To let DS have a Disney Princess party for his 6th birthday

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

Just that really. DS is 6 next month is having a class party. He has asked for a party theme of his favourite film characters...who are all Disney princesses. AIBU to give him the party he wants?

If it was your DD wanting a star wars party or something else typically masculine you would be absolutely slated for not giving her what she wanted. (observation not a criticism)

The difference is that girls aren't teased for liking things like Star Wars or male superheroes. I had one of those girls who liked all the 'boy stuff' (for want of a better term. She was never once teased for it. If anything some friends (of both sexes) seemed to admire her more for it.
Boys have a much tougher time of it if they stray out of the boy lane.

General Disney would be the way to go. Otherwise you're asking all of the boys to dress as disney princesses.. fine if they want to buy why should they have to? The girls might want a masculine option too. My son wouldn't want to attend the party and I wouldn't make him. He wouldn't tease or unkind he just wouldn't be interested. That's not bullying, I just don't see why you'd force your kid to be uncomfortable.

Girls like Star Wars too - who says it’s a boy thing?

Definitely disney theme

No.

No.

The only one with theme was when DD wanted a pirate party.That was easy.
She would never dress as a princess which was just as well because all the boys want ed them at nursery.

Can't you just call it 'Disney heroes' and then they can all dress up in what they like? Is your son wanting to wear a princess costume is that what you're wondering about? I'm not sure I'd allow that in public at that age

It’s really tricky. It’s a shame you might not be able to let him do exactly what he wants because of societal pressure. My niece wanted to do something quite ‘boy’ ish and sporty for her party as she always enjoyed her older brother’s ones and wanted to copy one of his. My sister had such a dilemma as she knew a lot of her friends were really girly girls and just wouldn’t come. I’m the end she let my niece decide but made her aware the party choice needed to be mindful of the interests of her friends if she wanted them to come. Ie she could pick the party she wanted but some people would say no or she could compromise slightly and have more people there. She picked having more people over the original choice.

My 7 year old SON has just got back from his birthday party he wore a pink dinosaur tshirt had a seriously pink cake etc his friends know him and dont care

Can my nearly 6 year old son come, he loves princesses and ‘girly’ stuff? I think children can be extremely mean can your son stick up for himself if other children turn nasty at school? My son wants a build a bear party but his friend said it was for girls only he was so upset and now doesn’t want a party at all, my eldest son wouldn’t cope with the children being mean to him so I’d say no, if my youngest asked I’d say yes because he’d take no nonsense and would more likely punch someone in the face than cry if nasty comments were made.

It’s sad that society means he doesn’t get the party he wants. Teach him so good strong responses if other children try and be cruel and hopefully other parents will be teaching their DC some good manners about how to behave when someone likes something different from you. It’s not the children with prejudices but their parents who teach them to be.

Which characters did he name as his favourite film characters you mention in the OP? Any “old-school” traditional princesses like Cinderella and Aurora, or the more modern “kick-ass” ones like Moana, Merida, Rapunzel or Anna/Elsa?

I wouldn't personally.
Not to gender stereotype DC though I think gender roles around for centuries have been seriously blurred.
DD is 11. She has a few friends with different titles already, no binary, no gender, one FTM. She is gay since last year, non binary at the moment, pink & dresses are banned, boys clothes only.
If she asks to be male next I'm locking her up. She has ASD so not sure if she is for real or over influenced.

It’s not the children with prejudices but their parents who teach them to be.

bollocks

kids also follow what they hear at school. If you want to throw a George Pig Party at 6, many kids will also comment that it's "babyish" and others will likely follow .

It's all well and good to teach your kids to stand for themselves, but at 6, they still like to fit in, and they tend to copy older ones.

I know quite a few 6 year old little girls who will refuse to go to a Disney Princess party too...

I certainly would have at that age - and I was a girly girl with tomboy tendencies! I was also quite ‘silly frilly princesses’. DS would definitely not want to go to a princess party (plus he would only every dress up as Spider-Man or a power ranger).

Just have a Disney themed party. Problem solved.

My ds 6 loves pink and 'girly' stuff, all his friends
(boys & girls) know this and accept it unconditionally.

His school totally support his choices the teachers, especially the head actively
enjoy educating non inclusive parents and children

But most parents are fabulous and asked what he would like as a birthday
gift and he was given the most thoughtful presents which he loved!

His party was a particular film theme but not pushed, as in cake and balloon
and a special princess visit, which the boys were enthusiastic and loved too!!

Is DS asking to wear a princess costume?

Do you have announce a theme? You can just put ‘Fancy Dress Welcome ‘. Or if you want a theme ‘Pirates & Princesses’ or ‘Superheroes & Princesses’ . Realistically half the girls will come as Elsa & half the boys as Spider-Man whatever you put on the invitations!

I’d let him do a Disney Princess party. After all the princesses are the stars and heroines of the movies. All the male characters are two dimensional cut outs. There’s really no Male role models in Disney movies (the cartoon ones) except maybe princess and the frog and he’s a frog for most of the movie.
But be prepared for no one to show up and the heartbreak that might cause. I once agreed to a rock climbing party for one of my DDs when she turned 9 and no one showed up because it was too boy and too adventurous.

Princess parties are pretty cringe regardless of gender tbh. That would have been a bit of a fail even among DDs female friends at that age.

I’m back - sorry been out with the kids so apologies for abandoning the thread.

Definitely wouldn’t do a fancy dress party - DS doesn’t like dressing up and I wouldn’t inflict it on parents (no-one enjoys having to faff about finding costumes!). And I’m mindful that the party needs to appeal to the whole class.

We’re probably talking about at a minimum themed plates, cake etc. Though I really went to town with the party theme last year (which was much more gender neutral) and it was a big hit so I’d love to get creative again but I’m very nervous of going OTT on this particular theme for all the reasons other mention. DS is mainly friends with the girls in his class but the boys are much more into stereotypical ‘boy stuff’ and I am really worried about him being picked on.

Although he really adores all the princesses (and hates Star Wars, Marvel etc) his big love is Frozen, so I was thinking potentially a wintery vibe with snow themed games etc rather than a pure princess theme. I have ideas (snowball throwing, snowman building, foam snow etc).

DS would LOVE an entertainer dressed as Anna or Elsa though and would definitely want an Anna and Elsa cake, probably play the soundtrack etc. Could I get away with that?

I think the entertainer would be pushing it. But the snow theme is good, and the cake should be okay too.

How about a snow ball / winter wonderland theme that is very Frozen! Love your snowman activity ideas. You could do a tug of war Let it go challenge.....