Birthday Traditions for Tweens and Teenagers – make your tween / teenager’s birthday even more special with these simple birthday traditions!
Elaborately planned, expensive birthday parties aren’t necessary to create special memories. For our family it’s all about the traditions! We recently started this tradition with our oldest daughter who turned 13 and it was such a hit I had to share.
It’s always a little harder to find fun ways to celebrate birthdays as kids get older, but this was perfect for our oldest!
Supplies
- Cash
- Small elastics
- Balloons
- White thread
- Tape
Instructions
Roll up small bills (we used $1 bills) and secured them with small elastics. Slip the rolled up bills inside balloons, then blow them up and tie shut. We did 13 balloons since my oldest turned 13. I think one dollar for every year they are in age is fun and affordable.
Next, tie a piece of thread around the tied end of the balloon. Use a piece of tape to hang the balloon from the string wherever you’d like. Could be in your child’s bedroom doorway, above the dining room table, etc. We hung ours in the front entry and when my daughter got home after school they were there to greet her when she walked in the door. It was a fun surprise!
Before presents and cake we all sat down in the living room and had each family member shared one thing they love about the birthday girl. As each family member shared something, she got to pop one of the balloons and SURPRISE – what she thought were just decorations turned, out to be a little more exciting!
Meaningful Birthday Traditions for Older Kids
Looking for a few more ideas? Here are 5 special traditions that older kids will love.
1. Do an annual birthday interview – some fun questions to ask here.
2. Put together a birthday slideshow of photos of your child from birth to their current age and watch it as a family.
3. Start a mother/child journal to stay connected, which is especially important during these teen years. I love the idea of this Just Between us Journal and plan to get one soon to share with my daughter.
4. Write a letter to your child each year on their birthday. Share the letter with them now or save them and give them all as a gift the year they graduate.
5. Reserve a special plate that is only brought out on birthdays for the birthday boy/girl to eat off of all day. My kids love this. You can DIY your own or buy one. Either way, it’s something simple to make your kids feels extra special on their big day.
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LOVE this! My daughter will be 13 on her next birthday and I want to have a party for her she will never forget! Traditionally, my family ends ‘family’ parties at 13, so going all out for her is a definite plan for me. This post is the first of (hopefully) many ideas to contribute to her special day! Thanks!
My daughter is turning 12 this year. After her 9th bday (which we did ballerina themed cause she’s a dancer) she didn’t want anymore parties. But idk if i should make her one this year or wait till her 13th. I want it to be a surprise. She’s growing up so fast. And also going into jr high this year in August. What do you think? So we’ll be celebrating 2 things. But with her friends. Since they’re all going into jr high. Not so much family. She won’t be having a traditional 15th (quinceñera). But a sweet 16! What do you think? Thanks in advanced.
Such a sweet idea! I also have a daughter turning 13 this year so looking for some fun ideas. With my son, I started writing birthday messages on his bathroom mirror for his teen year birthdays so it was the first thing he saw in the morning even when he wasn’t quite awake yet for his birthday greeting 🙂
Our birthday tradition is to allow the birthday girl to choose what we are having for dinner. I love the surprise balloon idea and will be adding this as a new tradition. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
As my boys got older maybe like 8 and up, I did not do birthday parties. Instead I would have them choose where they wanted to go to dinner( some times they just wanted me to cook a certain meal) and a special activity they wanted to do. Depending on the activity and price they were allowed to invite one or two friends to enjoy the dinner and activity. I feel that it meant more to them being able to spend quality time with the people that were truly their friends rather then receiving meaningless gifts from people they invited to just invite
I sneak into her room when she is sleeping and throw confetti all over her room and fill it with balloons. She loves it, even still at 15. We joke about how we still find confetti months later but that’s always a sweet reminder. I also use a dry erase marker and write a special message on the bathroom mirror.
I blow up 10 balloons for each yer of birth and put outside their bedroom so they wake up to them. Then they float around for a few days before we have fun popping them . I am up to 160 and 180 balloons. This was much easier before my husband passed away. Now I have blow them all myself.