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Original poster

If you have an August born child

58 replies

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 16/01/2022 08:23

When do you celebrate their birthday?
So a long way off but my husband and I were looking at prices for a soft play party/ hall party for our daughters 5th birthday. Her birthday is in early august- given that this is her first birthday in school she’s never had a class party before and neither have we had “holiday season” to contend with. My feeling is we throw her party the last weekend before school breaks up -2.5wks before her birthday. My husband thinks this is ridiculous, that you celebrate close to the date, doesn’t matter who can’t come and that otherwise we would need two celebrations (one on her actual birthday). I get his point but surely so many people will be away- I don’t want to fork out for a class party and have less than half attend. Who’s right? Any advice from parents of summer babies, what have you done?

OP posts:

MimiDaisy11 · 16/01/2022 09:12

I have a summer baby and was thinking it was great as I’d get away from the stress of throwing a big party 😂 but I guess my child might not let me away with it and throwing a party before of after the holidays makes sense if it’s what you want.

MakkaPakkas · 16/01/2022 09:13

IME if you want the whole class to come it can't be in the summer holidays. We generally find out when her best mates will be around and plan a smaller party that works for them (she's a late August birthday). Then on her actual birthday we do a low key family thing with grandmas and a cake etc...

Original poster

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 16/01/2022 09:16

All the advice is great- thank you. Just to say I don’t plan on having class bdays every year- as one poster pointed out it’s partly to help build friendships and for me to get to know the parents- I’m sure this may be her only class party before we whittle down to just the girls/ or just her friends.

I wouldn’t wait until September, it draws out her birthday which feels worse than starting early- also I imagine people would assume she’d be turning 6.

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BobBobbity · 16/01/2022 09:19

When we were at the all class party stage we did July before schools broke up.

We now tend to do a smaller party closer to his actual birthday but liaise with parents of his closest friends to find a date that doesn’t clash with holidays.

choosername1234 · 16/01/2022 09:20

We do a party in mid to late July for my late August born son. Since he was very young (5), he was happy to have a party not close to his actual birthday so that his friends could be there. He also feels like he has 2 birthdays

LetHimHaveIt · 16/01/2022 09:26

Summer holiday parties don't work, in my experience, and are fraught with disappointment and stress. I held my son's (mid-August) in the first weekend back at school and all but one child could attend. My daughter is v early August and I've yet to do her a party as she went into reception this year and I didn't yet know anyone. For next year, I'd be inclined to do it as late in the summer term as poss. I don't think it matters that it's before her birthday.

crossstitchingnana · 16/01/2022 09:28

My dd is now 18 but we always had the party on her birthday (bang smack in the middle of summer hols.) Yes people were away, some forgot but there was always enough to make it fun. Most importantly it was what she wanted.

Steelesauce · 16/01/2022 09:31

My eldest is August, we've never had a class party. We usually go for a garden party with a few friends (whoever is around) the weekend before then go on holiday for the actual birthday.

Bythepath · 16/01/2022 09:33

I am an August birthday and had my siblings and neighbours to all my parties aa nobody else could come! My DC3 is an August and we have a party in July before the end of term. There are a few other August birthdays in the class and they also tend to do July or September.

Motherhubbardscupboard · 16/01/2022 09:35

Whole class parties are a nightmare anyway as well as being incredibly expensive. My youngest DC has a half term birthday and we either did something with a smaller group, or we went for a big day out or even went away and made it a really special family treat. We only did one whole class party when they were about 10 years old and it was poorly attended. I'd say just accept as a bonus that it's in the middle of the holidays and do something different.

Dibdobdab · 16/01/2022 09:39

In our school, it was totally normal for August born children to have a term time party from mid June to end of term. Everyone loved an end of term party and yes, there were some people who couldn't make it because of planned holidays but it was fine.

In any case, parents used to club together for birthday parties within a similar period, so it was rare that any child's party was on the actual day. A family party would be held on the actual birthday.

DrRamsesEmerson · 16/01/2022 09:41

DD is mid-August, we always have her party in mid-July.

Original poster

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 16/01/2022 09:44

@Motherhubbardscupboard

In further years I definitely plan to use august as an excuse for a small celebration but we do want a class party for her 5th. I don’t expect to throw a class party once 10- I suspect for definite friendship groups will have been formed- also soft play/ trampoline parties may seem a little young by then.

OP posts:

gogohm · 16/01/2022 09:50

I'm an August birthday and my parties didn't have many people because they were on holiday. I wouldn't do the day after term ends either as many families head straight for holidays in July. Perhaps mid July would work or accept it won't have as many and book something more suitable for a smaller group eg we had a picnic in the park and a wildlife activity at the conversation centre for dd1's 5th birthday

Smartiepants79 · 16/01/2022 09:54

Until she was about 9 we used to do the same. Her party for her friends would be held the weekend she broke up from school.
We’d do a family thing around her actual birthday.
Nowadays it’s only 3/4 friends so I tend to do it on her actual birthday.

Original poster

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 16/01/2022 09:54

@gogohm

Sorry I may not have been clear I was thinking the Saturday before school breaks up, not just after

OP posts:

ShoesEverywhere · 16/01/2022 10:01

I was born in August. My best party memories as a child were ones in parks with e.g teddy bear picnics or orienteering or party games. It's the best season for a birthday!

My son is an autumn child and his party this year was very hastily (e.g the morning of) rearranged from in the woods to a church hall due to torrential rain all day.

toomuchlaundry · 16/01/2022 10:05

I’m an August birthday, don’t really remember many parties, but the ones I do were small and there were always the possibility of someone being away. Parents then used to organise our family holiday to coincide with my birthday which I used to enjoy (not really a party person)

DC is early January. That too can be a nightmare to organise as need to send invites out before end of Christmas term and most people will have forgotten once Christmas celebrations are over. So sometimes had parties later. Also the attractions where he most wanted a party or go to for birthday treat were closed in the winter.

julesover40 · 16/01/2022 10:07

My dd3 is early August. When she was smaller and wanted bigger parties, we would generally hold them the weekend before end of July term, then a family teas perty/ day out on her actual birthday. Now she is 9 and has a secure friendship group, we canvas the parents before end of term for a date that suits her friends nearer to her birthday (whattsapp group is invaluable for planning all the girls birthday celebrations) x

eurochick · 16/01/2022 10:11

We do it close to her actual birthday. Your estimate of about half the class coming is about right. It's fine.

Flickflak · 16/01/2022 10:13

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UnbeatenMum · 16/01/2022 14:19

I always do July before school breaks up for my 12yo. The latest I've ever done it was the last day of term after school, which still had good attendance and was a fun end to the term but usually I do a Saturday a week or two before term ends. We celebrate with family on her actual birthday.

onlyconnect · 16/01/2022 14:26

My DS has a birthday mid August and we have had a party on the day at least 4 times. One or two can't come but most have been able to.

FixTheBone · 16/01/2022 14:29

4 of our 7 have birthdays in the school holidays.

Birthday celebrations are the same as all the others. Either on the day, or, the nearest weekend.

BearYoYo · 16/01/2022 14:41

We have it the penultimate weekend of term so what, mid July? Done this for 3 years I think and seems to work well.

We've had an invite for an august born in my other child's class for the last few years and we're always away. I feel bad for her (although maybe the parents are happy!)

Or beginning of September could work but I always feel like we've got such a big build up to the birthday as EVERYONE is x age before DC that by her actual birthday we've had enough of it (poor child!)

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