Would your 8yo DC be happy with this birthday?

[pinkbonbons]

AIBU to be worried that DD will be disappointed?

DD’s 8th birthday next week. We did a big party last year but couldn’t do the same this year. DD likes crafty things. I’ve invited two of her friends round for a few hours and have: bought them a canvas each to paint, a wooden thing to paint, a charm bracelet each to make and a hairband each to make. I bought DD one of those print out paper cameras which, if I can get to work, thought they could take pictures with and make a collage with some stickers and pens etc. That’s kind of it really though and I’m worried that they’ll be bored. I have the floor is lava game as well for them to play, but would your 8 year old be happy with this? I’m worried that DD will be bored/underwhelmed for her birthday ‘activity’. AIBU?

There will be cupcakes and a few other party food bits. Have to wait to do the actual cake with family later on in the day.

But if your worried your DD will be underwhelmed, frame it as friends round to celebrate your birthday rather than a party

OP i get that you are not in a position to hire a hall / big day out sort of birthday & noone expects that every year.

However, you seem to be spending a bit on craft activities for just 2 guests.

At that age, we had a mix of types of parties & a lot were at home. Dd would have had 10 or 12 classmates / friends to the house & we did 1 activity such as 'decorating cupcakes' - i baked a couple of batches of fairy cakes in the morning & bought icing & decorating supplies & set them up around the kitchen table.

Once they'd completed that, they had a 'disco' & generally just played / ran around. Dd has a winter birthday so usually the garden was no go due to weather.

Other things we did were make your own pizza (bought bases & let them add toppings) & they then ate what they made

Once the activity was done. I'd sort out the party food - which was mostly pizza or cocktail sausages etc with popcorn & treats & always a cake with candles so they could all sing happy birthday. Sometimes I'd bake the cake sometime it was a supermarket job

We usually decorated the kitchen with balloons & sometimes homemade paper bunting which dd loved helping with in the run up to the day. Cheap paper plated / napkins in a theme, unicorns etc & def a party bag if only to put the cupcakes into.

2 hours later they'd all go home & 'party' over for another year

I think you can do it v cheaply if you prepare the food yourself etc

I think 6 or 7 friends gathered would def make it feel like a party for her

Sounds perfect.

Maybe add some (shop bought) cupcakes and biscuits to ice to make it a bit more birthday ish.

Sounds lovely but don’t expect them to do all the activities. They might just end up playing.

I did similar for my 8yr olds birthday. Made sure she picked food and put balloons and banners up. She loved it! Doesn't have to be a big party to make it lovely and fun!

I’d get a second cake that she can have with her friends. It doesn’t need to be an expensive one but it would make it feel more like a party.

A piñata would be fun as well.

Amelia I reading it right you won't be doing a cake/singing happy birthday? Just buy a 2nd cake to do at the party and have the main cake with family later.

Did you ask DD what she wanted to do for her party? My DD is the same age and i would give her options for her party that I can afford and then she chooses,

Oh and by the time you have spent all this money on craft stuff you probably could have just done a bowling party with 3 or 4 friends or similar that would have cost the same

What does your daughter say? At this age I'd be chatting it through with my daughter to see what she thinks and what she would like (with it caveated by budget/reality!)
That's far more important than what other people think their child might have wanted...

You need to ask other parents about glitter tattoos.
My daughter (a little older) has been to several at home parties but they have never been this small. One was a craft type and there was a structured activity and the most recent have been pamper parties where parents asked about doing hair and make up, face masks, glitter tattoos.
I think as they still had a number of children (approx 8) then things took longer and the parents structured the time with the activities.
I think your activities sound fine and as I said my daughter would enjoy them, but I think the way you are having this as a playdate then I imagine they will rush these and just end up doing a normal playdate, which won't be much of a 'party' if that is what you hope to achieve.

I also think you need a cake! Even if saving a better one for family, you need a second smaller cake for singing happy birthday.

I think you need to think whether you are hosting a playdate or hosting a party, and talk to your daughter about managing expectations.

I was coming on to say similar. The amount of craft kits / activites you've listed sounds quite expensive.

Canvas (and paints)
Wooden things to paint
Charm bracelets
Hairbands
Potion kit
Paper camera for scrapbooking / collage
Glitter tattoos

You don't need a big party every year, or at all. But what you're suggesting sounds more like a playdate than a birthday party.

Since my kids have got older we've done smaller parties and they've loved it - it's also good for them to understand that we can't always afford a big birthday celebration each year. It won't make it any less special.

Maybe get some silly dress up (sunglasses, leis, etc) and an inflatable photo frame and they could have fun with silly photos?

I think 3 has the potential to be an awkward number so would do an even number. And do agree that you could have done this far cheaper if you just had more kids and fewer activities. But if you say 'inviting your besties round to celebrate your birthday' you definitely should have a cake or at least candles in the cupcakes.

And yes please to asking - my daughter can't have glitter tattoos or anything on her skin as she has eczema so always worth checking as they're still little.

Def need cake. Singing and eating it is a party

Both my girls would have loved this. To those saying this is more like a playdate....not round here it's not might be a bit of colouring but playdate are just that kids playing together no kits/craft. Get some cupcakes for them to lob sprinkles on and be prepared that some kids view crafts as a sprint not a marathon so have something they can do while others finish e.g colouring sheets.

My daughter has a bead set so making bracelets with friends is pretty normal amongst her group. The other crafts sound fun but need to be managed, as with a small group if one loses interest they might wander off and the others also follow/rush so it all depends on the expectations of the mum/birthday girl over whether it is meant to be a sit down and do crafts party, or go with the flow playdate with some crafts to do if bored.
As I said my daughter has been to parties at home but they do need a lot of structure to them and they all had 8-10 children.
Also I agree 3 is an awkward number - twos company, 3s a crowd and potentially could end up with the friends ganging up against the birthday girl.

I'd take them all bowling. It will cost about the same as you're planning imo. And 4 not 3

But definitely a proper cake with candles , not just cup cakes

I think it's a lovely idea, just make it a bit more party-like with some suitable food and party plates etc and a favourite songs Spotify list. Dd would be happy with this, the company is more important at that age than the activity itself.

I think the key here is what your DD wants. Mine seem to spend the preceding 6 months planning their birthday celebrations so Im surprised she hasn’t expressed an opinion?

DD had her 8th birthday at home, as like you they have a big party every other year. We had 6 friends over. It went like this:
4pm arrive - time to run around with balloons whilst DH and i made drinks for couple mums who stayed
4:15- seated at table to colour in a canvas bag which then became their party bag
4:30 games- musical bumps, pass the parcel, pin the tail on the unicorn
5ish - food - cant remember what we did probably just standard kids buffet with paper plates
5:30ish into the garden for a pinata- the sweets then went into canvas bags they decorated
5:45 -cutting the cake and home time

WINE

it was a really fun but hectic 2 hours but cheap as chips so I would absolutely do it again.

i think having a few there plus the party games, balloons, decorations etc made it feel more like a party. Your idea sounds more lowkey but maybe your DD prefers that?

played pass the parcel, musical bumps and