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Writer's pictureGillian Pretious

Planning a celebration whilst in lockdown?

Updated: Apr 10, 2020

We have felt so sad that we haven't been able to create some of our special sleepovers for our fab birthday bookings, luckily most have chosen to postpone their parties so we will still get to help them celebrate at some point!


In the meantime though we have pulled together some ideas to help you celebrate at home in this lockdown period to help keep you all safe and sound. Some of these ideas can apply to all ages as well, so wether young or old I'm sure there is something out of our 20 ideas to suit you!


1) Cinema in the back garden!

  • Make some cinema tickets

  • Set up a projector or take the TV out in the garden

  • Make up snack boxes with popcorn / hot dogs / sweets

  • If you have a blow up pool, why not change it into a big sofa, cover it with throws and add some cushions or put lots of big cushions/chairs out

  • Choose a film which you can sing along to ie The Greatest Showman, Grease etc

  • Go crazy with fairy lights, lanterns and artificial candles to make it extra cosy

  • Lift up a fence panel invite the neighbours to watch (as long as they stay in their own garden of course 2 metres away!!)

 

2) Family campout!

  • Pitch up a tent in your garden and sleep out in the garden for the night!

  • Toast marshmallows and drink hot chocolate

  • Have a BBQ

  • Tell stories (not to scary!)

  • Play games – apple bobbing, bobbing doughnuts

  • Hang fairy lights and lanterns everywhere!

  • Add a balloon garland or bunting to the inside/outside of the tent


 

3) Go virtual

  • Gather family and friends via Zoom, House Party or FaceTime

  • Play games, bingo, quiz, how about a bit off karaoke using a hairbrush instead!

 

4) Disco time!

We love a disco night in our house, we actually do not need a special occasion for this, as we love a good dance around at anytime of the week!

  • Set-up a DJ area, make some fake DJ decs up

  • Move the furniture to create a dance floor

  • Dig out any disco lights you may have hiding and dim the lights

  • Set up a cocktail / mocktail bar

  • Use glow sticks

  • Have a dance off

  • Dig out some old party tunes - Superman, The Birdie Song

  • Create a family dance, go TicTok style

  • Go virtual include the whole family and friends

  • Ask for everyone to put in song requests beforehand and do some shout-outs

  • Dance the night away!

 

5) Get the community involved

  • Pop notes through your neighbours door inviting them out on the street at a certain time and everyone to cheer / sing happy birthday (social distancing of course!)

  • Go social asking your family and friends to wish your special person well on their special day.

 

6) Family sleepover in the lounge!

  • Purchase our take-away family sleepover pack which includes: Personalised sleep mask, personalised pillow cases, personalised birthday cake topper, personalised birthday banner, pack of games plus any of our optional extras which you may want to purchase matching t-shirts, cushions, slippers etc. Please contact us if you would like to know more!

  • Use the sofa cushions, bring down a mattress and duvets

  • Make giant den out of bed sheets across the ceiling

  • Add fairy lights, lanterns and fake candles

  • Watch a film with lots of pop-corn and goodies

 

7) Online Escape room

Check out this company – The Panic Room here, where you can play online as a group at home or virtually with friends and family.

 

8) Afternoon tea party!

  • Dig out your best crockery, tea pot and silver cutlery

  • Use a tiered cake stand

  • Make some sandwich fingers with delicious fillings (don't for get to cut off the crusts!) check out these delicious fillings here

  • Make or buy some luxurious cakes, biscuits and scones (don't forget the cream and jam) here

  • Dig out a selection off different teas, ie English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Peppermint

  • Add some bunting and a chintzy table cloth

  • Play some background jazz music

  • Get out the champagne glasses and have some fizz!

 

9) Pamper party

I have quite often set-up an afternoon of pampering for myself and my 2 daughters, but why not get everyone involved! We make our own beauty treatments, play some relaxing music, chat and chill out!

