What to write in a children’s birthday card

Birthdays are joyous occasions, particularly for kids who spend the whole year counting down to their special day. There’s the obvious gifts, balloons, and birthday party extravaganzas to organise, but you shouldn’t underestimate the power of a card featuring a thoughtful message to put a smile on their face! 

From parents and grandparents to siblings or a family friend, a card displaying a memorable message can be a wonderful token to truly treasure. But it’s not always easy to find the right words, is it? 

Well, not to worry, as that’s where we come in! We’ve racked our brains to come up with a blend of simple, unique, and funny birthday messages for children. 

So, whether you’re looking for birthday wishes for a little girl, or birthday wishes for a little boy, we’ve got you covered. These birthday wishes for kids are guaranteed to add joy to any little one’s day! 

Classic birthday wishes for kids

Let’s start off with some super simple happy birthday messages! Just jot down one of these greetings in a lovely card of your choosing to make their day: 

  1. I hope you have a super special birthday today, you truly deserve it.
  2. Wow, you’re growing up so unbelievably fast! 
  3. Hopefully your special day this year is filled with fun and laughter (and lots of cake). 
  4. If your day is anything as special as you are, you’re in for a real treat. 
  5. We hope you have the happiest of birthdays filled with all of your favourite things.
  6. We love watching you grow up, happy birthday kiddo!
  7. Happy birthday to the coolest kid we know. 
  8. Wishing you a day full of joy and excitement, happy birthday!

Birthday messages perfect for youngsters 

While they might not yet be old enough to understand your words, a thoughtful message is just as important for those early milestone birthdays. So, whether it’s a 1st, 2nd, or 4th celebration, here’s some messages for younger kids: 

  1. Happy birthday little one, we can’t wait to see the wonderful person you grow into. 
  2. Although you won’t remember this birthday, I promise we’ve made it a super special one.                                                                                                                                                                                
  3. Happy birthday, you’ve got so much fun and adventure yet to come. 
  4. Hooray, It’s your special day today!
  5. Happy birthday, you’ve brought so much joy into our lives already! 
  6. Here’s to another wonderful year of new and exciting adventures. 
  7. We adore watching you grow. 
  8. You’re growing up way too fast, happiest of birthdays little one. 

Birthday messages for older children 

Now that they’re growing into their own person, we know just how important it is to find the right words to express your pride. So below, we’ve come up with eight happy birthday messages perfect to celebrate older kids: 

  1. Happy birthday! Watching you grow into the person you are today has been wonderful.
  2. You might be old (and too cool for me now), but you’ll always be little to me.
  3. How is it that you’re creative, ambitious, and caring. We’re so proud of the person you’ve become. 
  4. We’re amazed at everything you’ve already achieved, enjoy celebrating today. 
  5. Happy birthday! We can’t believe you’re all grown up now. 
  6. We hope your upcoming teen years are filled with fun, laughter, and growth. 
  7. Seriously… there’s no way you’re (their age) already? 
  8. I’ve got a feeling this next year’s going to be your best one yet! 

Heartfelt birthday messages for children 

Maybe you’re looking for more heartfelt ways to express birthday wishes? Well, here are eight sentimental messages which are ideal to let any child in your life know just how much you love them: 

  1. When you blow out your birthday candles this year, I hope all your wishes come true. 
  2. The day you were born our whole world changed forever. 
  3. Happy birthday, you’re so easy to celebrate. 
  4. You mean the world to us, happy birthday! 
  5. You’re a little ray of sunshine in everybody’s life. 
  6. Happy birthday to my all-time fave (their age) year old! 
  7. Wishing you a day filled with friends, fun, and unforgettable memories. 
  8. We hope you know just how loved and cherished you are! 

Inspiring quotes from children’s literature

Sometimes a quote can sum up how we’re feeling almost too perfectly. So, we’ve scoured through some children’s literature to find quotes which offer encouragement and express love. And who knows, maybe one of these quotes will stick with them throughout their growing years? 

  1.  “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” —Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss. 
  2. I love you right up to the moon—and back.” —Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney.
  3. “A little magic can take you a long way.” – James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl.
  4. “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” – Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie.
  5.  “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – The Lion and the Mouse, Aesop.
  6.  “Inside all of us is adventure. Inside of all of us is… A Wild Thing.” – Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak.
  7. “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne.
  8. “The more he gave away, the more delighted he became.” –The Rainbow Fish, Marcus Pfister.

So, there we have it, our wonderful collection of birthday messages for kids! In the midst of cake, wrapping paper, and gifts galore, set aside some time this year to select a unique birthday card and jot down one of these wonderful quotes. Our lovely designers have created a vibrant range of children’s birthday cards for you to choose from: 

If you loved these ideas, the thortful blog is bursting with more inspiration guides. We’ve got handy prompts for what to write in a birthday invitation, as well as ideas for kids party bags and party games

Or, if you’re looking for birthday inspiration for teens and adults, we’ve got guides on how to make your birthday special for yourself, and adult party bag ideas to impress grown-up guests.