Birthday Gifts and Responsibilities

In addition to birthday gifts, consider giving your child an extra privilege and an extra responsibility each birthday. Aside from the usual material birthday gifts, the addition of a special privilege to be granted on each birthday adds to the momentous occasion. From crossing streets to wearing certain kinds of makeup, this is a tradition that can continue from early childhood on through the teen years.

Giving the birthday child an extra responsibility acknowledges their maturity on a different level. The child may complain but learning how to do things and being responsible for certain tasks leads to improved confidence and acknowledges their growth.