What to do for a 5 year olds birthday? Ideas please

[princessAlo]

Hi everyone my daughter is turning 5 at the start of March and she’s in p1 and I’m not sure what to do for her birthday. I think sometimes the price to book somewhere is ridiculous. There’s a soft play near me and by the time you book it out and pay for the food it’s nearly 200 pound. Then also there’s 30 kids in her class don’t really want to invite them all🤣 me and her dad aren’t together but whatever I do I will Probly invite him and his other daughter to. Just no clue what to do, ideas welcome

Although expensive, paying for a venue, and someone to deal with the food and then the tidy up at the end is worth it.

It's hard to host on your own if you do a hall and bouncy castle style party, the time taken to prep the food and to buy it quickly adds up. Trying to keep an eye on behaviour and cut up the cake, and talk to parents is a nightmare.

I used to do the posh cake thing but it's way better to buy a large Colin the Caterpillar that the candles are blown out on and then to prepack party bags with the small individual mini roll Colin's before the party.

You don't have to do a whole class party at 5 but it is the norm and a good way to get return invites (as DC feel the miss out if they don't get one) and to get to know the other parents and children your DD will be friends with over the next 6 years.

I agree it is easier to get someone else there do it all. You could hire a local hall and have a bouncy castle if you want the whole class. Or just have 5 friends round and buy pottery painting kits and do that, pass the parcel and food.

Define do soft play, spend the money, do not think of entertaining children yourself in a hall. Don’t do it

We were totally skint for my daughters 5th last year so had birthday tea at home with 1 friend from school and 2 family friends. In the run up I felt extremely guilty about it but she absolutely loved it. The money people spend is absolutely absurd. You don't have to conform just because everyone else does it.

I know, I sometimes get a bit anti social and overthink things when it comes to events like that, also my daughter is the most chilled girl when it comes to things like this. For example I asked her this morning what she wants to do for her birthday and she literally said go to the shop 🥲 bless her.
Would it be awful if I just went to the zoo with her and my whole family? Then took her for food

That sounds lovely!

My boy is 5 next week.
He is taking a cake and some decorations to school and then he is having his bestie and two of my friends who have kids are coming round too for cake after school.
He'll have some of his presents in the morning and hopefully some in the afternoon!

It's going to be v busy! X

Yeah see that's a really nice idea !

We’re hosting a 5th birthday party in a couple of weeks. It’ll be at our house. DD and 6 friends. They’ll run around, play pass the parcel and pin the tail. Some dancing then oven pizza and homemade cake. Take advantage of the fact that they are basically happy with balloons and sugar at this age. Don’t waste your money!

Our reception parents are keen to share with others 3-5 kids done in one party. All costs split and fewer parties over all. So once a month basically!

Soft play and dominoes cheese and tomato pizza. Do the cake, send them home.

It's perfect.

I'm surprised he's allowed to take Cake to school to share!

Some of the best parties I had for mine were at home. I did a build a bear one (bought the kits online) and I remember one traditional one (pass the parcel, musical statues) that went down really well too.

@fanaticalfairy he goes to a tiny school and is in a class of 9. An amazing foundation stage, they held him a party last year!