My Four Year Old for All You Creative Moms

First of all I have so much respect for you, being a single is mom is a really tough job and it sounds like you have a really great handle on things.

You have already gotten so many great ideas. But here is another one. Maybe invite a "few" of her closest friends over for a "girls day". You can buy some inexpensive nail polish, makeup(at Walmart) and Princess Tiaras (at the dollar store). Then do their hair and makeup like a princess. Little girls love that kind of stuff. Then maybe watch a cute girly movie like Hannah Montana or Enchanted. Finishing it off with cake and presents.

But remember no matter what you "do" as long as it's together it will be the best birthday ever. Good luck and keep smiling.

Hi C.,

I agree with so many of the other posters, but I have to add my two cent's worth anyway. I believe that one on one time with mommy will be very special to her, especially when you have siblings. You could look through your photo albums and gather some of the photos that contain just you and her, or just her. Put them together in a small brag book that she can keep in her room to look at. If you don't want to spend a lot of money, you can always create a birthday crown together. Use some printer paper, decorate it with markers, stickers, glitter, etc. and cut it into the shape of a crown, then tape it together. Make birthday cupcakes together, do each other's nails. My daughter loves it when I let her pick the clothes that I should wear that day. There are lot's of restaurants that have kids eat free day, or the ones that make a scene singing to you, my daughter loves that. You can get latex balloons at the local grocery store, they are not expensive either, you can get just two in her favorite colors. Definitely take pictures of the two of you on her special day or pictures of her doing the special things that you two decide upon. Let her have/do some of those things that she is never allowed to do, just because it is her special day. Go to the mall and get into one of those silly photo booths and have a memory making funny faces on those little pictures. You could go to the dollar store and pick out a few items, wrap them and surprise her with them through out the day instead of all at one time. At this age, you are still the most important person in her world and doing things with you, while having your full attention is what she will value. Don't get me wrong presents are always good too, but I think you know what I am saying.

Good Luck

When I was growing up, we got about two birthday presents. What was great about the day, though, was that you got to pick your birthday dinner. Whatever you wanted, mom would make. And we always had a homemade birthday cake.

We didn't need much -- it was a great day because it was ours, and we were made to feel special. Growing up, as we got older, the part we really looked forward to was picking our meal. : )

I definitely think "time spent" in this situation would be the prefect gift. Is it possible to have a sitter for you other 2 children and do a special mom and daughter day with your birthday girl? Not to exclude your other kids to be mean or anything, but if you have a close relative who would keep them for you for no cost and then you wouldn't have to spend more on them coming along for your daughters day. And it could be more personal to her.

Maybe take her for ice cream. Go to a pet shop or store. Window shop. Take her to have her picture taken to remember the day together. A lot of places are running inexpensive packages right now around the holidays with no sitting fee and only like 10 bucks for a small package. Or else ask a kind stranger to get a nice picture of the 2 of you while you are out and frame it for her in a cute frame from the Dollar Store.

Speaking of Dollar Store/ Dollar Tree... They have a lot of cool, girly stuff. Depending on what you want to do, they have feather boas, tierras, dressy type things... you could get on her level and wear the stuff with her and run around and be a kid for the day with her.

You could go to the library and read books if she enjoys that. Let her get her own library card and bring books home. That would be free. Check out your local advertisements for what is going on in your area. A show at a local school or theater might not be too high in price.

Stay home and make a cake together. Allowing her to help with the baking and decorating... most girls her age that i know LOVE to help in the kitchen. For me (my daughter is only 3 and I only have one child) but I know she would really appreciate if I took a time out and just let her help me. In today's world we are always so busy and rushed in our daily lives. Even if i take 15 minutes out of our trip to Target and just take her up and down the toy isles and let her touch and look at and try out any toy she wants, she LOVES it. A dollar pop corn bag there. Just the little things seem to mean the most to them at that age.

Is there a park, river, or pond nearby? I know it's cold, but you could dress warm and take some bread to feed the ducks and geese. Make sandwiches at home if you can't afford a lunch out, and spread out a blanket and have a fancy picnic/tea party on the floor. Let your daughter drink from a fancy cup, ect.

