Isla Dwyer celebrated a very special sixth on Sunday, April 5, thanks to her very clever mum.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In Isla's family, each child gets a birthday party every second year, and 2020 was Isla's year.
Her mum, Hayley Dwyer, said Isla had been dreaming up her party for months, and sent out invitations before learning that Australia's social gathering restrictions meant a party was off the table.
"Immediately as a mum I knew I'd have to find another way of making her day special," Hayley said.
"As we are all in isolation, my first thought was how can her friends and family still be present at the party without actually being present?
"Children these days have adapted so quickly to new technology and ways of communicating and so I decided to create the birthday party like any other event on Facebook.
"I asked her school friends and family to upload their birthday wishes via a video on the page. As the day progressed I was able to share the videos with her."
Hayley said Isla had a huge smile on her dial as she watched her friends and family sing happy birthday, especially school friends and teachers who she has missed.
"She was so happy just to see their faces again - it was as if they were in our living room with her," Hayley said.
"Her cousins' special poster and paintings they made for her birthday put a big smile on her face."
Hayley said all of Isla's virtual guests responded positively to the online party, and began posting videos as early as 7.30am.
Guests also got creative, singing, making special signs and dressing up in costumes.
It was important to Hayley to keep Isla's special day bright. She said children are resilient, and adapt well to new situations as long as they are safe and supported. She advised parents in a similar position to keep it celebrations simple and fun.
"It's our job as parents to make sure we keep things light-hearted and full of joy so that we continue to make happy memories for them, despite the changes happening in all of our world," she said.
"Play party games, have a birthday cake and dress up, and don't be afraid to use technology to communicate if need be.
"Kids will remember this time for the rest of their lives, just as we will too."
