Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Dilemma: ds just started reception - do I have to invite whole class to his b'day party!!!

32 replies

zippy539 · 06/09/2006 09:54

Straw poll, please.
As title says, ds started in reception two weeks agO. He knew absolutely no one when he started but is starting to make a couple of 'vague' friends - though their names still seem to evade him.
Anyway, it's his birthday in three weeks and because we're going to be moving house around the same time, he's going to be having his party at the local adventure/soft play place. The question is who the heck do I invite? If it was further into the year I'd just ask about six of his friends, but given that he doesn't really have any yet what do I do? Do I have to invite the whole class (gulp). Can I get away with just inviting the boys... Frankly I'd love to forget about the whole thing, but he's been short changed on the whole party thing every year for one reason or another, plus I think the event might help him feel more settled at school.
Also - in your experience, if I DO invite the whole class (22 of them....) what's do you reckon the take-up rate would be. Hopefully not 100% or I'll be in penury for the rest of the year...

Any advice much appreciated.

OP posts:
marz · 06/09/2006 09:56

Well, I think loads might come, just as a way to get to meet other kids/parents....
BUT...could you ask teacher if there are any other b-days nearby and then approach parent to share the party? that way you invite half the class each...and cost is shared?!!

throckenholt · 06/09/2006 09:56

how much would it cost for all of them ?

Hmm - wonder if it being in a soft play area might increase the take up ?

Maybe you could make it a slightly awkward time so that not everyone could make it ?

NewTermAtMaloryTowers · 06/09/2006 09:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

milward · 06/09/2006 10:00

If it's difficult could you take a cake to school so all the kids can sing & then give small party bags out.

FullOfTestosterone · 06/09/2006 10:00

Have you phoned the soft play place?
The one near me has a flat rate to up to about 35 children!
I gues is the usual, so they cater to it?
Just mentioning because if that is the case for you, you might as well invite everybody?

Bozza · 06/09/2006 10:02

IME most soft play places are per head and they charge £6-7 per child.

NewTermAtMaloryTowers · 06/09/2006 10:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TinyGang · 06/09/2006 10:05

I am in this situation and my twins are in separate classes too. Potentially, I could end up with the whole of the reception year!

I have hired a big hall and will hope for the best!

marz · 06/09/2006 10:06

Tiny....Good luck...I really feel for you!!!
And the thought of the presents filling up space too...! Make sure you label which was from who if you want to recycle!!!

Original poster
zippy539 · 06/09/2006 10:07

Wow - thanks for the fast responses. My instinct is just to go for the boys but there's only ten of them (including ds) and if half of them say no, it might be a bit tragic...

I've booked it for a Sunday - sneakily thought people might have stuff planned already but the flip side is that the play place is on the top floor of quite a good shopping centre so parents might like the idea of having a couple of childfree shopping hours...

It would cost a lot to invite everyone, but for once in our lives we could just about afford it as I've got buckets of work on atm. I'm a bit worried that it might seem a bit 'flash' (which we're definately not ) However, Ds's main concern is that if we invite the girls too, he wont be able to have it as a 'spiderman' party...

OP posts:
marz · 06/09/2006 10:07

I am not sure parents are allowed to leave kids in softplay at that age though....

Original poster
zippy539 · 06/09/2006 10:08

OMG Tiny - I really feel for you....

OP posts:
Original poster
zippy539 · 06/09/2006 10:09

Mmmm - good point Marz...

OP posts:
hana · 06/09/2006 10:11

girls won't mind spiderman!
think it's a great idea if you have the money to do so - will be a nice icebreaker as well for all the new classmates and a way of getting to know their parents - or at least saying hello. I'm sure some of them will want to stay. It gives you something to start a conversation about as well at the school gates!

Bozza · 06/09/2006 10:11

Kids are always left at our parties at soft play. He could have a spiderman and something else party - my DS's friend had a "pirates and princesses" party. Sundays are actually a popular day for parties around here so wouldn't bank on that putting people off.

Malory's idea is good but probably a bit late to put into practice.

TinyGang · 06/09/2006 10:12

Oh gosh marz you're right about the presents - I hadn't thought about that! Imagine the pile of thank-you notes to write too.

I've thought for some time now that my children could employ someone full time as their social secretary

Birthday parties eh!? They used to seem so simple when we were little (probably cos it wasn't us organising them); but they are a minefield.

Gobbledigook · 06/09/2006 10:13

It's tricky. I was lucky because ds1 didn't have his birthday till March and by then I'd seen what others had done (not invited whole class) and I knew who his friends were and who he never, ever played with.

In this scenario - I'd just sit him down and ask him. Do you have a class list? You could ask about each child. Other than that, I might just go for inviting boys. OTOH, I also go for inviting children of the people I know - so if you know a group of the Mums invite their children and take it from there.

hana · 06/09/2006 10:14

re thankyous - he could do one and then you could photocopy it and then just add his name to each one and maybe jazz it up with a sticker or two?

Gobbledigook · 06/09/2006 10:14

Oh yes, Marz has good idea of sharing party - that's what we did when ds1 was in reception last year. He shared it with a little girl so she invited the girls and ds1 invited the boys - still didn't do whole class either.

Original poster
zippy539 · 06/09/2006 10:15

Coming round to inviting the lot of them now! I think my problem is that at NO point in our financial history has this kind of thing ever come close to being an option. Usually we have half a dozen kids round for games and party biscuits. And all things being equal I'd do the same this year tbh but it's not an option with house move/not knowing anyone etc. I'm quite a shy and retiring person (well sort of) so the thought of hosting a huge do is giving me the colly wobbles!

OP posts:
marz · 06/09/2006 10:15

Tiny...for thankyou notes...photocopy and leave blanks for name and toy, (if you specify (thankyou for the ......) but I think that for that size, people will not mind if you just write thanks for the present!

Bozza · 06/09/2006 10:21

zippy the good thing about it being at soft play is that you have very little hosting to do. Obviously be polite etc (which I am sure you would do) but generally it is the staff who will be organising things, herding the children into the food room that type of thing.

Original poster
zippy539 · 06/09/2006 10:24

Party sharing is fantastic idea. I'll make some enquiries.

Gawd - hadn't thought about presents and thank-you notes....

OP posts:
marz · 06/09/2006 10:31

I was going to do whole reception class party...this yr as dd1 starts school 2nd October and her b-day is 14th....but have changed my mind...in favour of Xmas holiday and instead told dd to choose a family (we have friends whose families we know) and we will take them to lunch with us....so she has done that. Still not cheap, she chose the family of 5!!!

Original poster
zippy539 · 06/09/2006 10:34

Lol marz - typical!
Bozza - good point about the hosting. Hadn't really thought of that.

Thanks so much everyone - you've given me a loads of food for thought.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread