15 IDEAS ON HOW TO GIVE YOUR CHILD A SURPRISE
Working as a wizard is easy and pleasant. It is doubly pleasant to evoke children's delight and surprise. Of course, gifts can also be given just like that: buy a doll, a kinder surprise or a bottle of soap bubbles on the way and hand them at home with the words: “This is for you.” But how great it is when children’s faces light up with delight from an unexpected surprise and a non-standard way of presenting it. How can you surprise a child and make the presentation of a gift memorable?
🎈 CARD PRIZE
On small pieces of paper you need to draw recognizable interior items of your home (about 10-15 cards for one quest). The first, which depicts, for example, a poster with the alphabet, is given to the child.
Having carefully searched and found the corner of the second card behind the alphabet, the child sees the following picture on it: a table lamp in the children's room. A third card is revealed under the lamp. And so on: from room to room, from card to card. In the very last place, a hidden gift awaits the baby.
🎈 GIFT UNDER THE PILLOW
Many parents put Christmas gifts under the tree, and another way to surprise a child is to put a gift under the pillow. It’s such a magical feeling: in the middle of the night or immediately after waking up, you can feel a pleasantly rustling bundle under your pillow.
🎈 HALF BIRTHDAY
Children always look forward to a special cake on their birthday.
What if you celebrate 3.5 years or 5.5 years with a symbolic half of the cake? Such an unusual congratulation, which most often no one expects, will never be forgotten.
🎈 SEARCHING FOR TREASURE
This surprise can be a good option for birthday entertainment. Or you can, armed with a map prepared in advance and key tasks hidden ahead of time, go on a treasure hunt in the forest, park or your own garden.
The tasks can be intricate or very simple: jump on one leg 10 times, count how much 8+7 is, guess which fairy tale the found striped cap or onion with a face drawn on it is from.
🎈 “COLD-HOT”
You can play hide and seek with a gift both on a holiday and without a calendar reason, when you invite your child to find a new book or a tray of strawberries that a familiar forest bunny gave him.
🎈 ROOM DECORATED WITH BALLOONS
Balloons are always a win-win and uplifting option. Decorate a doorway or ceiling with them, throw a lot of balls into the room while the child is sleeping.
Waking up in the morning, the birthday person will immediately feel the presence of the holiday. And a day that begins with joy always promises to be amazing.
🎈 CHEST WITH SMALL GIFTS AND GOODIES
If you are leaving your child for several days, leave a set of things prepared in advance for each day of your absence that the child can occupy himself with.
Attach a note with instructions, and so every day you will be virtually present and remind you of yourself. Take advantage of the fact that children love to unwrap gifts and wrap each surprise in bright packaging.
🎈 ADVENT CALENDAR
The traditional Catholic calendar with little surprises for every day can be adapted not only for Christmas or New Year, but also for a birthday or the beginning of the summer holidays.
An option for such a calendar could be envelopes on the wall, in which cards with a surprise are prepared for each day of the week preceding the upcoming event: a trip to an amusement park, a trip to a pizzeria, or a note with pleasant, kind words.
🎈 DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR
Everyone loves to receive letters and parcels. What if we arrange delivery as a surprise? You can negotiate with a friend who, pretending to be a courier, will deliver the box directly into the hands of the little recipient. Or you can send the item by real mail, with a stamp and receipt. What will be inside, you decide for yourself.
One of the options that guarantees the effect of surprise and joy is a bunch of balloons, which are well attached with tape to the bottom of a capacious box and, when opened, soar up in a multi-colored cloud, but do not fly away anywhere, but only delight the little birthday boy. Such a surprise is never forgotten.
🎈 WHO IS THE LUCKY ONE?
Usually this entertainment is carried out in a large group of friends, when the hosts of the party hide a whole nut or pitted prunes in the cake in advance.
When the cake is cut into pieces, it becomes clear who got the nut or dried fruit and which of the guests is the lucky one. You can also prepare several nuts. Let there be more lucky ones!
🎈 FOOD SURPRISE
Of course, this is more of a way to entertain the fussy. So parents manage to turn bread, tomato, cheese and olives into a bird sandwich from the game “Angry Birds” or fry an egg in a mold shaped like a flower or a star.
