Do your kids go to care/school on their birthdays?

**BellyBelly** · October 9th, 2008, 09:34 AM

Hey all,

I am just wondering what everyone does on their children's birthdays? Usually I let them have a day off, but things have gotten a little trickier now. Elijah's 4th birthday is coming up, we have a party organised for him on the Saturday with his actual birthday on a Thursday, a day he's normally in care.

So what do you do?

**Kitt3n** · October 9th, 2008, 09:41 AM

DD goes to school - I send her with some cupcakes or something else to share with the other kids in class, and then at afterschool care they usually do a "bit of a thing" for them - and they get a slice of fairy bread!

This year she turned 7 so I bought her 7 baby cakes and lay them out on a plate in the shape of a 7 - when she woke up the whole house was covered in streamers and balloons, and this "7" cake was on the table. That was her breakky! She loved it.

She got to pick dinner too.

**Nai** · October 9th, 2008, 09:54 AM

DD went to childcare on her birthday this year and took a cake to share with all her friends. They all sang happy birthday to her and she had a great day! She did get 3 birthdays though - the childcare day, the immediate family party on her birthday and the party with her little friends at the playground - so she did get a bit spoilt!!

**Muppity** · October 9th, 2008, 10:08 AM

Ok so I don't have kids but I personally have pretty strong views on this having recently had the discussion with someone else.

I don't see that giving kids a "treat" and letting them stay home from school on their birthday is setting a very good example. It makes it out like school is a bit of a chore. Which it shouldn't be. School should be heaps of fun.

Are you allowed to skip work on your birthday?

You stay home from school if you are sick (and I do count the occasional "mental health" day here - but only very occasionally) and that is pretty much the only time you stay home.

I think the idea of taking a cake or chocolate crackles or fairy bread of something to share with friends and celebrate is a much better idea.

I think another problem would also arise when kids get a bit older. Do they all get a day off on their birthday? What if one falls during the school holidays or on the weekend? Do they get a day off in lieu?

Just my opinion. [ducks for cover and is glad that cyber tomatoes don't hurt too much!]

**Pretty Butterfly** · October 9th, 2008, 10:19 AM

I send my kids.

The school is really good.
They get a certificate, they all sing Happy Birthday, and are given a gift... (its a Catholic school, so usually a religous book mark and book etc...)
You can send food and/or cake.

They'd rather be at school being spoilt than home with the babies and watching me do housework!!!

**MelS** · October 9th, 2008, 10:45 AM

I think you should still send him - they tend to have lots of fun spending their birthday with friends and the carers/teachers make a big fuss over them. I sent Marley to day care with an ice-cream cake (she has egg allergy) for her birthday this year and the kids loved it.

**Trillian** · October 9th, 2008, 11:01 AM

I send them, but they love it - like others have said they get Happy Birthday sung to them and they still realise it's a special day. Does make the early morning school rush a bit trickier though LOL with opening of presents (cause it's cruel to make them wait till they get home LOL) but it's all good. Erin's birthday is next Wednesday and she will have her party on the Saturday.

**BellyBelly** · October 9th, 2008, 11:02 AM

Sounds like thats what we'll do...

**MantaRay** · October 9th, 2008, 11:07 AM

I send them too - with cupcakes to share. They love it. On T's 2nd birthday a couple of weeks ago, they made a big deal of it and did the cakes for morning tea with singing Happy Birthday, photos and all - and they even got J from his room to join in. They both enjoyed it and felt special.

That's a good point about holidays too Muppity. I hadn't thought of that. But we would have that problem - DS2's birthday falls during school holidays. And DS1's is a week or two after school starts for the new year so still in that "new" time when he's settling in and a day off might be more disruptive than helpful. Especially for his first year at school.

I do know of a family that all take the day off for a birthday - the whole family takes the day off for each birthday - and that works for them. It's really a matter of what is right for your own situation.

**Pretty Butterfly** · October 9th, 2008, 11:12 AM

I do know of a family that all take the day off for a birthday - the whole family takes the day off for each birthday - and that works for them. It's really a matter of what is right for your own situation.

Hehehe, with all my kids,and Adam and I, we'd never be at work or school!!!!

**Antheia** · October 9th, 2008, 11:15 AM

I would still send my kids to school so that they are with their friends. But whenever i had my birthday in school no teachers ever acknowledged it which i thought was a bit unfair. i don't even reckon they knew when their students birthdays were.

**MantaRay** · October 9th, 2008, 11:19 AM

ROFL Jodie!

**aussienic** · October 9th, 2008, 12:18 PM

I only have one in school at the moment but I let him stay home on his Birthday..

and i will do so for my other kids as well..

If he wants to I send a cake or something along or we have a little party at the weekend

**Je$$_84** · October 9th, 2008, 12:59 PM

My DS is in preschool... If his Bday is on a day that he goes i send fairy bread a cake and party hats... (not allowed to send lollies as it sends the kids a bit crazy) They all sing and have a little party for afternoon tea... They all love it when its someones B'day...

**Snacks** · October 9th, 2008, 01:03 PM

LOL Jodie

We'll be keeping Natty home as her birthday is two days after Christmas (holiday time) and the same day as DH's birthday. But if it were on a normal care day I reckon I'd send her.
BTW, my brother gets his b'day off for work - the company gives everyone their b'day off

***Efjay*** · October 9th, 2008, 01:04 PM

Mine go to school/care. Both boys birthdays fell on weekdays this year. Evan wore his badge with 6 on it & the one that had Birthday boy. Everyone made a fuss etc.
Glenns fell on the one day he goes to care & I took in a cake at the end of the day & they had a "little party" for him.

To me you stay home from school when your sick & thats that. Your birthday isn't a sick day. PLUS How boring is it to sit around & watch mum do the dishes, washing etc on your birthday when you could be running around with your mates at school.

**Dasharity** · October 9th, 2008, 01:07 PM

Ds went to pre school on his birthday and i was doing a surprise afternoon tea for him there but the teacher rang me half and hr before i was due to go in and said he was sick and he was sick all weekend so missed out and couldnt even enjoy his present, porr little man

**~Raven~** · October 9th, 2008, 01:54 PM

Ask them if they have a ritual that they do for the kids birthday because if you keep him home he might be sad if he misses out, especially if he has seen other kids have their turn IYKWIM.

My boys have loved being the centre of attention and having happy birthday sang to them at kinder and sharing a cake with their little friends.

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