Birthday Ideas for Children in Wheelchairs

Carnival Party

• Organize a carnival outdoors or at an indoor gym facility and make all of the games and activities yourself so that each one is customized for your birthday crowd. You can make beanbag toss game from plywood and a ring toss game, customizing the height according to your birthday guests. Set up a tabletop magnetic fishing game and a baby bathtub filled with rubber ducks; write ̶0;WIN̶1; on the bottom of a few of them with permanent marker and the guests who choose those ducks win a prize. You can encourage each of your guests to explore their creative sides by setting up a giant sheet of mural paper along the fence along with tables with art supplies, such as paints and paintbrushes, sticky foam shapes and crayons. Have each child contribute a little artwork to the mural -- an adorable keepsake for your youngster.

Special Needs Facility

• Look around in your area for a special needs facility to accommodate your birthday celebration. You can look for a special needs baseball field with rubber flooring or a playground for children in wheelchairs with roller slides, wheelchair swings and merry-go-rounds (or round-abouts). Some will have teeter-totters with seats that accommodate children with special needs and castle structures with ramp access, too. You can host the party at a public special needs park or look for one that offers birthday party packages for exclusive use during that time. Again, make sure you have plenty of adult volunteers to help out throughout the party or encourage the parents of your party-goers to stick around for food and cake, and a little assistance, too.

Backyard Hodge-Podge

• You can make sure every guest -- including the guest of honor -- has a memorable time at your party, even if you̵7;re planning a party on a budget. Host your child̵7;s birthday celebration in the backyard and organize a variety of inexpensive activities. You can set up a T-ball stand and have the guests take turns batting a ball to your adult helpers, set up a tray of bubbles and different bubble wands for the kids to play with; toss basketballs at an adjustable hoop and play pass the parcel or ̶0;hot potato." Space out the activities as much as possible or set up one at a time so there is plenty of room to move, and bring food and treats outdoors so you don̵7;t have to worry about moving the party back and forth between indoors and out.

Small Outing

• Instead of a giant birthday party this year, have your child invite two or three of his closest friends and plan a special outing for the small group. You can take the kids to the zoo for the afternoon -- book a party package for a private party room, birthday cake and zoo-related activities. There is plenty of space and solid walkways to make getting around easy. Alternatively, book a party at a local aquarium, animal shelter or petting zoo with wheelchair accommodations. You can opt for a party package or take the group for a visit and then meet back at your own house for cake and presents; a less expensive alternative if you̵7;re working within a budget.