  • Make some home made face mask, hair packs, moisturiser creams, take a look at these home made recipes here

  • Set up a couple of bowls of warm water on the floor with some nice foot soak or bubble bath in

  • Smaller bowls for soaking your hands/fingernails

  • Have cotton wool, nail files, nail varnish all ready out

  • Cut some cucumber up for the eyes or use tea bags

  • Play some relaxing 'spa' music

  • Dim the lights and light candles and some incense sticks

  • Soak feet in foot bowls, add face mask on, soak hand in warm water chill and relax

 

10) Beach party (back garden style!)

  • Create a beach area using play sand, dig out the buckets and spades

  • Add some blow up palm tree's and flamingo's

  • Mix up some cocktail or mocktails, or go all out and create a Tikki bar!

  • Add some Hawaiian music

  • Pop up a paddling pool if you have one

  • Make up a volleyball net in the garden or table tennis on the dining room table

 

11) Create a McDonald's drive through party

Take a look at LadBaby's amazing McDonald's drive through that they set-up for their little son's birthday here, You can use the simulator yourself here

Here is what they done:

  • Add some tracks to the floor using tape

  • Make up your own chip and burger boxes and add the famous yellow arches

  • Add in a cute small toy

  • If you have a toy car (an added bonus!) use this so they can drive up to the TV and play the simulator made by LadBaby here

 

12) Virtual birthday visit from an online entertainer

Book a virtual online entertainer like Bonkerz Entainment have a princess or a superhero call your child for a 15 minute on screen chat this will really make their day!

 

13) Cook!

  • Go all out and create a feast of food

  • Make your own pizza party

  • Make and decorate a cake

  • or cheat and order a take-away!

  • If it is a parents birthday or anniversary why not let the children be the waiters/waitresses (or even better if they are old enough let them cook you dinner!), they can make up a menu and you can light some candles and you can have a romantic meal!

 

14) Fashion show in mum & dads clothes!

  • Let the kids have some fun dressing up in mum's high heals and dad's business or work gear

  • Take it into turns to walk the red carpet

  • Create a fun photoshoot

  • Let the kids do your make-up!

 

15) Garden games / assault course

Most kid's may end up missing out on their summer sports at school this year so why not create your own as part of your celebrations!

  • Create a leaders board using some A3 paper

  • Set-up some traditional sports day races - egg and spoons race, sack race, running race and a three-legged race!

  • Create an obstacle race - look for household objects that can be used to jump over or crawl under, balance something on their head like a small bean bag or cushion.

  • Have a BBQ with some healthy snack

  • Have a rewards ceremony, make a trophy or medals on ribbon for the winners!


 

16) Handwritten notes/banner virtually

  • Ask friends and family to write a handwritten message and send via whats app or social media

  • Or ask them to all write a banner between them, ie one write 'HAPPY' another writes '10th' and another 'BIRTHDAY' big on A4 sheet of paper and hold up on the screen in gallery view on ZOOM or House Party.

 

17) Virtual trip

  • Make a spaceship from cardboard boxes and into space, go onto YouTube and zoom off into your very own galaxy here

  • Go on a virtual roller coaster, pop your little one in a washing basket or box and follow the roller coast round moving them up and down with the screen here

  • Go on a virtual trip around a zoo, take a look at Chester Zoo's virtual tours here

 

18) Be Cuckoo's birthday in a bag!

Checkout our birthday in a bag! It includes a personalised birthday banner, personalised cake topper, confetti, birthday cake recipe cards and a pack of games to play. Please contact us for more information!

 

19) Festival time!

  • Create your own festival

  • Divide up areas of your garden/home chill out area, main stage, DJ area, a cool picnic area

  • Use glow sticks

  • Pop-up a teepee or tent if you have one

  • Put signs up around the garden, dividing up areas, chill out area, main stage, ‘Quarantine 2020 Festival’

  • Hang fairy lights, lanterns and use fake candles.

  • Play some festival tunes!

 

20) Bake a cake party

  • Either make a cake as family and decorate it altogether

  • Or why not gather the family/friends virtually and ask them all to make a mug cake on screen together, pop a candle in the top and all sing happy birthday together. Mug cakes take a few minutes in the microwave, here is a fab recipe here from the BBC Good food website



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