DS Birthday Party i need help please please please

[FreudianSlipper]

ds starts school next week and sadly knows no one there yet. he is having a party at the end of the month. i plan to invite a few from nursery. the venue is great they have a soft play pirate ship and cabin to eat cakes in and play party games

so question is do i invite the whole class? i am guessing so and from your experience how many turn up? he will not really have established friendships in 3 weeks. i am so worried that all will turn up or worse ony 1 or 2

am i worrying too much ??? so stressed over it

can not beleive i am stressing over a children party next year i shall take a few friends to battersea adventure playground

[NotShortImFunSized]

I wouldn't invite the whole class! Would drive me bonkers not to mention the expense.

Invite the nursery friends as planned. Does ds have cousins or other family friends outside of school that could be invited, instead of the entire class?

[TrudiRed]

Ds's birthday is the beginning of Oct so we had a similar problem last year. I waited a couple of weeks to see if any friendships blossomed straight away (apart from old nursery ones that is) and ended up inviting the kids from his 'group' in class (they were grouped quite quickly although those groups have changed during the year - not sure what they were based on that early but they are now based on ability in certain areas). Seemed to work ok at the time although I think it will be a different set of kids that get invited this year now he knows everybody.

[NCForNow]

Most kids do just invited the whole class at this age...not many of them will know one another unless they've all been to a feeder nursery...did your DS go to a dfferent one?

OR...you could just stick to nursery mates this year...as long as they're not in his class....which might mean some kids are wondering why "he" was invited but not "him"

[NotShortImFunSized]

Also you'd be surprised how quickly he'll make new friends when he starts! I constantly heard "Mummy so and so did this today, she's my best friend" "Mummy can so and so come and have dinner?" "Mummy can I go to so and sos house?"

That was in the first few weeks of DD starting last year!

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Honestly - i would change the venue to a hall and bouncy castle type thing... it wont matter how many turn up then, invite your friends kids and cousins etc you will have only wasted a few sandwiches if the schoolies dont show :)

[FreudianSlipper]

only a few but they do not live close and my friends children are all older (9/10/11) or tiny babies

sorry meant to post this in chat before anyone has a moan :)

we pay for the venue (reasonable if 20-30 come) not for each child. worked out cheaper and better value (children are entertained). ds has not had a party for the last few years, last year we moved the day before his birthday and the year before that he had an operation the week of his birthday

[NotShortImFunSized]

Well in that case I'd just invite the whole class. Makes more sense

Good luck and hope he has a fab birthday!

[Liketochat1]

I would invite the whole class. Make sandwiches, crisps and cupcakes and don't worry about it!

[RuleBritannia]

BabyDubsEverywhere

Good idea. Have the party on a Sunday and use the leftovers for Monday's lunch packs for adults as well.

[FreudianSlipper]

have you all had reasonable turn out at your parties? a friends little boy had a party and only a few (i think 4) showed up it was heartbreaking :( i have no idea why he is such a lovely little boy too

[NotShortImFunSized]

You should give invites out asap. Then harass the hell out of the parents who don't RSVP! That is the most annoying thing ever.

Most people who say they'll come generally do. It's the lack of response that's a problem bitter experience

[DeWe]

Most kids do just invited the whole class at this age

In case you're panicking. This isn't the case ime. I've had 3 children through reception and once one time has there been a whole class party-and that was hosted by about 4 children jointly.

I wouldn't plan on inviting the whole class. Better to invite a few and get to know them better.

I've only twice had a no show at a party without a very good reason and an apology-and usually a belated present too.

[MrsKeithRichards]

First year at school we had a party in the house and he wanted all the boys which was fine. Watch what type of invites you hand out. I picked up ones from the pound shop which just happened to have pirates on them. Cue 15 excited boys running about the play ground going 'yay a pirate party' and me desperately thinking of how to make it into a pirate party ASAP!

[Ithinkitsjustme]

I've only ever invited the whole class (30 kids) once, but if the venue isn't going to cost anymore then I would go for it. Make sure you have a few "spare" adults to help with supervision, get the invites out early and be cheeky - hand invites to parents and ask for THEIR contact details when you do - that way you can text them to remind them about the party. Hope you and your DS have a great time.