Say “Happy Birthday” to a Classmate – 3 DIY Grade School Gifts

Primary School is the Prime Time for DIY

If there’s an ideal time to give crafty (and inexpensive) birthday gifts, it’s elementary school. Why sink money into a gift that won’t last when you can just as easily say “happy birthday” to a classmate with a DIY gift?  

For one thing, small kids tend to outgrow and break the things they can hold. Their attention is fleeting and their play is rough. And kids under 11 are not exactly known for their discretion, so splurging on a gift for one classmate can easily make others feel left out. DIY gifts are a great way to avoid setting expensive expectations and risking hurt feelings when other classmates’ birthdays roll around.

Plus, grade school kids love crafts and opportunities to be creative. So, rather than buying a birthday gift that will be outgrown in a few months, try one of our top three DIY grade school gifts for the next classmate’s birthday.

3 DIY Gifts to Say “Happy Birthday” to a Classmate

1. Hand-Drawn Card
2. Friendship Bracelet or Keychain
3. Birthday Video

Skip ahead to find out the easiest way to make a birthday video.

Create a Hand-Drawn Birthday Card

What’s more classic than a hand-drawn birthday card among grade-school kids?

Give your little one some colored pencils or crayons and construction paper and let them go to town! If you want to rein things in a bit, you can suggest ideas or create your own card first for your child to view as an example.

Use the card-making activity as an opportunity to practice empathy and good friendship habits. Ask your child what the birthday star’s favorite animal, color, or subject is, and encourage them to include it in the birthday artwork.

To make sure your young van Gogh’s precious creation is keepsake material, make sure they include the basics:

• The Name of the Birthday Star/Recipient
• Your Child’s Name
• The Current Year (Maybe even add their grade and/or the teacher’s name at the bottom, e.g. “2021, Ms. Daniel’s 3rd Grade Class”.)

Craft a Friendship Bracelet or Keychain

Another classic grade school gift is the friendship bracelet, and what’s more craftastic than working with string and beads? But there’s no need to get caught up on the traditional “bracelet” concept. Depending on your child’s preferences, you could create friendship keychains, necklaces, ankle bracelets, etc.

You can find all kinds of how-to guides online to help out. The Spruce Crafts has posts about how to make bracelets and keychains. The best part is, you can use various items you may already have lying around!

Possible materials:

• An Old T-Shirt
• Craft Cord (e.g. Embroidery Floss, Chinese Knotting Cord, Nylon Braided Cord)
• Beads, Charms, Buttons, etc.
• A Lighter or Jewelry Glue
• Scissors

Making a bracelet or keychain for the birthday star is another excellent chance to practice putting others first. You can ask your child if the birthday star has any favorite colors and encourage them to use those!

Make a Birthday Video

A “happy birthday” video is a unique and meaningful gift that allows you to capture memories of your child and their current friendships. A birthday video montage works especially well when you invite a group of friends to participate.

Whether the video features classmates, teammates, or just close friends and family, it will be a truly special gift the recipient can replay for years to come. With an easy birthday video maker, you can get started in 60 seconds.

How to Easily Create a Birthday Video

Tribute is the most user-friendly birthday video maker. In a few simple steps, you can collaborate with others, collect their videos, and use the easy video editor to bring it all together in a celebratory video. Another option is to have our concierge service professionally edit your video for you!