Why Celebrating Children’s Birthdays Is So Important, According to a Study

When a child’s birthday approaches, some parents often get excited and prepare in advance to celebrate the occasion. But there are also parents who prefer to save all the expenses involved in throwing a birthday party and decide not to hold a celebration at all. Doing this could be counterproductive.

Bright Side wants to share this article with you that talks about the importance of celebrating the birthday of little ones and encourages parents to not lose sight of their sense of joy.

To have or not to have a party

Yes, everything has changed. What we used to consider a simple birthday celebration has now become the development of an entire theme party, with over 50 guests, personalized candy tables, and expensive decorations that will probably end up in the trash. However, Dr. Jacqueline Woolley advocates the importance of celebrating birthdays in a meaningful way, since children, like adults, seek explanations for personal events.

The importance of celebrating a birthday

Dr. Woolley conducted a study between the concepts of age and birthdays in young children. For the research, 99 American children between the ages of 3 and 5 were examined. The procedure was simple, as they were all presented with the same scenario: 3 2-year-old children were about to turn 3 years old. The first one was able to have a party, the second one was not, and the third one had a party, but in 2 parts. The volunteers were then asked to indicate how old each child would be. The results revealed that many of them said that the one who had not had a party would still be 2 years old, and they also responded that the one who had 2 parties would be 4 years old.

More than just math...

Dr. Woolley’s tests revealed that, for preschool-aged children, the annual experience of the seemingly sudden change from one time to another is of great importance: since there is no obvious or immediate physical cause, as with other types of changes, children consider a birthday party to be a regularly occurring, growth-enhancing event.

The advantages of celebrating a birthday, according to developmental psychology

Dr. Woolley believes that if for a 4-year-old, the purpose of a party is to turn 5, then it’s the celebration that counts. So parents might also consider the following advantages of these events:

  • They raise their self-esteem. When a child feels celebrated, they also feel loved and meaningful in their family role. Their birthday becomes important in their parents’ lives.
  • They strengthen family bonds. Having family traditions is positive. No matter what the size of the celebration is, what is relevant, is the sense of being together to celebrate something special.
  • They establish social relationships. Inviting a couple of friends, grandparents, or the whole family to a birthday party helps the child to relate better through feelings of companionship and kindness.
  • They create positive memories. A study of preschool memories says that most childhood memories are not really memories, but rather a memory created from a lot of data collected from different sources in an unconscious way, like sensations, smells, and music. So, creating memories from a celebration can be something really meaningful.
  • It helps them to have a perception of time. Children are not aware of their growth if not through others. That’s why birthdays are a great way for them to discover the process of growing up.

The celebration doesn’t necessarily have to be ostentatious.

Some parents may feel pressured to celebrate their child’s birthday. However, celebrating another year of your child’s life doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Children are more motivated or excited by celebrations where they are taken into account, where their emotional needs are considered, and where they feel loved. So, simply blowing out a candle and eating a cake can be a celebration in itself.

What is important is not the most sophisticated birthday cake in the world, nor the most expensive gift from the most prestigious store, but the warmth of the environment in which the child feels included, safe, and respected.

Do you celebrate your children’s birthdays? Do you have a different or special celebration? Tell us in the comments!

Please note: This article was updated in April 2022 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.

Comments

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My parents used to celebrate me and my sister's birthday every year. Even though we had our bday 1 month apart I remember our huge summer parties and the two large cakes in two different colours. Good memories last for life :)

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I grew up in a poor family so this was a very common thing for me to, but my mom would wait for all of us to have a birthday and then do a big party afterwards, so not in the middle

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Loving parents even during tough financial times! We might have had joint parties if my younger sister didn’t have special needs- I think mom wanted her to not feel different than her “normal” - yet weird, awkward, introverted yet chatty older sister. I do remember sharing quite a few with my older cousin though because we both have January birthdays.

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Grannies always know what is best for you don't they! My grandma would always write the sweetest cards for my birthday, I still have ALL of them and keep them very close to my heart

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So often it is sad to not be able to pick out things for my grandma anymore. It’s been about 10 years since she passed away. I am in my thirties and want to call her to chat, share a favorite dessert with her(she instilled my love for ice cream!) or give her keepsakes. Mom finds herself wanting to do the same.

I am happy to see you are also sentimental! Grandparents are treasures! Makes you wish to go back and spend as much time as possible instead of being “too cool to spend the night” at their house.

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Guess I missed out huh, I never really celebrated my birthday after I turned 6.. I didn't really have any friends to invite and my mom must have noticed and stopped giving parties.

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Does that mean you were an introverted child like I was?! I was starkly different from my younger sister who had more friends and had to be around people constantly. I was the oddball for not wanting big celebrations or even to invite someone to spend the night. Oh if my wordy comments make you doubt my introvertedness.. I am INFJ the talkative introvert. (I like a lot of random things and like sharing what I have learned about.. or talk about psychology..... ) Sorry if I overwhelm anyone ?

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Having my birthday "celebrated" was actually the opposite of what this article said it should have been for me. I almost NEVER got anything that I wanted even when what I wanted was CHEAPER than what I was given. I always asked for book, any book, even a SINGLE book and usually got jewelry and makeup. It was the same story at Christmas too.

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I’ve become very practical with many of the gifts I put on my list, mostly upgrades to things my husband and I bought ourselves when we were single and hadn’t met yet. Although I used to ask for razor blades (way more expensive than they should be) and gas cards(I commuted to college and to every job I’ve had since my first one.) After 2 years of marriage I told him, yes I love candy but put toiletries in my stocking. Don’t waste money! His parents stick to our lists- and get the occasional fun, geeky thing, with awesome computer-made cards from his dad- he’s really getting good at it!,) my dad is the king of gift cards for the adults in the family(it combines with my January birthday gift card to get the things I need,) and we buy groceries or other practical things with the Target cards we get from my older sister. Mom’s boyfriend gets us a card to our favorite inexpensive restaurant that is safe for my severe food allergies. Mostly practical I’d say though. BUT YES( people used to get me extra girly stuff- which I like but end up with more than I need- or too many bath products I can’t use because of eczema. Husband buys me more books though- the beautifully illustrated big Harry Potter books and one with intricate paper scenes,(His mother read the originals the same time he did and she re-reads them each year!) as well as some novels I’ve been curious about. I am happy to have married into a nerdy and geeky family that gets my weirdness(for a female) I hate that I’m sounding braggy! I am grateful and was surprised how many family members have preferred to pick from a list I make. As a kid I had trouble asking for what I wanted, with the exception of a my sized Ken to go with my best friend my sized bride Barbie (who quickly changed from her froo froo wedding outfit to regular clothes) I hadn’t found my inner nerdiness yet, and my indecisiveness got me “girl” toys. Looking back I wanted Lincoln Logs, super soakers, a bow and arrow, nerf gun, legos. Oh and the Scholastic book fairs were my favorite, I guess I got to at least read a lot, and enjoyed almost every summer reading book(Mom would force me to sleep at almost midnight because I was driven to read the entire book in one sitting- no time for that now as an adult =( )

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I dont think I have ever actually read a comment that long before ?

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4 years ago
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This is so right! My husband and I have celebrated my son's birthday since year 1 and we can't have enough of seeing him happy. Like this article says: it's not about the money or how big the party is, it's about the warmth and making the birthday person happy

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I agree with you. When I was a kid my parents used to have money problems but they managed to celebrate almost all of my birthdays and I'm so grateful with them! I was such a happy kiddo

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