Children's party for 4 year old

[mummydummyabc]

We recently went to a children's party for the first time (sons best friend) and now he wants a party too. Not sure how to go about this really. We have held small parties for family only before but I didn't really expect to organise anything which involved his friends until he started school. Do you invite all the preschool class or just his choice of friends? What's the right thing to do?

I recently had a party for my 4 year old, i invited the whole class as i think it is cruel to only invite a few especially at this age.

Cherylshaw how many children did that total? My little one has 30+ kids in his group

Is he in full time nursery with the same children?
At that age, DD was in 2 diff childcare settings and we had loads of family friends with DC a similar age - I hired the local village hall and did a buffet but that was more for the family friends, only a few fin her diff settings.

So it’s either small-

Keep it under 8 children or go big and invite the whole class.

I would go small.

Tea party, buffet food, games in the garden or house. Party music. 2 hours tops. Party bags on exit.

Reception - whole class so you can get to know parents. Before that, don't bother!

He's in full time nursery with the same children. Find the whole idea of organising a party terrifying! I don't really know the other mums and dads, so would really be crossing my fingers that he would get responses to invites.

@mummydummyabc
26 kids, i didn't organise it tho! I just booked a party at the local soft play and they did all the hard work i just wrote the invites and made the party bags had a friend make the cake

DD has been in pretty much full time childcare since 8 months. We had a party for her 2nd and 3rd birthdays. Asked the staff who she played the most with and asked her. 10 kids, soft play for about £100 all in and sticker books for favours.

Am I heck having a hall and full class job which involves more organising and socialising.

I'd be looking at ch who you hear about regularly and those hopefully going to the same school. And I'd do a play centre so no hassle.
Ask parents to stay.

At that age we did a soft play party. Invited 30 and probably 20 turned up after chasing a few RSVPs.

It was pretty easy - soft play for an hour and then a party tea and cake. Parents stayed and had a cuppa and some M&S brownies/flapjack etc. that I'd brought along.

I would love to be someone that effortlessly hosts parties with games but it's just not me. I think we did another class party in reception and then alternated between 'big' party and small celebration through junior school and it was fine.