🎈 GREETINGS FROM VACATION
While traveling, send a card addressed to the child to your home address. When you return, it will be a pleasant surprise to receive it a few days later.
🎈 PICK YOUR CHILD EARLY FROM KINDERGARTEN OR HAVE A DAY WITHOUT SCHOOL
We all remember the rare days when our parents managed to leave work early or take a day off, and they suddenly appeared before quiet time and took us home or for a walk. This was one of the highest happinesses.
🎈 MIRACLE TREE
This is an idea for spring. As soon as the leaves bloom on the trees in the spring, children begin to wonder when the apples, plums and cherries will grow enough to eat.
So that the wait for the harvest is not painful, arrange a country surprise. While the kids are sleeping, decorate any tree or shrub with candy on strings or cookies wrapped in transparent packaging on ribbons. The kids will be surprised when, running out into the garden, they notice the treats blooming overnight.
🎈 AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
One such surprise is described in the book “A Happy Girl Is Growing Up” by Nina Shnirman. In one of the episodes, my mother suggested that little Nina accompany her dad to the station on his next business trip to Leningrad. And when in the train compartment the conductor began to announce “seeing off to leave the carriages,” the parents admitted that they had prepared a surprise for their daughter, and that they would go to Leningrad together. What a delight! Of course, for such a large-scale and grandiose surprise in every sense, parents must be confident in the child’s positive reaction and that he has no other plans. In this case, you can turn off your usual road home without warning and go to the river bank to launch sky lanterns. Or instead of a planned trip to the store, go to your favorite ice cream parlor. Or wake up your child in the morning with your suitcases ready and announce that from today kindergarten is canceled because you are all going to the seaside together.
Six years old... Your child, proudly called a senior preschooler, talks philosophically about the problems of the universe and advises you on what to do in a difficult everyday situation. The baby already knows exactly the date of his birth and lives in pleasant anticipation of a surprise.
When choosing a birthday gift, do not forget that your little one is at the peak of curiosity, is actively exploring the world and is already able to concentrate on what he loves for a long time, but the unbridled flow of energy does not give him rest and requires a productive outlet.
When thinking about what you can give to a 6-year-old child, take into account the age characteristics of the preschooler and try to buy a gift that will be interesting and useful to your child.
Sooner or later, the creator and explorer awakens in every little child. The young genius simply needs to create masterpieces in the form of paintings and crafts, and then solemnly demonstrate them by attaching them to the refrigerator with a magnet. Any unfortunate spider found in an apartment is examined for behavior, nutrition and living conditions.
It is important to encourage and support in your son or daughter the desire for creativity and knowledge. Therefore, a good holiday gift would be:
The love of reading is instilled in childhood. The image of a mother or grandmother reading a bedtime story remains a fond memory for a lifetime. A beautiful, bright book makes you want not only to look at the pictures, but also to read the fairy tale yourself.
For a six-year-old naughty birthday party, choose:
The energy of your tireless jumper, runner and somersault needs to be channeled in the right direction and developed in him agility, flexibility and a sense of balance. There is nothing sadder than a pale, obedient child, with sad eyes, sitting alone in front of the TV. To prevent this from happening, buy sporting goods necessary for full physical development as a gift for a 6-year-old child:
The cherished desire of every six-year-old person is to have a pet: a faithful comrade and partner in fun and active games. By caring for a friend, the child will become caring and develop a sense of responsibility. Pets develop in children an interest in wildlife, habits and habits of animals.
If mom and dad don’t mind another family member, then you can give your child a friend:
If parents do not agree to have a live animal at home, then you can give a boy or girl an interactive friend for his birthday. There are a great variety of soft or plastic toys in stores that imitate the behavior of animals and people. They are able to make sounds and sing songs, wag their tails and cuddle up to your hand in response to scratching behind the ear, they respond to your voice and know how to eat, not only that, they teach you and evaluate your actions.
Depending on the preferences of the recipient, you can choose:
A six-year-old child has a strong need for self-expression. The young vocalist enjoys performing songs at matinees in kindergarten and delights loved ones with musical works of his own composition. Children love to sing and they enjoy making sounds from different objects.
