Birthday celebrations mean different things to different families. They can range anywhere from a quiet night at home with family, to elaborate parties with loads of guests. For some people, the idea of making and decorating a cake fills them with dread. While for others, organising their children’s parties is one of the most fun parts of being a parent!
Wherever you fall on the birthday celebration spectrum, a Birthday Adventure can be a fantastic way to make your child’s birthday extra special. And best of all, it’s free!
Read on for fun examples and 5 easy steps to create your own memorable adventure.
I discovered the idea of Birthday Adventures when our eldest was six. At the time, she wanted to be a Police Officer when she grew up, so we decided to host a ‘Detective’ themed birthday party for her and a few friends. A couple of weeks before the party I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome if our daughter could see inside an actual Police Station’. Not knowing whether this was even possible, I called our local Station. And so began our first Birthday Adventure…
Police Station Adventure
When I called, I explained to the Receptionist that it was our daughter’s sixth birthday, her interest in the Police, and that she was having a ‘Detective’ party in a few weeks. Thankfully, the Station agreed to let us visit, and we set up a time to take our daughter and a friend along.
I didn’t know what to expect but the Police Officers were absolutely fantastic. They all went to so much effort to make the visit special. The kids had a tour of the Police Station; had their fingerprints taken on a card they were able to keep as a momento; got to sit in a police car; and tried on a bullet proof vest.
Our daughter even got to put handcuffs on me! She had an amazing time (though looked slightly worried when the Detective pretended he couldn’t find the key for the handcuffs). When we got home, our daughter spent the rest of the afternoon ‘interviewing’ everyone in the house in her DIY Detective outfit.
The visit to the Police Station was such a great experience, that our family’s love of Birthday Adventures was born.
Our children are currently thirteen and nine and we’ve had some great Birthday Adventures over the years so far. They really are easy to organise and, did I mention, they’re FREE! All it takes is a little planning and I’ll walk you through the steps below.
Before we get to the steps, here are a few more examples of birthday adventures we’ve been on with our children. I hope they’ll inspire you to organise one (or more) for your own family.
Dinosaur Adventure
The subject of dinosaurs was a favourite for both our children. So for this Birthday Adventure, we headed to a local museum that has lots of fossils and dinosaur bones. There happened to be a traveling dinosaur exhibit around the time of our son’s birthday. So we lined up our visit on a date that coincided. The timing of the traveling exhibit was pure luck, and having lots of dinosaurs to look at was great. However, if the exhibit hadn’t been on, our son would have been just as happy seeing all the usual fossils and dinosaur bones at the museum. And entry to the museum was free!
Artist Adventure
When our daughter turned ten, we held a DIY ‘Art Party’. Kind of like a ‘paint and sip’ party but with child appropriate beverages. And instead of hiring a professional artist, my Hubby went through the painting process with the kids himself. One great option for any art related birthday would be to visit a local art gallery, or an actual artist.
I’d heard about an inspiring young indigenous artist from a friend at work. I sent the artist an email to see if we could possibly see his studio. At the time, he was working on a huge commission piece. And by huge, I mean he was actually painting the entire outside of a building with his artwork, and he invited us to come see him in action.
The children got see an artist at work and learn about indigenous art. They also enjoyed learning about the unexpected tools he used to create the dot paintings. Such as cotton buds and the handle end of a paintbrush. The artist answered any questions the kids had including, how did he paint such detailed artworks onto such a huge canvas? He used a projector to transfer the outline of his artwork onto the outside of the building, in case you’re wondering.
This was another free memorable birthday experience!
When the kids got home, they spent hours creating their own artworks inspired by what they had seen.
Diggers and Dumpers Adventure
When our son was three, he was in a ‘diggers and dumpers’ phase. I called a small quarry and arranged to visit. Again, I had no idea whether they would allow visitors, but after a chat and agreeing to follow safety instructions, we were in. This outing did involve a 45 minute drive, but that just added to the ‘adventure’. Our kids were so excited to see the big machines in action, especially the huge ‘rock breaker’. The birthday boy even got to sit on a digger and pretend to drive it.
Cupcake Adventure
One of our favourite Birthday Adventures was a visit to a baker who specialised in cake decorating. I mentioned to the baker we were having some friends over for a cupcake decorating party the following weekend to celebrate our daughter’s birthday.
We arranged a date and time to visit and were hoping just to get a general glimpse into how she sets up the bakery for the day. Instead, when we arrived the baker had prepared a dozen cupcakes. She then spent the next 45 minutes or so showing our daughter different piping techniques to create different effects when decorating cupcakes.
Not only was it free to visit the baker but as an unexpected bonus, our daughter was given the cupcakes to take home that had been decorated!
As you can see, we love a good Birthday Adventure in our family. We don’t organise one for every birthday but whenever we do, it’s always a big hit. Yes, you may need to drive or bus somewhere, but if you keep it local the travel cost will be minimal and the memories well worth it.
With a little forward planning, you can organise a memorable adventure for your own family’s birthdays, or any time of year!
How to organise a Birthday Adventure in 5 easy steps
1. Brainstorm ideas
A few weeks before your child’s birthday, think about their current interests (or ask them). If you’ll be hosting a birthday party, it’s fun to link the adventure to the party theme (eg Detective party = Police Station visit, Art party = visit to local art gallery or artist’s studio). Please note, an actual birthday party is definitely not required! A simple cake and an adventure with your family is a lovely way to celebrate your child.
2. Research (ie Google)
Based on the interests discovered in Step 1, Google options for places to visit in your local area.
3. Call or email to request a visit
Don’t be intimidated. For me, calling was the hardest part as each time I was worried they’d say no. But don’t worry, if they say no, then they say no. (I did try to contact a Fire Station for an adventure once and left a couple of voice messages but I never heard back. No worries. They were probably busy doing their actual job!) Every other adventure I’ve called about has gone ahead, so just try somewhere different if you get a no.
When you do speak to someone, mention it’s your child’s birthday and what age they’ll be turning. As well as their interest in the subject. We’ve found people are usually very happy to share something they’re passionate about, especially with children. There’s just something about a child’s birthday that often makes people want to help make it special.
Bonus tip: It’s lovely for your child to have someone to share the experience with. Check if it’s ok to bring a sibling or a friend along. Usually the fewer the kids attending the greater the chance you’ll get a ‘yes’.
4. Lock it in
Follow up with an email to confirm date and time.
5. Go on the Birthday Adventure!
You may want to tell your child in advance to build anticipation, or keep it a surprise for the day. Encourage your child to ask questions. Maybe come up with some questions in advance.
Bonus Steps
Take photos
Take photos (if allowed) for your family to remember the day.
Say thanks
It may seem old fashioned, but have your child write a Thank You note and send, or hand deliver, after the day. Writing a note is a great exercise in gratitude for your child. The acknowledgement of the time and effort of the host is also appreciated.
So there you have it!
Birthday Adventures are a great way to celebrate your child’s birthday and create a memorable experience without spending a lot of money.
Family Creative Challenge
Make a list of 3 to 5 possible places you could contact for a Birthday Adventure based on your child’s current interests (eg Police Station, farm, museum, animal shelter, even a playground your child has never been to before. Anywhere sounds more exciting when it’s called an ‘adventure’).
Bonus challenge: Plan a ‘Birthday Adventure’ for your child’s next birthday!
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