Two friends at a 6th birthday party

[Backinninetyfive]

Is this enough?

Dd is 6 soon, she had a huge party last year, thirty odd people, all the decorations, play centre, catering, so many presents etc. it was very nice but a lot of work (I don’t mind that) expensive and Dd cried by the end and wanted to go home. She got home and promptly fell asleep.
This year I’ve had less money and time to plan. She’s not taken a cake and drinks into school yet, so I will get a cake made for her and do that and celebrate with her class. I suggested she could then have two of her neighbour and best friends over for a sort of mini party. It would be very relaxed, parents would drop them (they nip over to play a lot as it is) they could stay a few hours, I’d still make a cake, decorations, party bags, food out and they have the garden, trampoline and big pool out (it’s in summer) water guns, sprinklers. I thought of then doing fun games-pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey, musical statues. Does this sound rubbish with just three of them? Dh and I would be there too (happy to do the games and able to act like big kids) music on, hot summers day.
Is this rubbish? Feel like I’m not doing enough by doing the big party again, I could do one next year, do they still do them as much at 7?

Is there anything I could add to this to make it more fun/special?

I would try not to have an odd number of children.

I would maybe avoid 3 kids and try for 4 or 6.
But no, it sounds fine if your dd is happy with it.

Sounds fine - but just check school are OK with you sending a cake in, many don't allow it.

Edit for typo

Sounds lovely but yes, why not have a few more kids? Make it a group of 6-8ish as that feels like a real party and not just a playdate.

I would invite a few more friends. But the actual plan sounds great. If DD wants what she had last year, just explain she can't have that every year & maybe next year if that's what she wants. Doubt she will as they usually morph to wanting fewer friends to do something different.

id make it even numbers including DD.

The party at home with a reasonable number sounds great, but, like others, I would invite 5 or 6, otherwise it will just be like the neighbours coming round to play.

Sounds great but yes, not an odd number.

I think it's fine to have a small party so you would not be stressed financially. The main issue would be if you were having 28 of 30 or if DD had four main friends that you do invited all4

The issue I have with inviting more is leaving people out as we’ve had a set of my friends and their kids (5 children) who we’ve known since they were little, we can’t just invite one or two of those, would have to be all and then there are friends at school-4/5 closer friends and then it becomes a larger party anyway where parents stay etc and I’d likely have to hire a place anyway. The pool is large, but perfect for the three of them as opposed to more, trampoline the same. The three of them get on well, one boy and two girls. I agree a couple more would be perfect but then as I say I’d be leaving others out and also parents would torn up and it becomes a whole different thing in terms of vibe/catering etc

Cakes allowed at school, no problem, others have done before

Be prepared that not inviting children from the class could lead to your child missing out on return invites and being upset when she’s left out.

there are friends at school-4/5 closer friends

Sounds a perfect number to invite.

then it becomes a larger party anyway where parents stay

Perfectly fine to put on the invitation "Drop off at 3 and collect at 5".

Doubt it.
Parents either invite the whole class, or get their dc to tell them which '6' (or whatever number they are having) children their child wants to ask.

No normal person is going to go around keeping score, or only the September birthdays would get to choose their actual friends.

Why would she have to invite your friends' children unless she is actually friends with them? There would be nothing wrong with inviting just a couple of friends from school. You really don't have to invite a whole friendship group, just don't leave one person out.

@NewName24 Exactly!

Ive not heard of anyone doing that where we are, inviting two neighbours isn’t the same as leaving a few out from the whole class, which I’d never do. I don’t keep score and invite for invites back, do others??
I’ve done two large parties in the last two years, haven’t really thought about who has or hasn’t done a party/invited back, Those that haven’t done big parties may not have the finances or may prefer low key-perfectly fine with me

@DaniMontyRae She is friends with them, they all grew up together, it’s our set group, but they don’t go to the same schools or live on the street and play each weekend etc

I think it sounds great with just the 3 of them. How about a piñata in the garden too, ours always loved them and with 3 kids it’s more manageable.

Also they don’t need a big party every year.

@TabithaTimeTurner I did think about a piñata, we’ve never done one actually

Definitely a Piñata! And maybe buy/borrow one of those giant lawn games - something like snakes and ladders. And croquet! All ideal for a small number of children. You could also do cake decorating with them - just buy ready iced fairy cakes and some of those squeeze icing tubes and some decorative toppings. Always a hit with kids that age, and ideal for a small number!

@Backinninetyfive yep they do as they get older and the kids, particularly girls, talk about it amongst themselves a lot. Lots of discussion about who’s going to whose party and who went last time at our primary unfortunately