If a child has an ear for music and a sense of rhythm, then he will be attracted to musical instruments, which are very appropriate as a gift:
The child is a future first-grader and school-related gifts will become for him attributes of growing up and entering a new life. Don't give boring monochromatic school notebooks and covers. Give a bright and useful thing for school, but not as the main gift, but as an addition, as an emphasis on the fact that the child is growing up, and you notice it.
A nice birthday present could be:
Boys and girls are future mothers and fathers. Parents are important and significant for a child; they are a standard and an object to follow. A boy who sees his dad hammering a nail to hang a picture will undoubtedly want to take part in this exciting activity. The girl whose mother embroidered this picture will, of course, want to master the art of embroidery.
To make your little helper feel a little older, you can give your 6-year-old child tool sets for children or toy copies of household appliances:
The whole family can play such games, and the benefits of this gift are obvious - priceless communication between loved ones, time when everyone is at home and everyone is together. While playing, we understand each other better, get to know our children from an unexpected side, have fun and develop. You can play in:
Ordinary toys for boys and girls at this age have not yet given way to tablets, computers and mobile phone games. Appreciate this time - you can play together, and there is no greater joy than coming up with fun games, building high towers from cubes, dressing up dolls and taking them to visit, and most importantly, seeing your child’s happy eyes and hearing his laughter.
Choose the desired toy for your fidget:
When purchasing a gift for a six-year-old son or daughter, focus on the child’s preferences and pay attention to the functionality of the gift: the development of creative and intellectual abilities, attention, memory and perseverance, imaginative thinking and imagination. These skills will help a preschooler quickly become a full-fledged schoolchild.
After presenting your gift, read the instructions and understand the rules. Play together and enjoy communication.
It would seem that you have just arrived from the maternity hospital and brought this tiny touching little man into your home, you have just fed him with your milk, you have just admired his first achievements, you have just heard his first words. It was all like yesterday.
But here he sits next to you and looks at you with his clear eyes, which seem to reflect the huge blue sky. He stands before you on the threshold of his sixth birthday. Yes, your child’s sixth birthday is approaching and you, as always, are wondering: where to celebrate your child’s 6th birthday, because the choice of location for the celebration determines the entire subsequent scheme of the holiday.
On the one hand, there are few options, on the other, there are many. If you celebrate a birthday at home, then you can and even need to invite an animator or an entire animation group to the celebration, since children of six years of age are incredibly sensitive to this kind of entertainment. If you choose the option of celebrating outside the walls of your native land, then organizing a special event frees you from many significant disadvantages of holding a home birthday.
An equally attractive option would be a birthday party at a bowling alley. This way of celebrating the holiday allows children to show off their physical qualities and just have fun. You can organize a competition in accuracy and award the winners with small prizes. And then have a mini-tea party there with cake, ice cream and cotton candy.
You can celebrate the birthday of a 6-year-old child at the play center. This is a simple, but no less attractive option. Before entering school, play activity is the leading activity for children, so trampolines, slides, swings and all kinds of attractions will come in handy. After frolicking, your child and his dear guests, led by you, can go to a ceremonial tea party in honor of the birthday boy. It can take place either at your home - a more budget option, or in a children's cafe, which is located right in the play center.
This opinion, of course, is worth listening to, but often parents are not able to accommodate a large number of children in their small house or pay for all the children by celebrating a birthday in a children's cafe. Therefore, you can stretch the holiday by dividing it into two days: on the first, you receive the kindergarten friends of the birthday boy at home, on the second, friends from the yard.
Regardless of which place you choose for the holiday, you cannot do without entertainment: games and competitions. In the case of a home birthday, there should be more of them than in the case of a celebration in another place. If the birthday is taking place at a game center or bowling alley, you can invite the children to play "card game", don't worry, playing cards have nothing to do with it.
The essence of this exciting game is that you place two stacks of small cardboard cards with questions and answers on the table, the children take turns pulling them out, as a result, one child has a card with a question in his hands, the other with an answer, the question is read out first, then the answer. Since the cards are mixed up, the question and answer do not match, very funny and funny stories are obtained.
Children will also enjoy the famous game "Guess". Divide the children into two groups. Any member of the first team must depict something using gestures and facial expressions, without resorting to verbal expression. The second team's task is to guess what exactly it is showing. Then the groups change places. The team of children that gave the most correct answers wins. It is advisable that the guys, before the start of the pantomime show, tell you in your ear what exactly they are going to portray, this way you will avoid cunning tricks on the part of the kids, which are typical for them at this age.
