When do the big parties stop?

You dont HAVE to do anything
We did it for reception as it was fun but the next year(s) it became a small group .
There are no rules for parties op.

I wouldn't start it, then you don't have to stop. That's a ridiculous amount of money to spend. And by the sounds of it you can't really afford it. Just get DD to chose 5 friends (she's 5) and do a party with them.

She'll have just as much fun, if not more fun, with people she really likes.

Hall+bouncy castle round here is more than £150

We did whole class parties once when they started school although the norm around here are whole class parties up to age 9. That said, in one of my DC's year, half the class have never had any party other than family presumably. In another DC's class, the majority had parties, most of which were whole class parties. I imagine that was more a response to covid than anything else.

After that we reduced it to approx 15 kids per party. Around here the birthday activity costs approx £20 per child so £300 per party which included food but not the birthday cake..

I agree with other posters. If having a big birthday party, the birthday presents should be limited according to your budget.

I budget £150 for a child’s party and invite the whole class. Rent a hall and bouncy castle takes half the budget. £50 on food. Make my own cake and then do some diy party bags. There are some great ideas on Pinterest. A few prizes needed for the games and pass the parcel.
I do know people who have spent hundreds but the kids haven’t enjoyed the cheaper parties less.

Have it in January!

We ended up having DS’s party a month late, because the date we originally planned clashed with his best friend’s birthday party. He loved it, meant he got two rounds of presents far enough apart that it was like a whole second birthday.

Also shocked at how much some of you are paying! It’s £150 for two hours in soft play around here, and then I just buy sandwiches/squash/crisps, and a cake from M&S. Definitely spend <£100.

We. did two, DD turned 4 and 5. After that just a handful (up to 8-10) for an activity.

We had one larger swimming one when DD turned 9 as our house was a building site and the pool had a flat fee of 20 children so it didn't matter.

Oh ok. I don’t know how common that is really, all the children’s parties I’ve hosted or attended have been either games at home, or village hall and entertainer/bouncy castle, or soft play.

Obviously that should say closest friends not closets friends!

DD’s 8th birthday was her last big party, we hired a village hall. Her 9th she had her 5 closets friends round for a themed dinner party, 10th was bowling with about 7 or 8 from her class, 11th was in the second lockdown so we couldn’t do anything, 12th was a sleepover with her 2 very best friends and her 13th was a shopping trip and sleepover with the same 2 friends.

I think by fancy I mean the ridiculously OTT ones. That's not to say I don't think anyone should have them if they want to and can afford them.

Those sound pretty “fancy” to me! I’ve done things like this at our house, it’s fun but I wouldn’t describe these as simple, they do require thought and effort, far more than booking a soft play (which I’ve also done, but shared the cost with parents of other birthday children - came out cheaper than hosting at home in fact!)

So it in November. Not January.

Dts are august so not quite the same but we used to do their parties early July.

A bit off topic but happens when your child has a birthday in December and a) all the halls are booked out for office parties, with b) parents who want to attend said office party and won't be able to accompany their child to a birthday all during c) the most busiest and expensive season of the year???

Asking for a friend.

I stopped whole class parties in year 2. That was when the kids only wanted their actual friends to be invited anyway.

I gave my youngest the option of a party or a lunch out to his favourite restaurant and an outing. He chose the latter.
It way too expensive to do both.

Reception here and it’s been a mix of whole class and small groups.

I’ve never done a whole class party and don’t think I ever will -
DD knows who she likes/plays with
Her siblings are twins - nfw will I host a party for 60
We put a bouncy castle in the garden, ten-ish kids; sandwiches crisps juice and cake and they are happy. I may just buy a sodding bouncy castle but in the meantime the whole thing is under £250, with adult food and good party bags.

Your parties actually sound way more fun than the fancy ones. Then again I was an 80s/90s kid, very lower MC, and would have loved simple parties like yours

It depends on a lot of things, including parents income. Where I live money is tight for most people so big parties are rare (2 or 3 a year) and only in reception. Most people who invite more than 5 dc have it in their back garden or hire a church hall and either a bouncy castle or games like pass the parcel/musical statues. Works out not hugely expensive. My dn seemed to still go to really expensive big parties regularly all through primary school though so it varies. It's great when they get to 17ish because they organise it themselves and each person pays for their meal, bowling etc themselves so you just have to give them £20ish per outing and drop them off/pick them up.

Do what suits you! In my experience it tends to be full class parties until age 6, then all girls/boys for a year or two (with some smaller parties too) and then by 9 it's friendship group only.

I did a small bowling party for my five year old.
You do what suits you and your child. I hate hosting and he was more than happy with the £75 party and custom cake (the cake was far more important to him that a massive party anyway)

Y1 was the end of big class parties, the smaller ones aren't necessarily cheaper though as the activities are more £££

Our children were given a choice. Party or present. As paying £xxx for all their friends to come to a party is the present as far as I’m concerned. All their guests bring a gift. Your child doesn’t need another present from you as well.

I used to give my kids the option of a party, plus a very small gift from us, or a gift from us worth £150/200.

I know they don't do Christmas or Easter, but children's parties? Really?

^ yea I had no idea till I sent invites out.