Birthdays are such an exciting day for kids! I absolutely love celebrating birthdays with my self-contained students. And as a bonus, these special days happen to be the perfect opportunity for practicing social skills and reinforcing academics! Find out more about what I do to make birthdays in the classroom special for my students. (And remember, some students might not celebrate birthdays. Be sure to check in with families just in case.)
(There is a free download at the end of this blog post, make sure to scroll to the end!)
Classroom Schedule
It is so important to maintain a consistent, daily schedule for our special education students. A clear daily routine helps reduce anxiety and curb behaviors, because students know what to expect during the day. So even on special days like birthdays, I stick to our normal routines. Instead, I just spice up our schedule a bit! Adding a “party” or “special activity” piece to students’ visual schedules helps kids to anticipate any changes.
Decorating the Classroom
One way that I make the birthday kid feel special is by decorating their desk! A simple birthday banner or some streamers are cute and unobtrusive. I also display a personalized birthday message on the whiteboard for everyone to see when they enter the room!
Morning Meeting
Sometimes, other students can get jealous of the attention the birthday kid is getting. In order to combat those feelings, I make sure everyone gets a chance to talk about their birthday. During our morning meeting, we go over all of the birthdays in the classroom, and look at the calendar to see when they are coming.
Then, for our question of the day I ask the students what they would like to do on their birthday. That way, every student gets to feel special and talk about their own birthday.
Group Games
During our large group activity time we play a party game, such as birthday bingo. (affiliate link) This add to the fun atmosphere of the day. Playing games is a fun way to work on social skills, like taking turns and losing/winning gracefully. A picture bingo game like this one also helps students work and visual discrimination and develop vocabulary!
Birthday Writing Activity
My favorite thing to do for birthdays in the classroom is to make a special book for the birthday kid! During our writing time, I help each student write a note to their classmate wishing them a happy birthday. My paraprofessionals and I each write a special note as well. While the others are writing, the birthday kid gets to draw a special picture for the cover of their book. Then, I staple everything together so the birthday kid has a special little book full of notes from school to take home.
Sharing a Treat
Some kids bring treats in for their birthday, others don’t. That’s okay! I personally love to make sure every kids has a treat on their special day. Did you know that it is super easy to whip up a cake or cupcakes on short notice? One cake mix plus one can of soda is all you need! It’s easy to keep these ingredients, plus a tub of frosting, in the classroom to make birthdays festive. Plus, your class gets a chance to work on cooking skills, which is always a favorite activity!
Routines are key!
Again, it is so important to remember that our self-contained students need consistency and routine. But, incorporating a few fun activities into your regular schedule can help you make birthdays in the classroom a special day for all of your students!
How do you celebrate birthdays in the classroom with your kiddos? I’d love to hear your ideas and traditions!
FREE DOWNLOAD
Another fun birthday idea- do a skill based craft based on student interests! Try this pizza visual craft for FREE here!
Love the ideas for celebrating birthdays in the self-contained classroom! As a special education teacher, I find it so important to make every day special for my students, and birthdays are no exception. It’s great to see strategies that are tailored to the needs of special education students. Thank you for sharing!
I love hearing that you celebrate, too! Thanks for your reply! 🙂