Birthday Surprise Card (Surprise Messages the Week Before a Birthday)

What:

Here at Parentfile, we’ve developed something we call the Birthday Surprise Card. The week before your child’s birthday, send an email to family and friends asking them to record a video message wishing your child a happy birthday. Wait until you see your child’s face when you play the videos for them! 

Why:

We don’t live nearby all our close family and friends and they certainly can’t make every birthday as they get older. This is the perfect way for your child to feel the love, and your family and friends to feel connected to your child by sending them this message each year.

How:

Ideally you send this on the week before your chid’s birthday - but if you have a child that has a birthday in the next month or two, why not send it out right now and give it a try! Talk about something to look forward to “giving your child” on their birthday…a truly meaningful “gift.”

1. Find your single best picture of him/her that is recent (within the last few months)
2. Use the email template below to send out to your family and close friends - change it however you like!

Subject Line: (Your Child Name) is Turning (Age About to Turn) - Please Send a Video Message

Body of Email:

Hi Everyone,

I can’t believe it but (Your Child Name) is turning (age) on (date). I’m creating a Parentfile Birthday Surprise Card and I was hoping you could record a brief video message as a happy birthday for me to share on the big day. The funnier the video the better, or share something you remember when you were that age, it would be such a meaningful thing. Just record the video on your phone and email it to me asap ahead of the big day. Thank you!!!

Love,
(Your Name)

3. When you get the videos back, on the actual birthday, sit your child in front of your phone or computer and show him/her the messages. For bonus points, video tape your child watching the video to get the reactions and then share with with your family and friends. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts take a little time and effort…WAY TO GO!

Where to Save:

Save the messages you get back in My Children, Best Childhood Memories, Best Videos. You can then view them year after year which is such a fun way to have a snapshot of each of the childhood years!

Make it Ongoing:

Add to your calendar on the week before each of your children’s birthdays, and recurring annually, to “Send Parentfile Email to Family & Friends for Video Messages for Birthday Surprise Card.”

Functionality Coming in the Future:

Video storage in your Parentfile is currently capped at a smaller amount than we would like - this will be updated by end of year. Parentfile is also working on functionality so you can automatically save the video messages for each year in your Parentfile.