Planning a Birthday Party for Siblings

Let's say you are the parent of two or more children born in the same month. How do you handle this? Is it okay to throw a "joint birthday party" for both/all of them?

In this day and age, it's important to cut back and save money wherever you can. Birthday parties for your children are no exception. One way to save money is to explain to your children that everyone everywhere is cutting back right now, and this is something they can agree to for the good of the whole family. Of course, you and your partner/spouse are the actual decision-maker(s), and the choice ultimately belongs to the adults in the household, but at the same time it helps a great deal to include your children in such discussions.

After you have had the discussion and gotten everyone on board, it is time to make the arrangements. If you are throwing the party at home, just plan it as you would plan a party for one child, albeit with a few "extras," such as more than one cake to suit the tastes of all the birthday children involved. That way, each child feels special.

If you are throwing the party at a "party place" outside of your home, just explain to the staff people that the party is for two or more siblings (and their friends), and the staff will plan accordingly. (This is a request that they are well accustomed to hearing, so don't worry that you might be "springing" something on them that they can't handle. They can handle it easily.)

Remind your children that it can actually be more fun to "share" a birthday party with a sibling (or siblings), because it can bring all of you closer together as a family.

Do make sure that both (or all) of the children feel special in some way. This can be accomplished by making more than one cake and by planning games and activities that suit the tastes of both (or all) of the children involved.