I hope this helps and I hope you get a lot of suggestions and have a fun time with your daughter!

I am a single mom of two girls a 4 and 5 year old. For their birthdays I but a birthday girl sash button or tiarra. We get all fixed up I do their hair make up and nails. Then we go to starbucks it makes them feel like such big girls. They get a carmel apple cider and a pastry. You would think you gave them the world. Then if you sign up on line at chuckie cheese they send you coupons and you get twenty free tokens for their birthday. One of the coupons you get a large pizza four drinks and 25 tokens for less than 20. That always makes for a great afternoon. Then I take them to get a birthday treat at the pastry shop. It is all about making the day all about them. Their favorite part of the day I make whatever they want for dinner, we watch home movies and play games. This day usually doesn't cost more thank fifty dollars and they love every minute of it. My daughter is already planning her special day and her birthday isn't until may. Just enjoy the day and make it all about her. She will love anything you do.

Do you own your home? The first thing I thought of was letting her "customize" her bedroom. Buy paint and let her put her hands in it and put her very own 5 year old handprints all over a taped out section of the wall. Let her pick out a new comforter,lamp or even pillows to make it a special place.

This doesn't sound quite as cute as the other ideas but my little girl also turning 5 in Jan loves to hear stories about when she was little-- like it was soooo long ago right?!?! Haha
I've been thinking of making one of those photobooks with pictures of her and stories to do with them, Lots of the online photo places have been running great deals lately snapfish, photoworks etc.

Another idea would be to collect family recipies slip them in plastic page protectors and give her a tough washable Cook book and spend the day cooking with her.

I LOVE the previous 2 ideas. I was thinking along the same line... the most important thing about the day being that she gets you all to herself. I imagine that being one of three kids with a single mom, your time is very precious. Probably anything you'd do with her - just the two of you - would be special to her. I'd definitely try to taylor the day to her interests, but I was thinking of making her feel like a princess for the day. You can make a VERY inexpensive, and VERY cute princess skirt very easily that she could wear for the day. I can give you details on making one if you're interested - just message me. You could also purchase an inexpensive tiara at a store like Claire's or even party stores or dollar stores have plastic ones. Maybe take her to get her nails painted in a salon - that's usually not too expensive, just to have them painted. Take her for lunch, let her have "grown-up" things, like maybe a cup of tea that you ordinarily wouldn't allow... Then, you could maybe rent a princess movie, and make popcorn, and watch the movie with her, just the two of you snuggling together with no disctractions from the siblings... Sounds like fun to me.

I am a single mom too, but I only have one, and I know how precious time is... so that's why I think that your time with her, regardless of what you do, will be the best gift ever.

I was thinking along the lines of a special day with just the two of you...lunch, a movie, bowling, manicures, whatever. I think if she got to spend the day with you all by yourselves that she would love it!

Maybe take a day and totally spend it doing what she wants....go to a toy store (set a budget!), have a tea party, take her to lunch, go bowling, etc....whatever she chooses based on her interests.
You could take her for a day at the museum, shop for O. new outfit, get her nails done, whatever she likes. She'd probably love to have you all to herself for a whole day--if you can swing that somehow.

This might seem silly, but have a fancy "tea" party for her! Our six year old read a Fancy Nancy book where she had a tea party and she just wanted one of her own so badly. We suprised her with one at my mother's house. We wore old dresses and had simple treats like jelly rolls (flatten a slice of bread and spread jelly on it, roll it up, then cut into rolls) We had fruit with whipped cream and sprinkles, fresh veggies with dip, and crackers with cheese. Instead of tea we had lemonade and apple juice. My mother even baked a cake and we had ice cream. You can get flowery printed plates and napkins from a local dollar store. The kids could wear big hats and tiaras. What kid doesn't love to dress up?? It makes them feel special and it will be her own special tea party. Our daughter loved being the hostess of her own party, she still talks about her party and Nana's big flower hat and that was 2 months ago! lol Make her feel like a special princess, and you can do it on a small budget! Take lots of pictures so she can look back and remember how special it was! I hope this suggestion helps! Good luck and happy birthday little one!