If your child’s birthday is coming up and you’d like to keep the guest list small or the group spread out a little more than usual, you can still throw a party they’ll talk about for years. Whether it’s because you’re mixing in-person and virtual guests, keeping numbers down, or just love the idea of a spaced-out garden celebration, a little planning goes a long way.
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No pressure, but your child’s birthday is their favourite day of the entire year. It’s an opportunity to make them feel extra special and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Keeping some distance between guests doesn’t mean the fun has to be scaled back — with a bit of careful planning, the kids will still have a brilliant time.
If your child wants all their friends involved, a virtual party is a great way to include everyone. If they’re happy with just a handful of pals in person, it’s time to start planning a spaced-out celebration instead.
It’s worth checking in with the other parents too, so they know what to expect. A quick WhatsApp group is a handy way to share your plans and see what everyone’s comfortable with.
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How to Throw a Virtual Party
Zoom, Skype or a similar video call is a great way to include a big group of friends, and you’ll likely get maximum attendance if you schedule it well in advance. You could even record the call — it’ll be a lovely, unique keepsake to look back on in years to come.
Ask the birthday boy or girl to pick a theme and invite everyone to dress up for the call. It could be their favourite movie, TV show or book, or something simpler like a colour everyone wears.
No party, even a virtual one, is complete without invitations. Set your child the task of designing one to share the theme — a drawing, a comic, a painting, a secret coded message, whatever they can come up with! Email or message it to all the guests along with the date, time and log-in details.
The party may be virtual, but the treats can still be real. Give each child a party bag — it may work best to drop it round before the call rather than hand it over afterwards.
Do a birthday drive-by and drop off some goodies for each virtual guest to enjoy during the call. Along with a few edible treats, add some age-appropriate activities: colouring supplies, a mini tub of playdough, charades cards, quiz questions, a bingo sheet or a treasure hunt sheet. Turn them into something to do together on the call — a game of virtual charades, or a race to build something with LEGO or playdough are both great options.
Above all, make sure there’s time for a rousing rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ before your call time runs out — free video call plans often come with a time limit, so it’s worth checking in advance.
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What About a Party in the Garden?
A garden party is a lovely option, especially if you’d rather keep everyone outdoors. If you’re worried about the weather, a gazebo will give you peace of mind that rain won’t stop play.
If you’d like to keep guests a little more spread out, try a fun way to mark everyone’s own space. On concrete, the children could chalk their own circle a couple of metres apart; on grass, give each child a hula hoop they can’t step outside of. Then play musical statues, ‘Simon Says’ or charades, and award a prize for each game’s winner — plus a bonus prize for anyone who stayed inside their own space the whole time.
If your child is a film fanatic, why not set up an outdoor cinema? Hire or borrow a projector and create a screen by pegging a white sheet to the washing line or fence. Ask the kids to bring their own cushions and set them up on picnic blankets spaced a couple of metres apart. Put together a goodie bag for each child — popcorn in individual sealed bags and a drink go down a treat.
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What Else to Consider
Collection and Drop Off
Staggering drop-off and collection times slightly can help avoid a crowd of adults gathering in your hallway. If you’ve got a side gate, directing guests through there rather than the front door can help too.
Party Times
Along with keeping the guest list small (especially for younger children), a short and sweet party often works best.
If catering for a big group feels like a lot, consider a party slot like mid-morning or mid-afternoon so you can skip providing a full meal.
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Party Games and Activities
Along with the outdoor cinema and space-marking games above, there are plenty more activities that work well with a bit of extra room between guests:
- Races
- Obstacle courses and Sports Day games
- Bingo
- Disco
- Traditional party games (musical statues, Simon Says, charades, hide and seek, and so on)
- An art station where each child takes their paints or colours home
- Cupcake decorating with an individual bowl of sprinkles and sweets for each child
Party Food
If you’re serving food, skip the shared bowls of crisps or self-serve spreads. Take orders in advance and serve individual plates, or put together a plate with a variety of options for each child.
Some families prefer their children to bring their own treats along, so it’s worth checking what everyone’s comfortable with beforehand.
Using the Bathroom
Children will likely need the bathroom at some point during the party, so make sure you’re stocked up with soap and paper towels for hand drying.
Birthday Cake
Birthdays and cake go hand in hand! Rather than one shared cake everyone digs into straight from the candles, you could keep the cake for family and provide cupcakes for guests, or pop a candle in a cupcake for your child to blow out before slicing the main cake to share.
What About Presents?
Parties and presents go hand in hand, and there’s little that can stop a birthday child from tearing into their gifts.
If you’d rather wait, keep the presents until guests have left and give them a quick wipe down before your child opens them, with a hand wash afterwards.
Older children often love a gift card so they can choose their own present — a handy suggestion if anyone asks for gift ideas.
Making Memories
It might feel like there’s a lot to think about, but a little planning goes a long way — your child and their friends are set for a wonderful day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a social distancing party?
It’s a birthday or celebration planned with a bit of extra space between guests — whether that’s a smaller guest list, spaced-out seating in the garden, or a mix of in-person and virtual friends joining in.
How do I throw a virtual birthday party for kids?
Set up a video call with friends and family, pick a fun dress-up theme, send a homemade invite with the log-in details, and drop off party bags beforehand so everyone has treats and activities to enjoy together on the call.
What games work well for a spaced-out garden party?
Musical statues, Simon Says, charades, bingo, races and obstacle courses all work brilliantly, especially when you give each child their own marked space using chalk circles or a hula hoop.
How do I handle food and cake at a party like this?
Serve individual plates rather than shareable bowls, take orders in advance if you can, and consider cupcakes for guests alongside a shared cake for the birthday child to blow out the candle on.
Looking for More Party Inspiration?
If this celebration style suits your family, save this article for when the next birthday rolls around, and browse our other party guides for more themes, games and ideas to make the day special.
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