Would you send your 6/7 year old child to a woodland party in December?

[OhNoooooooooooooooo]

If your 6/7 year old (Year 2) was invited to a den building party in the woods in mid December.... Would you say yes?

DD is desperate for a birthday party in the woods where they can build dens, do s'mores, play on rope swings etc and have pass the parcel round the camp fire. That kind of thing. We'd have hotdogs for food.

However her birthday is 19 December. So would do party weekend before like the Saturday afternoon, 1-3 that kind of time..

Would be in our private woods behind the house, so no issues of access etc it's a contained area. It has a campfire circle already. Can easily get a gazebo through for rain....

Would you think adults would need to stay? I
Do you think I'm mad even contemplating this??

Yes but we are outdoors in all weather and have all the proper clothing. Some people would probably be horrified by the idea. You’ll probably know though among her friends whether they are from the kind of families who embrace this sort of stuff or not!

My DD1 would absolutely love this.

Yeah, wouldn’t think twice. Sounds ace.

Absolutely. Although would expect provision/back up for very bad weather.

We went to one for toddlers last December, it was fine, so I’d expect 6 year olds to be ok with it.

Yes I’d definitely bring my kids along to this, it sounds great!

That sounds like a brilliant party, I reckon you might need a few adults around depending on how many kids come.
I’d be so excited for my dc to go to a party like that!

What's the back-up plan in case of torrential rain?

My kids would love it. I’d hate you if expected me to stay for it. The only bit I’m not sure about is that a gazebo doesn’t sound like much of a back up plan as unless it’s a literal wedding marquee won’t they be just stood around without space to do a lot, and it also likely rules out the campfire. Maybe limit the numbers and plan party games in the house as a back up??

.... Waterproofs and jumping in puddles🤷

Historic weather suggests that it is normally 11-13° and bright.

children were very outdoorsy too so would have loved this. Plenty of hot chocolate and marshmallows! Maybe not stay too long then decamp indoors if very cold or wet?

Yes, mine would love it!

Oh it would be more of an umbrella basically in case of rain, for adults to stand under and have a hot drink ha ha ....kids don't care about rain.
... Definitely not a marquee.

The horrified ones would probably politely turn the invite down 😂😂

We took a bunch in there last February just for fun, it rained on and off... Adults kinda ducked under my makeshift tarpaulin shelter a d watched the kids get wet 😂

I suppose if it looks like torrential rain then a back up might be needed.

I shall ponder the choices seeing on how many people "sign up"...

My 3 year old would love it, as would I!

First challenge, if it’s raining is to build a serviceable shelter from a tarp!

Could you do it in October? Ive done birthdays out of season for divorce reasons. It works.

My kids are a lot older but this sounds great. My DC would have loved this. Make sure you flag to parents that it is outdoors and kids will need wellies and a waterproof.

One party for DD was in the woods – I laid out a treasure hunt trail and then they all had to scavenge things to make a picture or a model – the things they created were wonderful. This was in June tbf but IIRC it rained but we did it anyway.

I don’t know anyone who would be horrified at their child being outside for a few hours in December. Every school and nursery here where I live (and there are many!!) has outdoor play every day. Unless you live in a different country, then I think you might be over thinking things!!

yes, we did this in january for my sons 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th birthdays.

hot chocolate with squirty cream.
precooked sausages for “camp fire” meal.

a pre made den the first time,
a ramble with a story teller
den building
archery with decathlon kit which has suckers
a forest school leader for another
by 8/9 we were doing treasure hunts and torch light games in the dark.
there was one birthday that i worried would be rained off, but even that one was fine in he end.

My DS would have absolutely loved that.

Sounds like you are rural, so the guests will be too I'm guessing, and used to being outdoors, and will have the right clothing.

Just be very clear about what's involved and what the kids should wear, and be prepared to postpone, or have a back up plan in case the weather is awful

Of course! We go skiing and that's way colder and a much longer day. It'll be great and just make sure you are super clear with the parents they need to wrap their kids up warm.

I think party sounds mint. However id advise invitations go out now because youre talking week before Christmas and if it wasnt booked in now I might be busy

Yes!! My kids went to a forest school tho so perhaps I’m the wrong mum to ask!!!

Yes would happily do this. Live rurally and have a dc with almost the same birthday though so used to this dilemma !

Yes, with a coat.