Thanks to the Ellen Harnden the Primary President in the Garden Lakes Ward, Avondale, AZ for sharing this idea that their chorister Shauna came up with!
Our ward is small and like others, does not have lots of money to give for birthdays, but we wanted to do something little for them. We have not been doing good about sending cards and many parents were not happy about candy as other family members were jealous when some had candy and they did not. Our bishop does not always have time to get to the kids if they have a certificate for a birthday candy from the bishop.
He comes in almost every month for them so they do get to know him other ways. Our song leader, who was new this year, purchased a little artificial tree from Joann’s. It is a little tree in a little pot.
Any tree would do. She then goes to the book store and purchases a set of temple pictures – they run about $3.50 for 16 pictures. She glues a ribbon on the back and ties it and hangs it on the tree. It has also been suggested that we put a magnet on the back so that they can put it on a mirror. The kids look more forward to these than they ever did to suckers that we used to give out. It is inexpensive, brings about the ideas of the temple, and also is a little remembrance for them. If the kids missed on their birthday, they make sure that we know it so that they can get a temple.