to not have big party for DS

[Hai1988]

DS is going to be 5 at the start of septemeber before school starts.

Today DS was talking about having a birthday party with all his school friends, but the thing is i havent invited any of them as i forgot as i wasnt thinking about it in July and now he is not at school and i dont know the numbers or addresses of any of his school friends.

Is it really a necessary thing to have big partys at this age?

Thinking of just hosting a little get together with family with food and a cake, but wont DS ask were his friends are?

I think at your DS age, you need to ask him TBH and make the decision based on how strong he feels. Is there another 'treat' you can give him that takes the focus off a party?

My DS1 is only about to be 3 and a few months ago, he started asking for a party with his nursery friends. We were shocked as we thought we had until he was at least 5 before having to have one with friends.

But it was the right thing to do. Now all he and his nursery friends talk about when I go is who is coming to his party. Now I need to get my arse into gear and organise the party bags...so DS doesnt become known as the one with the rubbish party and mean mummy. Oh the joys of todays spoilt delightful children.

YANBU

My son had a whole class party for his 5th and he didn't seem to enjoy it that much. For his sixth birthday he had a shared party with another child and, between them, they invited about half the class - much better!

He invited a few friends from nursery to his 4th birthday party at a softplay centre and I really don't think he enjoyed it at all - just felt that this was what you had to do and was adamant about having one.

I am about 99% sure that he would have enjoyed smaller parties at home MUCH more but he seemed to have to learn that for himself.

I would just have your normal family get-together and if he REALLY wants a friends party this year (and you can face it!) have it a week or so after his b.day so that you can get the invites out when school has started again.

Ive had this problem with my DS birthday being the 4th Sept. I just explained that next year when we have got to know all his friends, he can make his own little list,because by that time you will have had time to get to know the Mums and their telephone numbers and addresses.

Tip, keep the phone numbers from any invites he gets during the year. It just leaves you to do the ring around during the summer holidays to invite his mates.

Giving invitations to them before the summer holidays at the school gate will be forgotten.

We´ve never had a whole class party-just as many friends as the children wanted-with a top limit of about 8!

Sounds a good idea to wait until school again, if that works.

You don't have to invite loads of other children , but a few might be nice? Could you not find one or two to invite? DD1 only had five children for her party (4 y o) and they all seemed to enjoy it, nobody was overwhelmed and our flat wasn't trashed

im still in recovery from my DD's first birthday party yesterday. atm no one is unreasonable for not having a party they are the sane/non-masochistic ones. and in a moment of insanity you think it would be nice have it somewhere else where they do the food and clean up after.

the worst bit is have to get my house spick and span again for my own birthday party tonight. but there will be lots of alcohol so i eventually wont care.

Some children don't have birthdays at all, Sounds like you will have a tough job of tracking everyone down to actually have this party, you don't really want to do it, so why on earth should you.

There will be plenty of time to throw parties for him, when he knows his classmates better.

You are the parent, ultimately you decide if there is going to be a party.

You could take him, as a family, somewhere special. Does he have a particularly good friend that he could invite?

Mabey take him on a nice day out, say to Legoland or the like so its that bit special and hopefully he wont notice. You could throw it later on in September and have a certain amount of friends that he plays with/likes the most.

Tena my DS's birthday is on the 4th Sept too

Yeh was thinking of taking him on a day out somewhere. Just so glad u lot dont think IABU, as i really thought i was being a mean mummy.