Be creative by wishing them with an ice cream cake of their favorite flavor.
Take the mobile phone of the birthday boy/girl. Set the wallpaper and their ringtone to a Birthday song. Hide it in their room and call them at 12am.
Collect a bunch of photographs and print them in black and white. Stick them on the wall in the form of a number representing their age. Get them blindfolded and wish them showing the collage.
Organize a present hunt game by placing clues which will lead them to a surprise bash at a friend’s place or restaurant.
Wish them by gifting them their portrait made of a cake and a funny message written with icing on it.
Share their birthday thrill with a dolphin. Take them to a theme park/aquatic parks which have facilities where they let you swim with the dolphins.
Plan the birthday surprise hunt by preparing clues for the birthday boy/girl, get random items to be hidden at various locations and end the day with a party.
Plan an adventurous day by driving/traveling to a national park/adventure spot close to where you reside. Pack a picnic basket and camping gear, and spend the day doing all the things the birthday boy/girl likes.
Plan with friends and pack yourself in a huge live size box and just when the birthday boy/girl pulls off the ribbon jump out like a jack in the box.
Make the start of their day special. Stick tiny colorful notes on all the personal things like a pillow, toothbrush, etc. with funny quotes or memories on their birthday
Wish them with tickets and an itinerary in an envelope having the whole day planned out at their favorite amusement park or movie tickets followed by dinner.
Organize a swimming party for him and wish them arranging floating tube spelling his name.
A courier is rarer than emails received. Ask his friends and relatives to courier postcards, letters, messages or gifts to his address. Wish them in a traditional way.
Why not start the birthday present a week in advance. Choose 7 small, but personal gifts and one bigger than another. Send one daily leading up to his/her birthday. Deliver the final big gift on actual birthday.