Aibu for not having party for 5th birthday?

[Laurasanford789]

Might be a pointless post but I already feel so guilty about the fact I haven't organised a 5 year olds party but truth be told we have had a lot on including a loss, I haven't had the mental capacity to look into it and it's early march

We have agreed soft play and pizza with his younger sis and then family tea in afternoon just doesn't feel enough, I know there are years to come when I can do it but yeah, just feel shitty about it.

Has anyone else just had other plans other than parties for Thier young ones?

I’d invite a few friends to soft play, I think parties are important at this age, unless the child doesn’t want one of course.

We haven’t had a big party for any of ours and we have 6 kids. None of them have ever shown any interest at school age and we have done things like hire a bouncy castle, have family over etc when they are little. We do all different things for birthdays- some years it’s been smaller celebrations like softplay or dinner, some years we have hired those teepee type things to have their bat friends stay, some years it’s bigger things we do like CBeebies Hotel or Disneyland. There isn’t a set way of doing it.

t

I agree with inviting a friend or two, if he would like to. It doesn't have to be a big, expensive, elaborate event, but I do think 5 is an important age to celebrate. It doesn't take much to make most 5-year-olds happy, though, so if he's excited about what you've already planned, that's enough.

I would definitely invite a mate or 2 to the soft play and tea. What’s stopping you?

I can’t understand why people think parties are ‘important’ at that age. They will hardly remember them!

Birthday parties are more important when they’re age 10/11 as friendships and socialisation is starting to really matter.

When my DC were small birthdays were just cake, pressies and family round. They were happy with that. I pushed the boat out more when they were older.

I had my 5 year olds party this week. It definitely felt important to him. They talk about their parties at school all year.

My older two prefer to celebrate with just a couple mates.

I would disagree. At a younger age they are likely to invite more people and have a party as they are only just getting to know those in their class and tend to socialise with a variety of friends. We only ever invited about 10-12 from the class but they wanted to do this and felt it was important.

Now they are 10/11 they don't want parties. One of mine did finally choose to invite a friend round and had takeaway, but currently the other child is saying they don't want to do anything.

This is why I think that @Laurasanford789 should consider what her child feels. If they haven't mentioned a party and are unlikely to be upset if they get invited to parties later in the year and question why they didn't do something with friends then it is absolutely fine to not do one. If however they have mentioned it and it's only because mum is feeling drained with everything that is going on then I think she should perhaps invite a few friends to the soft play. Parties really don't have to be hard work and she doesn't even need to organise it as a proper party if costs are high, just pay entry for 4 friends and buy them food for example.

i would organise a party, i agree that they are important.