To throw a children's birthday party end of December?

[LuckyAmy1986]

DS birthday is in between Christmas and New Year, I'm trying to decide whether to throw him a party on the date or to wait until one of the first weekends in January. He has never had a party before because it's such an awkward date. DH thinks people would come and be glad to have something for their kids to do after the Christmas madness has died down. I think people will either be away/not be bothered to come/ just want to chill at home. If your DC had an invite to a party on say 29 Dec would you take them? Would you rather take them on 12 Jan or something? TIA.

Honestly, no. And I say this as someone with a festive birthday. He’ll be more disappointed by all the no-shows than just waiting a few weeks for a party.

I can't see why most people wouldn't come. I don't think that many people go away fro Xmas.

I’d wait.

Personally there's a good chance I'd be away as we always split Christmas between the two sets of grandparents.

However for people who stay at home it would be a great thing to do when kids are climbing the walls.

Also some people are not off for the whole Christmas break.

Perhaps the first week or so of Jan might be better, more people will be around and it won't put your DS out at all.

It’s no going away always. It’s how busy you’ve been, how much has been spent etc.

I think it would depend on how close to home it was and how friendly my dc was to yours.

Would probably be better before Christmas or in the Jan. as I know some days we just lie about doing nothing.

I wouldn't go that week but would in Jan

My dd birthday is 30 December.
We have never had a party as no-one is ever around.
We either do them at the end of the December school term / at the beginning of the January term.
Always works well with the above 2 - we spend her actual birthday doing an activity that she's chosen

My 5yo's friend's b'day is the 28th of Dec. Last year she invited the class to a soft play party on her actual b'day. Most people turned up. I say go for it!

Out of experience I'd recommend waiting.

I'd go if we were around. I'm mystified by the idea that people need to sit around for a week bonding with their families and seeing nobody else. I love my family dearly but we all need to get out and see other people, do other things.

I'd check with a handful of the prime attendees before booking it in, and if they are up for it then go ahead.

Friend's DD's birthday is 28th Dec and we always go to her party. You just have to tell people early.

We’re either very busy and having fun, or knackered in our pyjamas. Wait until the first week in January after they go back to school and everyone feels down. A party will be nice after a week back to reality. People will have enough celebrating going on without fitting in a kids party TBH. I wouldn’t go, and I take my kids to 99% of the many parties they get invited to.

My son is a 30th Dec birthday and we do an early January party. He’ll only be 5 this year so probably doesn’t realise most people have their party nearer to the day buts it’s fine at the moment.
We’ve been down south visiting my parents for most actual birthdays so far (spent Christmas at home / with in-laws who live up this way)

My son’s birthday is the 23rd of December, every party has been a huge disappointment. People say they’ll come and then suddenly remember Christmas so then they don’t. This year we had a massive party for him in the summer and it was so much fun for us as well as him. This year we’ll do a cake but save the party for the summer.

No wait. Avoid the disappointment of no shows

How old? I'd probably wait for party but invite best friend to do something on the day, although I'd ask best friends parents before mentioning it to DS!

Thanks everyone, seems it's pretty much unanimous and I will leave it until January. AuntMarch DC will be 6, and I'll make sure we still do something special on the day itself!

DD’s friend has a party then, her DM just checks in advance who is around and plans accordingly. Most people seem to go and enjoy the break out of the house for a free activity!

Does he have any friends with Jan birthdays?
I know 2 children with birthdays late Dec and 1 Jan. They have both had a family birthday tea on the day and parties mid Jan and combined it with another friend with a jan birthday (not each other as they are about 8 years difference in age).

My DD will be 7 on 28th Dec. We do a party on the second weekend of December then do something special on the actual day. Have done this since she was 4. So far it has worked ok.

My DS is end December and we’re having his party then. I’ll see how it goes but have 10 confirmed children already and haven’t sent his class invites out yet.

I'd go for it!

We got married on the 29th December and everyone we invited came - we decided on that time of year as we had close friends who lived abroad and they would be back in the UK for Christmas, so it saved them having to fly over again for our wedding.

Lots of people said they were grateful for something fun to attend in the lull between Christmas and New Year, as they'd had enough of eating leftovers and watching repeats on the TV.

You'll have a few people who will be away, so why not send a text to the parents of the children you want to invite now, just asking for a general consensus on whether they will be around to attend DS's Birthday party that day or not, then make a decision once you know how many will/won't be able to make it.

I would work out 5 or 6 people who ds really wants and check their availability.

Ok just to be a pain! I don't know why we didn't think of mid December either. So would you be more inclined to go in December before xmas or in Jan?

I would work out 5 or 6 people who ds really wants and check their availability This is a good idea!