The funny game "Tails" will amuse children and give them a good mood. Choose two guys, tie a belt around the waist of each of them, the end of which is tied with a knot. The players' task is to spin and dodge each other (but not run away) so that the opponent cannot grab the knot on the “tail”. The one who falls into the hands of the other first loses in this competition.
Girls of six years of age are actively preparing to enter school, and they are interested in everything connected with it. You can please your daughter with children's encyclopedias, plasticine, paints and other art kits, or a new backpack and bag. But don’t forget that your daughter is still a small child, and she is still interested in pink horses and ponies, singing songs, dolls that can talk, doll houses, a children’s sewing machine, educational computer games and sets of children’s cosmetics. In any case, whatever your choice, the main thing is to surprise the child. A gaming music center that connects to a computer or TV will be appreciated by both boys and girls.
Having purchased the desired gift, pack it in bright and colorful packaging and decorate it with ribbons, beads, stars and butterflies, all of which will enhance the impression of the gift. Or you can go the original route: put the gift in a huge box, and sprinkle small soft toys or candy on top. When presenting a gift to the birthday boy, do not forget about warm words addressed to him. Tell him how much you love him, how glad you are that he came into your life six years ago, and how much you value him.
End of the holiday
It is from the age of six that children begin to treat their birthdays in a special way. They already understand its value, its importance and significance. In order for the child to have a positive image of this holiday and subsequently look forward to its arrival, you should introduce certain holiday traditions into the celebration program, adhering to which you can instill in the child a love for family and family holidays. The usual “loaf”, songs “Happy Birthday to You” and Crocodile Gena’s song, pulling ears and blowing out candles on a birthday cake are all traditions of birthday celebrations in Russia.But if you want to make your child's holiday truly memorable and original, read about the customs that are observed in European countries or in North and South America. For example, you can hide a coin in the cake, upon finding which the birthday person will learn that this is a sign of his future prosperity, or instead of pulling the hero of the occasion by the ears, throw him in the air according to the number of years he has turned - this is what they do in the UK.
Or, immerse yourself with the birthday boy in the history of birthday celebrations in Germany, where the tradition came from presenting the hero of the occasion with a cake with lighted candles, which should burn on the cake all day, and only in the evening the birthday boy would blow them out. On every birthday of their child, the Danes hang a bright flag outside the window, informing all passers-by about a great and joyful event in their family. Why don't you do the same in an original way?
Or you can observe an interesting custom practiced in Thailand. On the birthday of a child, it is customary to release an animal into the wild. Of course, it’s not worth throwing your dog or cat out in front of you, but what’s stopping you from purchasing special pigeons and releasing him into the sky together with your child? In any case, no matter what tradition you choose, the main thing is the attention, love and care with which you will surround your child on his sixth birthday.
Finally, check out the instructions on how to launch sky lanterns. What's not an alternative to pigeons?
Having barely celebrated his birthday, the child already begins to wait for the next one. For him, unlike adults, confirmation that another year has passed will not overshadow the holiday. As a rule, the baby (although not quite a baby anymore!) doesn’t even think about it. A birthday is a special day, full of magic, attention, and surprises. Probably, it can only be the brightest in childhood. And, of course, the child is looking forward to gifts long before the holiday.
The question “What to give?” does not give adults peace long before the holiday. Meanwhile, choosing a gift for a 5-6 year old boy is not such a difficult matter, you just have to treat it responsibly, without putting it off until the last day. In fact: a developed preschooler can handle a variety of games, his interests are well-established and obvious, there are practically no age restrictions. The only thing that can confuse the donor is the abundance of choice. And here, as always, the experience of many mothers, collected in this article, will come to the rescue!
There is a common belief that a gift should be a surprise. But how often our “surprises”, designed to play the role of a miracle, do not impress children, especially 5-6 year olds, who are smart enough to understand what they want, and not enough to pretend to hide their disappointment...
Often when choosing a gift, adults try to make their own childhood dreams come true, forgetting that modern children are growing up in a rapidly changing world and can dream about things that we have only a distant idea of.
