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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are children’s birthday parties in the school holidays are a bad idea?

51 replies

CouldIBeAnymoreOuting · 26/02/2022 16:53

Feeling the pressure with DS’s request for a whole class party as it’s the first party he will have since starting school because of covid rules in previous years, and likely to be the only whole class party I attempt to to for him - smaller numbers are easier!!

His birthday is over May / June half term so I worry lots of people might be away (especially because of the extra bank holidays this year).

Do attendee numbers dwindle during the school holidays or am
I overthinking this?

OP posts:
ChaosMoon · 26/02/2022 16:59

They do. I have an August birthday and people were never around. Sorry, I know that's probably not what you want to hear.

readytostand22 · 26/02/2022 17:02

My little one has her birthday in august and she has a great turn out every year - I tend to hand invitations out last week of term

Original poster
CouldIBeAnymoreOuting · 26/02/2022 17:05

@ChaosMoon No I do want to hear it if it means I’m not being silly to think about doing the party the weekend after half term. He will be 6 and has had a lot of time over the past 2 years of no parties to think about the exact kind of party he wants - I don’t want him disappointed that half the class can’t come!

OP posts:
APurpleSquirrel · 26/02/2022 17:05

Agree that they do - DD is at the beginning of Sept but often people are still away.
Maybe try & do the party later in June?

Abraxan · 26/02/2022 17:07

Do attendee numbers dwindle during the school holidays or am
I overthinking this?

In my experience, yes they do drop. A lot of people are on holiday, visiting family, day trips, etc and this affects the weekends too

Spaceman101 · 26/02/2022 17:09

Yes I wouldn't plan a party for then. My sons birthday is at the end of July. I always bring his party forward a couple of weeks as otherwise people are often away.

OneMoreTimeThen · 26/02/2022 17:09

We've done them on a weekend in half term and summer hols and had good turn outs! If it's whole class it's easier as you won't miss a could that can't come. I used to think it was nice as it gave them a chance to all meet up during the holidays. I used to check with dc best friends that they could come when they were a bit older.

tiggergoesbounce · 26/02/2022 17:10

We have an August child in reception, so we are thinking of doing his party a week or 2 before they break up as people get so busy over half terms and are on holiday, we think it will be better for him.
It will probably also be his only whole class party, although we have no idea what to do yet 🤣🙈🙈

KatherineofGaunt · 26/02/2022 17:10

I have an August birthday and generally never manage to have a party. Even as a child, it was usually just two or three friends, rather than a big party. People always go away. My DS is in the Christmas holidays and people are always too busy for that, too. Sad, but that's the way it is.

MaizeAmaze · 26/02/2022 17:21

I don't think I'd do it for the 4 day weekend, but the start of half term, or the weekend after, is probably going to be fine.
There will always be some people who can't make it.

NuffSaidSam · 26/02/2022 17:23

Numbers definitely dwindle in the school holidays.

I'd do the party either before or after half term instead.

GlitteryGreen · 26/02/2022 17:24

I'd say a definite yes, attendance drops in the school holidays.

However, you're only talking about a 1 week holiday so surely could do the party a week or so before/after. I think it's the summer holidays that are the issue really.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 26/02/2022 17:28

I'm an August baby and after we moved from Scotland to England parties weren't a thing. I wish my parents had thought of earlier..

TimBoothseyes · 26/02/2022 17:28

Yes they do and not just in childhood. I have a December birthday ( actually the worst day in December to have a birthday). I have never had a party for my birthday ever. Child or adult, not one party ever.

BertieQueen · 26/02/2022 17:30

Yes attendance definitely is lower in school holidays. Even if people are not away if they work then childcare is organised so they still can’t go to parties as kids are at organised care.

My birthday is august and parties were always arranged for September.

MaryBoBary · 26/02/2022 17:31

My sons birthday was in the Christmas holidays but we did party the weekend after term started so people weren't away and everyone made it.

PopGoesBang · 26/02/2022 17:40

My dd's is a similar time to yours OP. I try and pull any party to the weekend they spilt up from school, rather than the weekend before they go back.
I give close friends the heads up and generally they are always there, others can be hit and Miss but it usually works out well and dd is pleased with the turn out.
This year is a bit different with the added bank holidays, she'll be 9 and is happy to have a 'thing' (not sure a party is the want more an activity for a few friends) whenever her friends can make it, which does take the pressure off somewhat!

ISmellBurnings · 26/02/2022 17:42

I have an August baby and we hold his party in July before school breaks up. I would just do it a different weekend.

OfstedOffred · 26/02/2022 17:49

Where I live absolutely everyone would be away, but it's high income area where lots will go on holiday.

I would always opt for the weekend after/before half term in your shoes tbh OP

Ilovedthe70s · 26/02/2022 17:55

My eldest daughter’s birthday is the beginning of August, one year out of all the class invited only two children turned up for her party.

After that I did all parties in term time.
She still bears a grudge 24 years later!

CowboyJo · 26/02/2022 18:01

I'd probably arrange the party nearer termtime.

DD6 has her birthday around Easter hols and I don't think the turnout would be great if she were to have a whole class party in the hols, so we try to do one at the weekend during term.

DS was born 2 days after Christmas so he has never had a party. Sad

balalake · 26/02/2022 19:57

Bad idea especially this year with the Platinum Jubilee, where some people will want to celebrate, and others avoid it by going away.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 26/02/2022 20:01

Planning my august child’s bday for July. Just chatting to parents about the feb half term so many send them off to relatives even if they don’t go away away. I wouldn’t do it

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 26/02/2022 20:06

DC2's birthday is over October half-term. We always pull the party forward a couple of weeks as lots of people go away visiting even if they're not on holiday proper. She rather enjoys having two birthdays a fortnight apart now.

missy111 · 26/02/2022 20:07

My sons birthday is in august, we always have his parties in September!