All over the United States, and I'm sure in other nations too, kids are continuing to grow, develop and look forward to their birthday celebration. The problem has become how to maintain this form of normalcy when covid must be considered? So I started thinking about how to make a shelter-in-place birthday party still take place and do it safely?
How do you successfully remove the social aspect from the idea of a birthday party when the very word "party" screams social contact? Due to the seriousness of covid, many usual social gathering places for kids, like daycare and schools, are either restricted access or changed from the classroom to online learning, with kid's parents, lucky enough to have a job, being asked to work at home.
Normally party planning concerns are limited to choosing a nice location, if not at home, putting together a guest list, and planning some social activities to keep everyone smiling while your little superhero or princess enjoys their special day. For me, covid has changed all of that. With all the uncertainty in most family's economic situation, in a lot of cases mixed with the stress of many family members confined in close quarters, it could be awful tricky to pull off a birthday party under the current covid living conditions at home or a separate location.
The good news is that under the CDC guidelines, a party/celebration can still be enjoyed if you follow the CDC guidelines. So if at home or a separate location for a party is no problem start by reducing your party group to as few people as possible, something that might be impossible in my family given all of the multi-age range family members. The CDC does say that provided the weather is on your side, planning your party for the outdoors offers a much lower risk of spreading coronavirus or even the common cold, especially when wearing a mask is insisted upon.
If the weather is not on your side, and you end up partying inside, make sure there is a window open, have your guest wear a mask, and make it easy for them to wash their hands frequently. Encourage some social distancing six-feet apart would be great, yoga pads or spaces marked on the floor or kid's chairs set apart from each other will work for kids. Keep in mind that under covid circumstances it would be okay to suggest your guest bring their own food and drink and whether they provide their own snacks, or even if you do, make plans to keep all common surfaces clean even with the party in progress.
If you can buy everyone a laptop computer you can do a Zoom party---just kidding! Zoom would be an excellent way to social-distance-gather but only if it's practical for you, and with Zoom, masks would be optional. The idea is to keep your little superhero's special-day special and in spite of these depressing covid times, a day to remember so that their future self will look back and say I survived the covid times with memories of a really great birthday party.
There's one more way you can add to your child's special day, there is nothing a little superhero love more than hearing from their favorite superhero on their special day so don't be afraid to contact the Avengers or maybe someone with your child's favorite superhero or princess costume. Have them give your child a video call for a little superhero to superhero bonding. Covid may get in the way of a birthday celebration, but thanks to the CDC and with a little careful planning on your part the virus doesn't get to stop the birthday celebration.
Keep in mind also that my party suggestions are usually based on a healthy person and a healthy situation. If your little superhero suffers from any underlying health problems or doctor's limitations covid concerns could, and actually should indeed win when it comes to your party planning. A medical degree is not part of my writer's kit so whatever your party celebrating plan, do it safely.
