Birthday party 4yr old girl

[Fancyfish11]

So its my daughters birthday Wednesday 16th October. I'm working the weekend after and then we went and got a birthday party invite the weekend before for a joint birthday party of 2 of her friends at school. Its only a small school and think others will already be saying yes to going.
Its a swimming party on a Saturday. Im wondering if I did a soft play party on her actual birthday after school at 4.30 will anyone come? She is in preschool and her only day off is a Wednesday so shes not even in that day and want to make sure she gets to celebrate it with her friends and her other other friends birthday party doesnt over shadow it. The soft play is a 25 min drive from school.
On the Sunday I was just thinking of going for a Sunday dinner with family to celebrate and then it doesnt mean 2 days of a party for her school friends.
I'll plan to do something special on her birthday but either just us or with one other friend who is off on a Wednesday. I'm new to birthday parties and kids and I'm useless at fitting in. Just want her to feel spec and not left out.

I think you're overthinking it.
Could you do a soft play party the weekend after her birthday and a family tea on her birthday?

I probably wouldn't go to a party afterschool. My dd1 is 4.5 and she is so tired after school that a party would just be the start of a meltdown! Plus we have a younger dd to consider.

I probably wouldn’t drive half an hour for a party at the end of a work day, no. Presumably the party would end at 6:30 and then people may not get home until 7/7:30. I think that’s quite late for pre-schoolers on a weekday.

I do actually like after school parties, but the ones that start at 3:15 at someone’s house in the village and are done before 5.

Just have it on a weekend. No one will care if there is a party the weekend before. Or have it 2 weeks later and just do a small tea on the Sunday for family. A swimming party isn’t a great idea for a 4 year old (presumably almost none of them can properly swim so it will require parents in the pool too), so parents may give that one a miss anyway.

I wouldn’t overthink it though. Some people have a birthday party every weekend, so it will be fine 2 weekends in a row.

A swimming party with 4 year olds??? Isn't that normally something for like 8+? Otherwise that means the parents would have to be in the water... I'd be declining tbh.

Loads of kids end up going to 2 or 3 parties in a week. Don't worry about that side of things.

Why don't you try and get in on the joint party the weekend before?
My DD is going to be sharing with 4 other kids! Saves a lot of effort and money.

I wouldn't bother to be honest. She's at preschool I'd wait until she's at school to do a party.

I also agree with a PP who the fuck has a swimming party for a 4 year old?? Surely most of the preschool kids will still be 3 at this point in the year and none of them can actually swim? Sounds like a ridiculous idea.

Gently, I do think you are overthinking it but I understand why - it's your daughter's birthday and you want it to be special!

If it helps, my youngest turns 4 next Tuesday, she is also at preschool. We are having a unicorn party next Sunday and 19 children are coming to that. For her actual birthday on Tuesday we are going to pizza express after school for a family dinner.

Sorry I realised I misread a bit of your OP and thought the swimming party was your child's! Clearly need my morning coffee!

I don't think I lot of people would go for an after school option - as well as the children being tired they may have older children that have extracurricular clubs or homework etc.

I sympathise. We also have lots of parties on at the moment - a soft play one this morning and a joint party tomorrow.... then a joint party next Saturday and my daughters on the Sunday....and then 2 parties on the same day the Sunday after. September is certainly a busy time! I put in my save the date before the summer hols which seems ridiculous but it seems to have worked out for us.

Im working weekend after

I too would decline a swimming party, but accept a soft play invitation at that age.

I also think you should arrange it on a weekend. Any weekend but you need to get your invitation out. After school parties aren't ideal.

Have it the weekend after that then? Do something simple for her like a meal out/takeaway/cooked dinner of her choice, and presents and a cake for her actual birthday. My daughter is 5, and doesn't care when she has her party. She just wants a party.