To have an all class party

[mrsscoob]

From reading on here I can see a few people are against them. I wouldn't probably go for one usually, but we have not long moved into a new area and we really don't know enough people yet for a decent sized party.

I was thinking of inviting the whole of his class of 30, the place I was going to hire is a set price no matter how many children, so it would just be extra for food.

Thing is i'm not sure now (tbh from reading threads on here!) that it is a good idea. Maybe I should just take him out for the day and have a small family party at home?

And I might add 2 of ds's closest friends do have SN and are statemented, as is one of his cousins. I have no issue with SN children. I do have a problem with someone who assault my child.
We are not talking about a 5 year old here. This child was 11 at the time. And my ds was so terriefied by him that it took another parent to tell me that their child was worried about him as he was being held down and kicked in the play ground by this child but he was too scared to tell me because of the treats this child had made to him.

treats = threats.

And sorry to highjack OP. Go ahead and have your party. Invite who you or your dd wants, be it the whole class or 1 other child.

yanbu i think it sounds quite nice to have a whole class party and especially as you are new in the area will give you and your ds more chance to get to know the other children and families, so why not? especially if its same cost however many children

im with you maryz, its a great way to 'spy' on class dynamics, find out who their friends are etc. also to break the ice a bit with some of the mums. it might even encourage some new friendships or playdates, especia
lly important if he is an only.

It's a great idea. It'll get him early class kudos - and as someone who changed schools four times (forces brat) this is important.

Also, you'll get to meet several of the parents, some of whom hopefully you'll stay in touch with.

Dd has always had whole class parties. There is no child that she does not like or get on ok with.
In fact this year she will have a whole year party as the year has grown and been split into two classes. Still only about 26 children though so not desperately brave
There is no rule.
Anyone saying ' you shouldn't have whole class parties' is being a bit silly as they are applying their experience to everyone else regardless of the circumstances.

Have big or small. Whatever suits you and tpyour child. The only thing I think is off is asking a whole class except for one.

My ds at large primary with 2 classes of up to 30 kids in each year. He is in year 1 and has been invited to a few 'hall' parties. Each year kids are rearranged in classes so my ds got friends in both year 1 classes. Not asked me for a 'hall' party yet and I am dreading the moment! ALWAYS left out kids as 60 kids too much for anyone! Also don't assume all parents will stay -lots of dumping and running round our way...

I agree with both Longtalljosie and Maryz.

If you are new to the area it will be a great way to get to know your son's class mates and introduce you to the other parents, most of whom will have known each other since Nursery or before.

As someone who has had a few class parties, you just need to be really organised so that the little darlings are occupied, have plenty of adult help ( as you can't rely on the other parents who might dump their offspring and run or have younger siblings to deal with.)

I also agree that its cruel to invite everyone in a class to a party, except one.

Inviting everyone, including any that have bullying tendencies, means you can be as nice as possible to that child, while studying them to work out how they operate, what it is about your child that say 'victim' to the bully and then give your child ways to deal with the situation.

I am not against all-class parties, just the way that it can seem to be compulsory. In a thread I commented on earlier, the OP referred to it as being a "tradition" at the school. Says who?

I haven't done all-class parties because we held DS's parties at our house and couldn't have accommodated 30 plus children.

In your circumstances OP, an all-class party sounds like a good idea. But it is your choice to do it, no-one's imposing their expectations on you.

When they are young whole class parties seem kinder. My dd1 will be 5 in march and we've arranged a whole class party plus invited children were still in touch with from Pre school and family and friends from outside of school so about 35 children.
You'd be surprised at how much less it can cost than a party for say 12 children at a soft play centre.
We've paid £17.20 for 3 hours hire of a local hall and £75 for a disco/entertainer plus food will be around £40/50 for homemade sandwiches biscuits that kind of thing, whereas ds2's ninth birthday at the end of January was almost £250 for 12 children including him at an AstroTurf football centre.
So what if your child ends up wih 30 pieces of plastic tat as gifts they will no doubt have had a great time and so will the children who came.

That wouldn;t work for us hotchpotch.

Where we are hall hire is about £25, we spent about £70 on food and party tablewards for ds at his last party at home, plus an entertainer is a minimum of £100.

At the wacky warehouse you can get everything including food and party bags for 15 children for less than £100.

Thank you everyone for your opinions

I think we will probably go for it! I did need a little reassurance. Apart from the reasons I said before, I did also think it was a good way for my son to make friends and for us both to get to know people. Then I read a few other threads on here and got scared as I thought people not like us for doing it

We always have an all class party as my son is one of those "mates with everyone " kids. Nuisance.

Actually, even as a whole class party hater, it does make certain sense if you are new to the area. Good luck.

I always thought it was quite nice that parties in this area were so varied and there were no expectations of "the done thing"- some children had all class parties at the local church hall/softplay, some had swimming or McDonalds parties and others had very homespun parties for a smaller group. And the children always seemed to be pleased and grateful for whatever was on offer.

I still do all class parties at 9 and 7.
They are both given a choice if they want just a few children and party at home/go to movies, etc. Or a class party at an indoor play place. So far, both have picked to invite the whole class.
In my daughters classes the children generally get on pretty good with each other. Not everybody 'likes' everybody else, but there are no bullies, etc.

If we were new to the area, I think I would go with the whole class party. You will get to meet the children and some of the parents also, which would probably be useful?

Go for it MrsScoob

Both are great but having the whole class (if you have time/resources etc) is good (not necessarily better - just different)- because there's load of scope for games - loads of people singing happy birthday ...running around ...eating tea together etc....it's a totally different atmosphere ...you can have select play dates any time. Ideally, it's good to have an extra helper on hand to closely interact with any children who are disruptive or seem unhappy in any way.

But tbh, I agree with Cory - no one here seems to have any set expectations ... Some parents never have parties and send in cakes to the school on their child's birthday and the dc love that too!

Always bemused by supposed 'Mnsnet' views on such things. Not borne out by most of the posters on here anyway.