Would you go ahead with a birthday party for four children?

[tomtom88]

Got myself in a pickle with a Summer birthday party.

I have summer born yr 4 age 8/9 I usually do the sensible thing of holding the school friends b-day party in mid July.

last yr we had only one decline so 10 attendees.So my child is not unpopular.

So this year I thought July is always so crazy busy so I would arrange the party in early Aug - I did check with 2 closest friends on the date chosen - but unfortunately 3 of the other 4 invited cannot come. Leaving 4 confirmed including my child.

Tbf my child wanted a smaller party of say 6-7 kids but I am thinking is 4 is too small

WWYD? Cancel, Reschedule, Go ahead with those that can make it, invite one or 2 others from outside of school?

Any advice?

I’d take them somewhere they’ll love instead of a ‘party’. Trampoline park/wildlife park/etc etc. Give them lunch/tea, party bags at the end. Job done

It's always going to be tricky in the summer holidays as people will be away. I think you have to just go ahead with it based on the 4 you have. It gives you an opportunity to do something a bit easier e.g. take them somewhere instead of a traditional party. You could do a fun swim session and trip to McDonald's or maybe cinema. Maybe a sleepover? I wouldn't cancel, just rethink what you're going to do.

We also have an Aug born and like you usually do July. She's specifically planning a 'party' for her 3 best friends this summer (imminently moving house so couldn't do in July this year), yes it's a glorified play date but we can make it really fun and special, why would you not want to do that?

Take them somewhere instead

I would turn it into an outing

They are the age lots of people exchange parties for days out - and 4 is about the max you'd want for that.

Small parties are the best. Enjoy

Me too! Can use the budget to make it more of a treat day out

Yes, take them somewhere fun.

I'd cancel, purely because I arranged a Birthday party for my daughter's 7th Birthday this year and only 4 people said they could come. We went ahead thinking that was fine because it was in our little house and it felt like enough children because it would be 5 including my daughter. I kid you not, ONE child turned up. My daughter spent the first half an hour looking out of the window excitedly expecting her friends to arrive, and they never came. After half an hour I text the mums, only to be met with 'so sorry, I forgot!' From all of them. It was so crushing. I had got party food, party bags, cake and everything, and it turned out to be a glorified play date. I'm still so upset by it! My daughter is well liked and never gets involved in arguments or anything, people are just really bloody inconsiderate!

Id also go ahead but after ketchups post I would closely manage the attendees and do a day out but push and say what's happened and it will be trip to trampoline park / pool/ whatever local farm but as only 4 now and will cost can they confirm again they can def attend.

So sorry to hear of Ketchups experience these things really hurt and some parents are very casual about it all.with no thought for the child involved or the effort and love that has gone in to arranging things by the parent

I don't really want to do a day out because the thing booked is what my child wanted so I will extend a few more invites and see where we get and take a decision.

I cant do September for family reasons and any other summer date will suffer from the same issue of not suiting some people.

Thanks all.

Cinema and McDonalds or one of those Make your own Pizza things at Pizza Express. Party bag at end. Bosh.

Definitely go ahead. They'll be happy to be together. With so few, I'd explain the situation to all the parents and ask them to double-confirm.

There are some great suggestions here. Or you could move the party to the start/mid September when school is back?

I have a late July child and always did parties a couple weeks before end of the school year to get best attendance.
with four kids I’d take them bowling then for a pizza or something . I wouldn’t cancel.

Thanks for all the responses.

I hear what you're saying re a day out but I don't want to do that because what is planned is really what my child wanted and it would not seem right to make the party fit the number of kids coming rather than my childs preference . If it's 4 kids then I will just work with that.

I also agree early September is a good shout for a Summer b-day party but this year we cannot do that. I also did do that one year yes attendance was high but it kind of felt wrong to be having the party for say 6 when two weeks later others were having their 7th.

I feel a bit guilty because it was totally my error in not securing something earlier in July and being a bit blasé about it all.

My 8 year old is having his birthday party this weekend and 4-5 friends coming (one still unconfirmed due to parents work schedules). What’s wrong with having a party with 4 friends? I’d say that’s been the norm around here the past maybe 2 years. A few close friends and fun at home with tea and cake. We’re going to get them playing football, have a nerf gun session, then pizza and cake, and then splash around in the river to cool off before I send them home. It’s a perfect number.

OP just go ahead with it and make the most of it. I’m a summer birthday myself and so is DS so I totally empathise. I think what’s important to remember is that the smaller numbers are no reflection on your DD as people are either on holidays or on day trips or there are weddings happening or family events etc etc . Go ahead and I hope she has a great day,

Day out or something at your house such as pizza making and an activity.

I’d rearrange for September to be honest.

I was going to say the same thing rather than a traditional “party” as such.
this sounds a great plan x