this activity, they can do it on their own time.
Stradford P.E.I.’s East Coast Art Party (eastcoastartparty.com) are already experts in virtual parties, hosting free daily online art parties during isolation.
“We actually had the idea to try to do virtual art parties a long time ago in order to reach potential customers that weren't able to do them in our studio or join us physically, so we quickly learned how to put on a virtual live class where everyone tunes in at a certain time,” said coowner Len Currie.
While East Coast Art Party does sell supplies on its website, it's not necessary to purchase from them, although it does assist them during this low revenue time, said Currie.
“We guide you step by step through the whole painting giving tips, telling jokes, doing trivia, and the best part is that we have the settings so that you can pause, rewind, fast forward, etc., so you don’t feel rushed if you’re behind,” he added.
A virtual party like this, says Currie, is pretty much the same as having a party — except the birthday boy or girl gets to keep all the cake.
“Obviously, it doesn't replace an in-person party, but it's certainly something fun to do for a few hours. It is a unique experience and a positive one, something that everyone wants on their birthday,” he said.
TIPS FROM EXPERTS
Plan early. If requesting mailed cards, or if you need to pick up and deliver supplies, it takes time for the business to get things together.
Celebrate just as hard at home as you would anywhere else. Have the kids create their own decorations and really go big.
Have virtual dance parties, colouring contests, trivia, or even watch the same movies together while on video chat.
These ideas do not just have to be used for a birthday party, they can be used as a way for friends to connect and hang out at any time.
Go with the flow. It may end up turning out to be the best birthday yet.
The current situation is bringing out the creativity in everyone, and there is nothing saying that these party ideas are just for kids.