confused, guilty and social anxiety to have a birthday party for my 5 yr old to be.

[misma]

Hi this problem has probably been posted before. My dd is 5 in March. Budget wise i'm strung at mo as saving to start a business and the usual day 2 day survival, plus the social anxiety of inviting parents when I give out invites for her school friends to the party.

I was going to take her and her friend to a theme park and a little horse riding etc. A day to remember. Will she be ousted from others birthday party at school if she does not have a party and is this cruel of me to think of myself before her??

theme park and horse riding sounds expensive even if only for two children!

but do whatever suits you and your Dd and dnot worry about the others.

but - if you trying to get to know other parents - then organize a cheap party for the whole class eg hire local community hall etc.

DS was recently 5 and he never mentioned a party at all. He hasn't been invited to any birthday parties yet at school, (there was a Halloween party a parent put on and he has a leaving party next week) there could of been some he wasn't invited too but I havn't been aware that there have been any and I've been told DS is popular. I'm just trying to avoid it for as long as possible until he really wants one

I have to say Theme Park AND horse riding seem a little excessive. Why not a tea party at home if you really must have one

Bear in mind many of her class mates may not be five yet, so think about those 4 years old you'll have to be in charge of. Yes some parents can't/won't stay and you'll be in charge of these children.

Basically kids this age tend to want to run around, eat lots of cake and get a party bag full of sweets and tat.

theme park and horse ridig seems to be un-necesarily complicated -
what they wear (some little girl will turn up in a party dress i bet you)
then there's the liability/insuance forms the horseriding will require
what if some parents dont stay (yes even at this age some wont stay, especially of they have siblings who aren't invited)
and what if some children have never been horseriding and find it scary or refuse to get on. You'll still have paid out for them.

Theme park again complicated. To may children going in different directions, especially ones you don't know. Or are you paying for their parents to come in to supervise them too? Again issue for those with siblings not invited who need to go/bring them too.

Plus you'll still be spending out on a cake and party bags presumably... And you say you are trying to save money!?

Choose something easier and cheaper perhaps? How about a pottery painting place if you only have a few? Or yes definitely hire a hall and play pass the parcel and other fun for five year old games. That way you can invite the whole class and not worry about the extra cost (too much). You'll need squash, cakes, crisps and sweets to feed them, some music (you can hire a dj if you want but not necessary), some games to keep them amused. Girls like fancy dress but boys don't always.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I would keep it simple (and cheaper). I would look at your local softplay or sports centre as they organise parties. My daughter turns six next week and is having a soft play party with ten of her friends. That's still going to cost over £100, but all I have to do is provide a cake and party bags. Socially easier as parents can choose to stay or not, sit and have a coffee if they want.

When she was five, she went to a school where no-one had birthday parties because it was a deprived area. I would ask DD's teacher - they usually know the score. Also don't feel you have to invite the whole class, it's really not expected.

my daughter was 6 last birthday, she usually has an outdoor tea party outside my caravan, as i am always away on hols on her birthday, she invites a few friends from the camp site, they all bring a teddy and they sit on a blanket outside to have thier party food and i call it a teddy bears picnic, she loves it, also i got a face painting kit, and paint thier faces in a few basic patterns.
Due to weather last birthday we came home and she had 9 friends over, no mothers stayed but my sister came over to give me a hand, they played basic games, pin the tail on the donkey, pass the parcel and they had a great time, would definatly be doing it again if the weather is unkind to us this year.
I did do the whole big party for her 4th birthday, complete with entertainer, personalised choclate bars, ballons and about forty kids, and to be honest i dont think she had any better time than at her tea partys in fact i think she was a litte overwhelmed.

ds2 is 5 next week - we are inviting 4 friends round after school for his party - I think 3.15pm - 4.30pm (must do invites). We will have some snacks, play traditional party games (pass the parcel, musical bumps etc) let them run around, have a treasure hunt, do the cake and then send them home. Ending early enough so that I don't have to feed them proper food.
Job done.

Hello my dd is going to be 5 in feb and I have bit the bullet this year and have a biggish party (usually inviite max of 5 friends round!!) This year I've hired a local community hall (£11 an hour) I'm lucky that my bestfriends dad is going to provide the entertainment (he is a p/t clown!) and I will throw together sandwiches/ crisps and a cake. Am nervous and am to take invites into dds class tomos. If they all turn up there will be 20kids - arghhhh! She will not be having this every year!!!