When to have DS's birthday party?

[mockorangey]

Hi all

Please help me decide about this! DS is in reception and turns 5 on 24th August. There are 5 kids with August birthdays in his class so I feel like there are going to be lots of parties squeezed in to avoid the summer holidays.

The last weekend before summer holidays is 20th/21st July but we have already received an invitation for a July-born party on 20th. We could do the 21st, but not sure if people will want to do two in one weekend or what the other August-borns are planning...

The first weekend back after summer holidays is 7th/8th September. I feel like this isn't great either as other children will start to have 6th birthday parties soon after.

Alternatively there is 31st Aug/1st Sept weekend, but DS's best friend's birthday is on 31st August (not heard that they are having a party yet, but either way don't want to choose that date).

WWYD, help please!

A joint party with his best friend or one of the others?

Joint party good idea. Or wait til September.

His best friend is a twin so I would imagine they would do their own party. I don't know his family that well anyway so I wouldn't feel comfortable asking.

He isn't especially good friends with any of the others.

Depends how much your DS likes a party.

If he loves them and wants a busy whole class party have it in term time well away from his birthday. If (like my August born DS) hates big parties, have a couple of friends over in the summer holidays and do something special with them.

Before the summer holidays. I have an August born and a very early September born. Parties in the holidays tend to be underattended because people are away, or forgotten about. Parties in September need a couple of weeks notice so would be a while after the actual day (I’ve tried giving out invites before summer, but people forgot over the 6 week break). The only way to ensure kids turn up is to go for late July . The afternoon of the last day of school works well if it’s an option.

Depends how much your DS likes a party.

He always wants to go to them and has been talking about his own party for months and months. I think he imagines a soft play or bouncy castle party like he has seen everyone else have. He doesn't always find it that easy to play with everyone and sometimes goes off on his own. However, this is what he says he wants. And he always loves the food.

The afternoon of the last day of school works well if it’s an option.

That sounds like hell on earth to me. On the last day of term I just want to take my poor, broken child (after back to back fair, sports day, swimming gala, play, commem, church, saying goodbye to teachers and leavers...) home. And he finishes at the end of June.

people forgot over the 6 week break

We do have a class Whatsapp group. Do you think people would turn up if reminded on that?

My dd is mid August, the last 3 years we’ve done a July party and it clashed every time with another kids party. If you choose July send out the invites early! I’m just doing August this year

Are you doing a big party MammaMia?

Two or three weekends into term - give out invitations at the start of term. Just be prepared for cards with the wrong age on, even if you mention it on the invitation!

I think I'd do it before the holidays, or maybe the first weekend of the holidays? That way he'll feel that he had a party whilst he was in Reception, rather than it getting mixed up to with the 6th birthday parties in September.
If the weekend of 20th/21st is no good, what about the weekend before? OK, so it will be even further away from his actual birthday, but in the scheme of things it doesn't really matter.

Oh and my children have frequently had 2 parties in one weekend - 2 in a day as well! - so I wouldn't let that put you off too much if you did want to go for the 21st.

Loads of kids in our reception class are doing joint parties (including mine!). Not based on the parents being good mates but just it makes sense as the party schedule would be ridiculous, as you are finding! I would sound it out with one or two of the other July mums in the hope they are up for it. I think August would get a low attendance unfortunately.

I would book for the first weekend in September, give out invitations wel before the end of the end of term, so you can chase responses, then post a reminder message on the Watsapp when they go back.