Too many class birthday parties ...

[Pineapplequeen]

Do you go to every single class party? We have so many they are every week! My class watsap blows up constantly with party invites with cascades of acceptances!

I think after last year of them all being cancelled its a priority for every child to have one this year

I would feel awful as I have made excuses for some as there is nearly one every weekend now till xmas and I CBA sitting in a Childs play area for two hours when ive actually got shit to do!

I take my children to them all - it's nice. They've missed out on so much this last couple years. I wouldn't dream of making excuses just because I didn't want to go as the kids love it.

I always take mine unless we have other concrete plans. They love it, it’s a good way for them to let off steam and socialise at the weekend, and it’s nice for the birthday child to have the class there. They’ve missed out on so much socialising the past 20 months.

I took my DD to all parties unless we had something else arranged. How awful would you feel if your DS came home from school on Monday feeling sad that everyone was talking about the fun they had at a party when he had been sitting at home or in the park on his own?

Its only 2 hours on 1 day of the weekend, i would always take them if we were free

Can you not drop and run?

we went to them all unless we had prior commitments.
1 - the DC always want to
2 - good to get known as a turner-upper. People continue to invite the turner-uppers when the parties get smaller and less frequent.

We've got 4 over the next couple of months. We'll go to all of them, its atenner a present really but I consider that a cheap outing!

Set a limit? Maybe one or two a month?

My husband works ever Saturday and I work alternate weekend shifts in a hospital. We don't have 2 hours spare every Saturday and Sunday to sit at a child's party either. We also have a social life, family and other things to do on a day off. Unfortunately children sometimes have to work around the parents who pay the bills to feed, cloth and keep them warm. I also couldn't afford a gift every week for other peoples children!

My DC doesn't want to go to everyone's parties luckily. She's a little shy and quiet and only really likes to go to her friendship groups parties.

Coordinate with someone nearby to share the dropping and collecting. It’s really important that they get the chance to learn how to socialise and actually have some flipping fun. Lockdown has really screwed a lot of formative experiences. (& when it’s your turn, share with another kid with an adjacent birthday, combine for a really amazing party)

Do you have to stay? Can you leave him there and pick up later?

If we can we do go. It’s only like this for a short time. Once they’re a bit older the whole class party thing stops.

This phase doesn't last long, mostly the early years of school.

It's really nice for them. Perhaps work out an arrangement with another parent and take turns taking both children to the parties?

I don't think I've ever turned one down. Why would you?

I go, they don’t last long in reality, once they’re 7/8 they tend to split into smaller groups, but the main thing it that it’s manners because I’m sure your DC would be very upset if no one turned up to theirs

Also, dc for the most part love going to parties!

I go. It's for DS, not me. I see it as part and parcel of having young kids. It's not forever.

Yes. It was mental in years R,1 and 2.
Loads of fun and made the weekends whizz by though.

We go to all of them. I find it goes on peaks and troughs too, some months there are loads and then a pause for a bit.

DD is now yr 2 and we are starting to see more smaller parties too, so it's nice to go to the bigger ones where everyone is invited because once the smaller ones start you may not get an invite to very many.

I've had to turn down one for a school friend recently as we'll be away for the weekend, otherwise DD would definitely be going. (I feel quite bad about it actually as this is the first party her class have been able to have because of covid.)

I imagine that the years of whole class parties are going to short for us, we only have DD so that makes it easier to manage and cheaper!

Yes, we go because it means so much to my child. I make DH alternate with me though and would happily work out a reciprocal agreement with another parent to watch their child to have a party off.

We go to them all providing we're free. Sharing with DH and other parents at helps though.

We had this when my eldest was in reception (the parents seemed to go in for trying to out do each other with ever elaborate parties). It was particularly noticeable around May and October/November. There was a party almost every weekend, which was just too much - especially when it was coming up to Christmas. In the end I only accepted invitations from the children I knew my daughter was particularly friendly with.

DD is year 1. Only been invited to one party so far this year, and that was bowling so only 6 invited. I'm quite glad to be honest. I would take DD if she was invited and we are free, but she ends up in a bad mood afterwards, so happy to skip that!

Only actually had one 'everyone invited' party in the summer at the local park. I think due to COVID we've skipped them mostly!

It's only for a short time when they're in reception. I think as others have said it's a good opportunity for you to get to know the parents of your child's peers etc so I see them more as a chance to make friends myself. They soon dwindle off and the kids love them.