Birthday parties and covid

[Teacher12345]

DD turns 5 in 6 weeks and starts school next week. She has never had a party before due to changing nurseries not long before her last birthday. She went to a few parties pre-covid and has asked ever since about her party.
Now obviously, parties are not a great idea right now, but she is so obsessed with the idea it feels cruel not to look at options.
Any idea of a childrens parties that you would allow your kids to attend? Kids will be 4/5 so things like cinema are out alothough would be good for SD.

The local trampolining park has opened near us that would be good! We have been a couple of time's, easy to SD as there is loads of space and can only have a certain amount of people in!

Thats a good idea, but the one near us doesn't allow under 5's so half her class wouldn't be allowed on!

Just looked and they allow them on at 9am for an hour. Don't think anyone is wanting to attend a party at 9am!

My little GS recently went to a 6th Birthday party held at a local outdoor play area. The parents put party food and cake on a picnic table and the children ran around playing for a couple of hours before eating. Every child had an amazing time and GS said it was the best party he'd been to. It cost the parents no more than the party food. All the other parents could get a coffee from
The local cafe and IMO it was a happier and healthier experience than soft play type parties

Unless it's outside I don't think you can have more than 2 households anyway? Maximum of 6 if outside. Or is it different children? Take a few to the zoo or a petting farm?

Just invite her classmates,guess they're all mixing at school anyway!

I wouldn’t go to a child’s party right now but in general times a 9am party wouldn’t put me off. The park idea above sounds good though, we would do that now

Good point cookerhood. Although they are all going to the kids in her class so not sure what the difference is between them spending mon-fri together plus a couple of hour on saturday morning. But hey, thems the rules!
Outdoor is obviously the best option but it will be OCtober so the weather is unpredictable.

We had a party in the park a few years ago. All the girls came and we played ball games, took scooters etc and asked parents to bring outdoor games - swing ball hula hoops. So they had different things.
I did a picnic and parents brought a dish - it wasn’t for a birthday more a leaving party.
They had a fun afternoon.

@BluebellsGreenbells did you have a back up plan for the rain?

Bouncy castle in the gardens with traditional party games?

My garden isn't big enough for one.

Plus if it rains you can't go on them.

I think not a good idea.

You may be doing your child a kindness by increasing their understanding of the need to be careful given Covid 19, and also getting them used to disappointments. If a child gets used to succeeding with 'pester power' it may come back to haunt you as they get older.

We've got a similar dilemma with DS who starts school this week.
We've decided to forgo the traditional party and take him for a nice day out at CBeebies land or wherever instead. We're going to have close family round for a bbq/cake/presents too.
I don't think many parents would send their children to a party in the current climate to be honest.

@WillowB thats what we usually do, this year was going to be the one year she had a party and I feel really guilty that she can't have it.

I guess the issue is with my own disapointment as much as hers.

It's rubbish I know but I'm look at it this way: he won't have formed any friendships or barely know any names within the first few weeks so it then becomes a minefield of who to invite (or the dreaded whole class party) so at least I'm saving myself that hassle. Next year he should have actual friends!

There is a little girl from her nursery with a birthday the same week, going into her school with her, we were going to do a joint party, I may just see if she want's to do a day out with the girls.