There are times when a birthday party is just not the "right" way to celebrate. If the family has just moved and has not had time to make new friends yet, or if the child is recovering from an illness are two examples. Yet, as a parent, you want to make your child's day special! What do you do?

The best way to make the day special is to spend it with your child, letting them know that your time is reserved just for them! A special family outing based on the child's interests is always a winning way to celebrate. Let the birthday girl or boy select a favorite place for the family to go. It could be a local park, a zoo, or a museum. Take a picnic lunch of special goodies, his/her favorite foods to eat and spend several hours just being together as a family.

Sometimes just being with one parent can be a special celebration. It wasn't my birthday, but I remember going fishing with my Dad. We didn't often get to spend time together, so I enjoyed having him all to myself. We would take a small boat out on a nearby river. I never was very good at catching fish, but it was fun trying. Dad would then clean the fish and cook it over an open campfire and we would eat together.

For boys, spending time with Dad in "manly" activities is special. Go to a ball game, a car show or race. Go bowling, play minature golf, visit batting cages. Buy tickets to a skateboard arena, either to use it or watch others. Camping out, even in the back yard, can be special. If you have daughters who are tomboys, they will enjoy these actvities, too.

For girls a "girls' day out" can be a great birthday celebration. Depending on the age of the birthday girl, Mother and daughter could go get a shampoo and/or haircut, have their nails and toes done and get a free make-up session at a local department store. If money is tight, Mom can do these things at home Girls of all ages would enjoy wearing Mom's clothes, shoes, having their hair fixed a special way and putting on make-up and nail polish.

Learning something new can make a great celebration. Take your child to a craft store where they teach lessons on various projects. Some hardware stores and home centers offer classes on simple woodworking projects like birdhouses. Many art centers offer short classes in clay, painting, dance, etc.

Getting a pet can be a wonderful present. Use the day to go to the local humane society or shelter and allow the birthday child to pick out the pet he/she wants. While there ask the staff to help the youngster with ideas on feeding and caring for the pet.

Finally, whatever is planned, just make sure the child knows he/she is the special person for the day. The celebration doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive. The important thing is helping the child to know he/she is loved and enjoyed as a member of the family.

One of my most cherished memories is the time my mother and I baked my birthday cake together. It wasn't just one of those everyday birthday cakes. It was a magical cake of Cinderella and her ball gown. As we worked together, I learned how talented my mother was in design and creation. Inserting a "Barbie" type doll into multi-layered cake forms we filled in levels with all kinds of swirled icing. She taught me how to make flowers, leaves, ruffles and bows until we completed a dress even Disney would have admired. My Dad got in on the tail end of it all by helping us lick the bowls and eating leftover icing. I can't remember if we ever did cut that cake. After all these years I remember that cake and our time together. On the other hand, I don't remember a single party I ever had.

Learn more about this author, Martha Leonard.
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