UPDATE, April 8, 2016: Since the publication of this post, letter-writing guidelines have changed to speed up the delivery of letters and as a result you may not be able to send some items through Compassion’s correspondence system. Before you send your letter, please review our letter-writing guidelines.
Everybody has one. Old or young, we all celebrate it.
It doesn’t matter if they are big or small celebrations, we all look forward to a little acknowledgment that day – a little something from the world that says, “I see you.”
And for a child growing up in extreme poverty, we know how very special it is when he or she has more and more of them.
More and more birthdays!
It is such a joy when a faraway friend remembers your birthday by sending you a birthday card.
I remember going through the Compassion Experience and hearing how Julian was so excited when she received a birthday card from her sponsors. In her country, children living in extreme poverty rarely receive a birthday card, so it was so very special to her!
This month, for our Second Friday Letter Writing Club on Pinterest, we are launching the Birthday Card Ideas board to gather all of the paper birthday ideas into one place. This new board will help you find birthday printables and craft ideas to make your sponsored child’s birthday a special one each and every year.
So let’s start off with a birthday card. Most of our sponsored children are in Spanish-speaking countries, so we’ve been able to find birthday cards in Spanish to send them fun birthday greetings.
But handmade cards are fun to make and a great way to involve your whole family!
You can keep this one simple or get really creative with this pop up card tutorial.
Birthday coloring pages are easy to print off and mail with a letter.
Want to send a little bit extra?
These paper folded bracelets would make a fun addition to your birthday letter.
Obviously, cards aren’t the only way to celebrate a birthday. Gifts are always a great idea. But before you consider sending a gift, be sure to check out these resources:
- Connect With Your Child Through Gift Giving
- Giving a Gift to Your Sponsored Child: The Whys, Whats, and Hows
Because the Birthday Card Ideas board is new, we need your help finding a whole bunch of fun birthday card ideas to mail!
Are you a member of our Second Friday Letter Writing Club? Share your birthday idea pins with us on that board!
Not a member yet? Be sure to follow us on Pinterest and request to be a member of our Second Friday Letter Writing Club board. We love what our members are sharing with other sponsors each month!
10 Comments |Add a comment
This is post is still one of the 4 featured posts on the very main Compassion site. Since the rules are changing and we cannot send pop-up cards now and ordinary cards are being scanned, this should maybe be archived? Just an idea 🙂
Hi Teresa! Thanks so much for the heads up! Where are you seeing this blog featured?
Susan, the link to the blog is on the main page (compassion.com) on the top right side under “FEATURED STORIES from Compassion”. It is the third entry titled “Three Birthday Card Ideas for Your Sponsored Child”. Is it still true that “We can send things that can be folded to be flat or under 1/4″ thick. This means that the pop-up cards and folded bracelets (folded down or sent with instructions) would go through just fine.”?
Hi Beth! I sincerely apologize for the confusion! Please read the update at the top of this blog post and review the new letter writing guidelines as of April 11, 2016. Our new guidelines require items to be paper, scan-friendly, and under 6 pages. Regrettably, we can no longer send pop-up cards and folded bracelets.
How far in advance before the child’s birthday would you recommend sending the card to you?
Hi Laura! We recommend sending all gifts and letters 2-3 months in advance to ensure they reach your child in time :).
Hi,
I didn’t realize we could actually mail a physical card to our child. How do I do that? I don’t have an address.
Thanks,
Kim
Hi Kimberlee! Yes, you are more than welcome to send a card to your sponsored child! Please write your child’s name and number on the card and send it to:
Compassion International
[No street address needed]
Colorado Springs, CO 80997
I was told I couldn’t send things that aren’t flat. So the pop-up cards and folded bracelets wouldn’t work, right? I tried to send our sponsored child a homemade bookmark, and I was told they couldn’t send it.
Hi Lorielle! We can send things that can be folded to be flat or under 1/4″ thick. This means that the pop-up cards and folded bracelets (folded down or sent with instructions) would go through just fine. I am so sorry to hear that your homemade bookmark could not be sent as it sounds like you put quite a bit of time into it! 🙁 All items must be paper and within he size guidelines. If there was any metal or leather included in your bookmark, regrettably we cannot send these materials.