WWYD - child's 5th birthday two weeks after starting in Reception in September

[Tare]

I'm looking for ideas on this one as it must have come up hundreds of times before!

My daughter starts school in September. Her birthday falls at the end of her second week. What would you do about a party?

If it makes a difference she is very sociable and has had a tight knit friendship group at pre-school. We've had parties for her 3rd and 4th birthdays. She absolutely loves parties - hers and others.

The complicating factor now is that we have recently moved so she no longer has local friends from pre-school etc that we could invite for a smaller thing.

It feels too soon to be trying to sort a class party but I could do something like this at a later date potentially. I'm not convinced though. My preference would be a smaller thing - day out or similar? But I feel like this could make her feel sad about the move and the fact she has left that friendship circle behind.

So WWYD?

Day out and push the party out by a few weeks or all class party?

Small family tea party, and then whole class party a week or so later

I have a DC with a birthday in early September. I had a class party at Reception, invites went out the first week at school. Party is with 2 weeks notice. Lots of people don't mind using this as a chance to meet other parents in the class.

If your class has already sorted a WhatsApp group, that'd be even better for organising it.

That's a good point actually. Hopefully it would be a good opportunity to get to know everyone. I think I'm slightly nervous about going first!

Should have thought of this before timing a pregnancy so I'd have one old in the academic year 😆

I’d try and organise a whole class party if you are happy to pay for it as lots of people will be keen to get to know one another .

I agree a whole class party with two weeks notice is perfect. You'll also be guaranteeing your DD lots of return invitations throughout the year as parents will know her!

If you can afford it I'd go with a simple (but effective) garden or village hall/leisure centre sports hall hire with a bouncy castle, then a load of balloons for them to kick and throw around and some music.

You only really need to know how many kids are in the class then just write or print out that many invites with your mobile number and date on for RSVPs and allergy info, you don't need to put the kid's names on the invites just ask the teacher if they can give one to every child.

Simple party food, I try to keep everything vegetarian because that way I don't need to worry about policing access to ham sandwiches or sausage rolls. Just jam or cheese sandwiches, box of crisps, fruit (berries and melon wedges), some veg (mini cucumbers, tomatoes cut into wedges), mini cakes/biscuits, either a big homemade jelly or individual ready made pots and birthday cake.

At that age I had bottles of schloer/flavoured fizzy water and nicer biscuits for parents but didnt cater a meal or hot drinks for them.

Whole class party sounds like a great idea, good way to get to know everyone and get everyone’s numbers.

Two kids at my DD's school have birthdays in September and invited their reception class even though they'd only known each other a short time (the first party was at the end of the first week!).

Both parties were fab and the kids loved seeing each other outside of school and it gave the parents a chance to get to know each other as well.

We had most people joining the class on a WhatsApp group over the summer, so I would do a whole class thing for your daughters birthday. Another girl in my DDs class had the same and it was good to meet other parents in a more relaxed environment.

If you can afford it I'd do a whole class soft play party, takes the stress out of doing any of the organising at a time when you have a lot going on with starting school and so on, it's a crowd pleaser for the kids and you can't really go wrong. If not the suggestions for a straightforward village hall-type party will work fine too.

All class party, lovely way for her to start off forming new friendships with her classmates. I think a lot of parents would be delighted as well.

Do a family party or a day out for her birthday, and then I'd plan for a class party a few weeks later. It's quite possible that lots of parents won't know each other and everyone will welcome a party early in the year, as it's nice to feel like your child is being included.

We moved house last year the same week as my eldest's birthday (Y4). We had a small party at home with old friends just before we moved, and then we did another party about 6 weeks later once she got to know some new friends in her new school. It worked out great and it was a nice way to help her settle in to her new school.

My DD had the same, although it was actually the first weekend of reception term.
I'd booked a hall and entertainer, the school admin gave me a list of everyone's first names on day 1, invites went in bags on day 2. Requested no presents and parents were welcome.
Everyone turned up and it was good chance to get to know everyone.

Go for it! I have 2 with September birthdays, who changed school a few times, so I can tell you 1. Everyone will come to the party 2. No one will be able to judge you against past parties. Just hire a cheap hall and some basic entertainment and you're golden. But you will have to invite everyone.

Don’t bother with a big party and save the whole class party for Year 1. That’s what I did with my September baby.

I'd just do a special day trip out, somewhere really nice.

Ds is early September.in reception he had party with his nursery friends and in Y7 with his primary friends.

My dd also has a mid-September birthday.
They didn't actually start full time school until after her birthday so it wasn't possible to have a whole class party really - she'd not actually met all the children yet as they'd had different groups doing half-days.

For the 5th birthday we just did a small party at a soft play, 8 children including siblings/cousins. For her 6th birthday at the beginning of Year 1 she can have a whole class party.

I would do a whole class party if ita finacially viable.
Its a great way to "meet" everyone and its a nice thing for the kids i think a good old party for reception all together.

This.
i would definitely do a whole class party - it's a chance for everyone to get to know each other, and she might get return invitations for the rest of the year!
you don't have to do it every year.

Thanks all! You've inspired me to go for it so I've booked a party package with a trampolining/gym club - they had space on her actual birthday so it seemed like a sign!

I guess I'll be asking the office for a list of names on day 1! 😆🤞

Whole class party. Send invites the first week. Do something where you don’t necessarily need exact numbers e.g. bouncy castle, entertainer and buffet tea at home or in a church hall. It’ll be lovely!

We had 3 end august birthdays in DDS class. We had their 4th birthday party in about the second week of Sept. Worked really well. Bouncy castle in a church hall.