In order to fulfill the cherished and secret desire of the birthday person, you need to know about it, but not demonstrate this knowledge too clearly. Then the surprise will remain a surprise, and the gift will not disappoint. To do this, listen to the child in advance, watch him, talk:
In general, with children, as with adults: to please, you just need to show attention, which is sometimes more expensive than the gift itself.
The “wrong” gift can ruin a child’s mood for a long time, and on a birthday this is unacceptable. Remember how the Kid cried from the book about Carlson when he was given a plush puppy, and he passionately dreamed of a living dog? Leave the “gags” for other occasions.
So, what should not be given to a preschool boy:
And now, knowing all the subtleties and nuances, we begin to choose.
If you do not pretend to be particularly original and want your gift to be sure to please the boy, donate cars! And it doesn’t matter how many of them the child already has: he will never get tired of replenishing the fleet.
In preschool age, a child gives priority to the realism of a car, so cars with eyes that can sing, or giant trucks can be considered hopelessly “toddler” by a six-year-old. At this age, boys are already quite experienced and independent “car enthusiasts”, so there are no restrictions on their choice:
It is much better if the concept of “sport” is understood by the parents of a preschooler as an active lifestyle, and not as a professional activity aimed at results, which is fraught with the formation of complexes and possible health problems. If a child is involved in some kind of sports section, you can give the appropriate accessory (check with your parents first).
If you are not sure about your preferred sport, you can safely choose something for outdoor games:
You can't play a board game alone - so much for developing communication skills!
And performing various logical operations perfectly trains the mind of a 5-6 year old, perfectly preparing him for school activities.
The very name of the age – “preschool” – refers us to school, entry into which will soon change the child’s whole life.
While he is in joyful anticipation of this event, you can give him a gift related to future school activities:
Well, if you don’t rush and remember that your preschooler is still a child, you can choose a lot of exciting gifts in accordance with the interests of the birthday boy. You have already realized that the interests of 5-6 year old boys have already been formed and are quite stable.
Let's consider the most common of them, according to numerous observations of mothers of boys:
If the child clearly has a preference for one of these topics, the gift will fall in line if it is directly related to it, and choosing it will be a breeze.
Ships and planes captivate the hearts of many young romantics.
If you know that this topic is close to the birthday person, you can choose a gift related specifically to it:
If parents often had to scold a tomboy for broken and disassembled toys, this may well be a sign of interest in the structure of everything in the world: “Come on, let’s see what’s inside? How it works?"
In this case, you can safely give gifts that stimulate and direct this interest in the right direction:
How interesting it is to set up a scientific experiment, the result of which will be visible and significant! Of course, at first, parents should be nearby while testing, for example, a working model of a volcano. Well, you can grow crystals in a less extreme way. Choose a set for experiments in accordance with your level of extreme and for every taste, make your little scientist happy!
A microscope can be an interesting gift (you can purchase a special simplified children's model).
Regardless of whether a boy dreams of becoming an astronaut, as was common in the former USSR, this dream is not so common today. However, the mystery of space attracts many young minds, and boys are happy to plunge into this unknown world.
For lovers of space mysteries you can give:
Many boys are very interested in dragons and dinosaurs. Mythical creatures and monsters from the distant past make great playmates!
We give to the lover of monsters:
It’s rare that a boy at this age is indifferent to robots! A large number of cartoons fuel this interest. So any boy will like a robot, just like a car.
Today, a variety of models of mechanical friends are available:
Until wars disappear from the Earth, children will play in them: after all, this is part of the reality around them. This means that games with weapons and soldiers will be popular among boys for a very long time. The main thing is to ensure that the game does not develop into aggression.
And you can give:
Independence excites the blood and dizzy. That’s why children love to choose a gift on their own, because it prolongs the feeling of the holiday and makes the opportunity to make their cherished dream come true.
Not everyone considers a certificate to a children's store or money given to a little birthday boy to be a suitable gift. However, numerous birthdays of preschoolers and a study of the opinions of mothers and children show that most of them really like this gift.
If you couldn’t choose a gift among all of the above, here are a few more original gift ideas for a 5-6 year old boy:
If you are the parent of the birthday boy:
As for the gift-giving process, rely on family traditions. Is it customary in your family to leave a gift near the bed so that the child sees it as soon as he wakes up? Great! Just take care of the holiday packaging: you can, for example, glue a box in the shape of a robot or a car, and now you have another additional toy!
