aibu ridiculously pontificating over this birthday treat for my 7 year old..

[justforthisonce]

My dd is turning 7 next month on a weekday..... a party is planned for her on a separate day plus days out with both sets of grandparents...

On the day though I want to do something to mark the occasion and make it special for her afterschool.....

I was thinking a meal out but in reality , how exciting is that for a 7 year old?!

I have become very stressed out trying to plan the perfect evening/afternoon that is at the same time low key, does anyone have any good ideas?

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

I would just do something at home like cake and a favourite film with popcorn. Her birthday is being celebrated properly later so she isn't missing out. She might well be tired if its her first week back at school.

[GastonsPomPomWrath]

Just have a special tea. That's what we tend to do if ours fall on school days. They do cards and gifts in the morning. Then a tea party in the evening with birthday cake and pop (which they only have as a treat)
I save one of the gifts, usually the biggest and most sought after gift, as a surprise for them to open then.

[Pineapplemilkshake]

It sounds like you are planning a lovely time for her, but I agree a meal out may not be very exciting for a 7 year old. What about a trip to Build a Bear after school, or invite a best friend for a birthday tea, or let her pick sonethibg like swimming or cinema?

[WhooooAmI24601]

We do afternoon teas for them if their birthday falls on a weekday, so they have a few friends and various elderly relatives who don't want to come to a trampolining/laser quest event and decorate with bunting, balloons and a cake. DH says every year that the afternoon tea should be foregone if they're having a party on top but I ignore him and have the party and the DCs love it. There's something lovely about pass the parcel on the lounge floor while they blow those horrid tooty horn whistles in one another's faces. I won't stop til they ask me to. And perhaps not even then.

[justforthisonce]

thanks for the suggestions of tea.....my dd is an only child sadly and i think a tea on her own would be very depressing for her.

we have no family in our city so it would be just us and equally I don't want to invite any friends as it would be too party like ...

[Aworldofmyown]

Have you asked her what she would like to do?

My 7 years loves nothing more than going out for dinner!!

[Bumpmadethemjump]

Make a list of restaurants you could go to and let her pick one, if she likes Mexican food then chiquitos would be fun.

[AnotherDayInParadiseLost]

Invite a couple of friends around for tea? But keep it fairly simple on a school night!

[notagiraffe]

Definitely go to build a bear if you can. It's such fun for the child and if you choose a small bear and one outfit it's not massively expensive.

[Blueberry234]

It's my 6 year olds birthday soon he is having a party the week after his birthday this year, on the day he has asked to go out after school for dinner and if he can pick a friend.

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

Around that age I have always asked what they wanted to do but offer suggestions. Options for the latest birthday were:
One friend round for soft play then McDonald's or cinema then McDonalds
Staying up late with take away and a movie
Favourite home cooked meal.
All you can eat buffet restaurant.
Pub with softplay bit.
Meal in posh restaurant.
My 6 year old chose pose restaurant so we got home from school put on our nice clothes got the train into big nearby city and had tea at a posh (by a 6 year old standard) restaurant. It was getting dark as we got back and he thought he was so grown up and loved it.

[AnnaMarlowe]

Ask her what she's like to do?

[Acunningruse]

What about a pizza, film and popcorn night? With birthday cake of course. Just thinking it's a bit special but not OTT.

[MissMoo22]

Mum and daughter pamper evening? Face masks, nail painting, girly film and popcorn?

[MissMoo22]

Sorry, that excludes Dad, even better get him to join in too!

[DozyDoriss]

My Ds is 7 today. Asked him if he wants to go to Burger King or a restaurant for his birthday dinner and he chose the restaurant. He's really excited!!

Ask what they want to do, what about afternoon tea after school at a cafe somewhere? The ones with little sandwiches and cakes??

[deepdarkwood]

Invite over one best friend - special tea and film in their pjs?
(If weather is decent) buy a treaty picnic tea and take to the top of a hill and watch the sunset?/to nearby park?
If weather isn't decent - cinema and MacDonalds/pizza express

[altiara]

When my DS was 6 on a weekday he had one friend over for tea (pizza and ice cream), and his party at the weekend. Low key but he liked having someone over on the day.

[BuntyFigglesworthSpiffington]

Ask her what she's like to do?

Yes! It doesn't need to be a surprise for it to be fun. If she chooses the activity she also has the added bonus of spending the whole day in a state of excitement.

[justforthisonce]

thanks for the chiquito suggestions and build a bear! I'm just looking them up now if they would be in travelling after school distance

[SolomanDaisy]

My 5 year-old loves going out for a meal, I can't see why a 7 year-old wouldn't! She can choose where to go too.

[Planty18]

My girls love going out for dinner too, or second asking her what she'd choose just the three of you

[CalmYaTits]

Cinema? Or arcades? Then you could go for dinner somewhere like Pizza Hut.

[Sara107]

My dD is 6 and when her friend turned 6 a few months back dD was invited out to dinner with friend and friends family (patents, brother and grandparents). This was on the actual birthday ( main party was at the weekend), and they were picked up from school and went to Frankie and Bennie's for dinner at about 5.30. dD was so excited, this was such a 'grown-up' thing for her, even though she has often eaten out with us. so maybe you could consider going to somewhere like this, or a pizza place and just inviting one or 2 best friends to come along?