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Original poster

What’s the etiquette with (reception age) parties this year?!

17 replies

Glassy5 · 06/09/2021 10:34

DS2 turns 5 at the end of September, so I can’t follow form with the other kids as his birthday will be one of the first

He’s never had a birthday party before and has been talking about having a party for months (knowing that might not be possible).

He doesn’t have a group of school friends yet as he only starts reception for the first time on Wednesday. He knows two children from preschool. He’s really outgoing and sociable though - so he’s very much a more the merrier sort!

Are whole class parties permitted and happening? I know they’ll be together all day at school anyway, but add in parents and it seems like a super spreader event! I don’t want to be irresponsible.

What would you think if you were invited to a whole class party?

Honestly not sure what to do!

OP posts:

Pleasegotosleep01 · 06/09/2021 10:38

We have exactly this issue. I have just booked an activity and party room afterwards, this morning messaged the class WhatsApp group to give time and date and just fingers crossed someone replies!

Original poster

Glassy5 · 06/09/2021 10:41

It’s such a tricky one, isn’t it?! They don’t know enough children yet to choose five or six good friends, and it’s all still so new you don’t want to randomly exclude a bunch of kids!

But then, is it ok to have so many children? I’m glad I’m not alone in not being sure what to do!

OP posts:

tootiredtospeak · 06/09/2021 10:48

We've been invited to a whole class party 25 September reception. Said yes but only 1 parent will attend. They are together all day and coming home to said parents dont see how its increasing the risk.

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621CustardCream438 · 06/09/2021 11:20

I don’t see how the whole class mixing in the village hall or whatever is any different to them all at school. My kids have spent the summer at soft play, theme parks, swimming, zoos etc mixing with vast numbers of random kids, so I’d regard a class party as fairly low risk!

Assuming you are in England it’s perfectly legal and allowed. Obviously completely up to you if you’re comfortable with it though.

woodfort · 06/09/2021 11:23

We have several whole school parties in the diary for the next month or so. Earliest whole school party I went to was back in July, just after the 19th. They’re back here.

That being said, I’m not sure I will do a whole school party for mine. We’ve been lucky with a summer birthday that we were allowed small-ish parties during the last 2 birthdays that fell within Covid and actually they were lovely.

Normandy144 · 06/09/2021 11:23

We attended a whole class party yesterday and it was really great to see the kids enjoying themselves. We've had a few other invitations for this month too same sort of thing. I'd go with it. If people are uncomfortable then they don't have to attend.

Original poster

Glassy5 · 06/09/2021 11:35

That’s good to hear! And are the parents attending? Most of the children will be 4, so not confident about a drop off party for that age yet…

OP posts:

RobinPenguins · 06/09/2021 11:36

If it’s the whole class then they’re already all sat together at school anyway, so I don’t see how this would be any more of a ‘superspreader’ event than just going to school?

Original poster

Glassy5 · 06/09/2021 11:59

@RobinPenguins

If it’s the whole class then they’re already all sat together at school anyway, so I don’t see how this would be any more of a ‘superspreader’ event than just going to school?

Totally - but I was more thinking the 30 extra parents too

OP posts:

RupertTheCat · 06/09/2021 12:28

My son started reception recently too and he's been invited to a party this month. I have no problem taking him, he will be in a classroom with these kids 5 days a week. He's really looking forward to it and has already asked me when it will be his own birthday party!

trumpisagit · 06/09/2021 12:35

How about planning something outside?
Picnic in the park style. The weather should be good enough.
What does your DS want to do?

Original poster

Glassy5 · 06/09/2021 13:17

@trumpisagit

How about planning something outside? Picnic in the park style. The weather should be good enough. What does your DS want to do?

I was thinking about that and crossing my fingers for no rain…

DS wants a big, themed party with everyone invited!

OP posts:

APurpleSquirrel · 06/09/2021 13:20

We did a whole class party yesterday (27 children in total) & it was fine. We hired a soft play centre for ourselves. Parents attended, all went well. Only invitations declined were because they couldn't attend as had other plans.
We've also got another whole class party at the end of this week.

irresistibleoverwhelm · 06/09/2021 13:24

Even pre-Covid it was quite normal when DD was in reception to do a whole class park party as all parents will stay anyway - you don’t have to do a full party tea, I’ve been to ones where the parents just had a few outdoor games and did some packets of Pom bears, juice cartons, fruit and biscuits/cakes from a couple of Tupperware boxes, and just let the kids run about for a hour. With maybe a birthday cake and singing but not lots of food or activities apart from that - and the kids all still had a fab time!

I’d think most parents would be pleased with that and it gets rid of the indoor mask awkwardness and everyone’s happy.

If I could go back again I’d be far less stressed about DC birthday parties! Sometimes the simpler ones were by far the best.

juliainthedeepwater · 06/09/2021 13:53

We’ve already been invited to 3 whole class bday parties this half term and my son hasn’t even started reception yet (will do in a few days!!)

My thinking is that covid-wise that’s fine unless things take a radically bad turn. Maybe I’d expect adults to do lfts first?? Not sure. If everything’s open and we’re meant to be getting back to normal seems a shame not to embrace kids parties. They’ve already missed a lot.

RussianSpy101 · 06/09/2021 13:55

Whole class parties are back, from what I’ve seen so far.

HectorGloop · 06/09/2021 15:12

One thing the last year has taught me is that young kids are perfectly happy to have a park party. The age spread of parties we have been to has been 4-7 this year, and the majority have been at the park. Obviously the weather can be a factor but, unless its absolutely torrential, they don't mind. Simple and straightforward is good!! Having said that, I can't see a trip to soft play being any more spready than having them all together in a classroom all day.

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