If there are no family gift-giving traditions yet, now is the time to create them! Prepare an exciting quest for a gift (using a map, notes, threads, arrows, riddles).
If you are a guest invited to a children's party:
Remember: the festive atmosphere is no less important than the gift!
We wish you that the hassle associated with choosing a gift for a preschooler becomes another component of the holiday. Let children's eyes shine with joy from the fulfillment of a child's dream: at this moment there will be more smiles and kindness in the world!
Who doesn't like surprises? If the surprise is good, then anyone, of course, will be happy about it. And when it comes to children's birthdays, then unexpected gifts will be very appropriate. Children love everything new, and on such a special holiday as a birthday they expect something supernatural. Parents who do not want to disappoint their child will have to work hard.
Of course, this gift is something unexpected only for a child, but for his mom and dad, the surprise hides careful and lengthy preparation.
Where to start when it comes to planning? First of all, you should decide whether the surprise and the gift will be one whole, or whether they are still different things. Then you need to find out what the birthday person would like to receive for his birthday (and what he has already received before). If any specific option is missing, then it is worth taking into account the range of interests of the child, i.e. what areas of activity interest him. After analyzing this information, you can begin to compile a list of gift events.
Why do you need a list? It is advisable to consider as many options as possible and identify their pros and cons. Then it will be easier to choose the most promising ones. Ultimately, you will need to leave 2-3 main ones, and choose one key one from them. The rest will serve as reserves in case of any unforeseen changes.
So, what surprises can you come up with to please the birthday boy?
Over the course of his life, the child gets used to his parents’ home and gradually loses interest: after all, every thing or piece of furniture has already been carefully examined, touched, and perhaps even tested. How, then, can one surprise such a sophisticated and experienced explorer-traveler?
The answer is simple - you need to prepare a festive surprise: while the birthday boy is still sleeping (or left the house for a walk), create a festive atmosphere - decorate the room with balloons, ribbons, garlands, posters, photographs, flowers, toys. The widest field for experimentation is allowed here. You can make a festive wall newspaper, create figures from balloons, arrange a laser show using a special device, etc.
A child will be especially surprised and delighted by decorating a room in the shape of a submarine, a spaceship, a tropical island, a magical forest, a medieval castle or some other location. This will fit well into the thematic scenario.
What do children love most? Of course, play! It is this fact that you can take full advantage of. First, you will need to come up with a series of tests and riddles, and then you can hide prizes and arrange an adventure for the child.
The essence of the game is simple, but at the same time very exciting: using tips, hints, pointers, and also guessing all kinds of riddles, the birthday boy must move towards the main prize. In addition to the main gift, during the game you may also come across intermediate ones.
What can a child expect unusual during a birthday celebration? Exquisite treats, solemn congratulations, long-awaited gifts... But how will he react if, in the midst of a festive event, his favorite fairy-tale character comes to visit him?
A congratulation from Winnie the Pooh, the giant Shrek, or a cheerful clown is not only an amazing surprise, but also a lot of positive memories.
The role of such a character can be successfully played by a guest animator, or someone you know who has skills in communicating with children. If necessary, the appropriate suit can be rented or purchased.
Can the young birthday boy imagine that an entire film will be made in his honor? Unlikely. But his own parents are quite capable of realizing such a masterpiece. All you need is a little imagination, a creative mood, as well as any digital device with a video camera, plus a computer for editing the material and subsequently showing the film.
The main, most interesting and simple idea is to make a documentary film for the birthday boy. You can record congratulations from all your relatives on video, add wishes for happiness and success from various fairy-tale characters, walk with a video camera through “places of military glory” (for example, tell your child where he was born, where his mother and father’s wedding took place, in which store they bought him his first diapers, etc.)
For city dwellers, contact with nature is quite rare. Therefore, as an unusual birthday surprise, you can organize a train out of town, or to some picturesque corner. It could be a forest, a park, a river beach, a rural farm, a lake for fishermen, a picturesque waterfall, a mountain resort, a seaside, etc.
Children especially enjoy contact with animals. Riding a real horse, patting a good-natured dog by the ears, petting a kitten or feeding ducks and swans in a pond is a real adventure for a child.