I’ll get this out of the way. . . I’m a summer baby. In fact, my birthday was last week (thank you, thank you). As you get older, summer birthday’s can be the absolute best, but it’s not so easy when you’re younger. School is out, friends and family are on vacation, and there’s so much going on sometimes you feel a little looked over. I think for me the biggest bummer was not being in school. Having that special day, bringing cookies and other treats to share with friends is a big part of your social network when you’re a kid. But, like with Holiday babies (who I truly feel for), there are a lot of ways to use this to your advantage. Let’s take a look at some of the ways to use the break to your advantage when planning a party for your summer solstice baby.

Celebrate On The Actual Day

This is a big one, probably the biggest one when managing the summer birthday. Once your kids get to a certain age they’ll start to recognize their birthday and it’s hard to move the date so easily. You don’t have to take the day off or even try and manage a mid-week party (it’s a tough feat!) just making sure you acknowledge that the day is their special day. Start early in the day, maybe with a special breakfast or having some balloons ready to go in the morning. Early acknowledgment is what can make all the difference.

Bend The Rules a Little

Sure, maybe their friends can’t make it out on a weekday but use the summer break to your advantage! Maybe they get to stay up a little later because there’s no school, or maybe a little extra television time. Something that they wouldn’t be able to do on a school night normally. It’s a fun way to make the day even a little more special and it’s something only summer kids get to do!

Those Summer Nights (And Days!)

It’s not just the days off from school that you can use to your advantage, the summer is a great time to spend outdoors and planning a party that’s a little unusual. One of the most fun things to do in the summer is attending a movie in the park or at the beach, but, depending on what kind of space you have available, you can bring that to you! A backyard movie party is a perfect way to celebrate a birthday, and not as expensive as you might think. Projectors are pretty reasonable and you can use them for more than just the party! Then just hang up a sheet, pop some popcorn, throw some blankets on the ground and enjoy a movie party under the stars.

And of course, the party doesn’t need to be on your child’s exact birthday. There’s a lot of things you can do during the summer that you can’t do during the other seasons. Maybe a beach day, if you live by an ocean or lake. Or a hiking trip if your kids are more outdoorsy. Bring along some water balloons and make it a lowkey adventure. Use the sunshine to your advantage and lean into the joy of the summer birthday!