What would you do- Reception Party

[PartyDilemma26]

My son is starting Reception this September. He doesn’t know anyone at his new school, so I don’t know any parents either.

The problem is that his school is a 2 form entry (46 kids) and rather than assigning classes in advance, they have all the kids mingling for the first 3 weeks and then formally sort them. Presumably that’s when WhatsApp groups would be set up as well.

Son’s birthday is the 29th September and he is desperate for a party. The classes will be allocated on the 18th at the earliest. So two weeks before the party, if we have it near his birthday.

Outside of school, we only have two kids who would definitely attend (a cousin and a best friend). I don’t have any friends with same aged kids, so can’t bulk out that way.

What would you do?

1. Book the party for his birthday weekend, invite all 46 children at the start of term.
2. Book the party for his birthday weekend, wait until classes are allocated and invite those kids (2 weeks notice)
3. Book the party for mid-October, wait until classes are allocated and invite those kids (4 weeks notice).

Two weeks notice is fine. Especially for a whole class party when it’s fine when a load can’t come. Put a date to RSPV.

2 weeks notice is fine. Sone won’t be able to attend but that will be ok.

The other alternative is to hire somewhere like a Village Hall and invite all of them.

I would go for 3 and do something special as a family on his birthday weekend

2 weeks notice is a bit tight and 46 children is a lot (unless you have a venue that can accommodate)

Option 2. 2 weeks notice is more than enough time.

You're also more likely to get people to attend by sending them just a few weeks before the date, rather than sending out invites almost a month in advance.

Definitely 2. His class, so 23 kids?

It's a wkend in September. Most people will be around. No brainer x

Eta. Good luck to him (and you) starting school! I remember it well, a nerve wracking time but you'll both make many new friends

Can you afford or find a venue for option 1? What about other friends he has outside of school?

I would do option 3.

Or tbh i would do option 4, which is have a smaller party with people he already knows. My DC1 started reception this year with an Oct birthday and this is exactly why we didn’t have a party. I didn’t want to invite kids he hardly knew.

Absolutely do not invite 46 unknown children to a reception party.

I think 2 weeks notice ok-is it an option to just have a little celebration on his actual birthday and the party a week or so later with more time and new class list?

If you go for option 2, don’t book it for saturday morning as lots of kids will have clubs at that time.

I would do 3. I don’t need the stress of a last minute party, so I’d give myself a bit more time.

Book now to secure the date and send the invite as soon as you know the class. Hope he has a wonderful time, Reception whole class parties are really sweet and a lovely way to meet people.

Yeah book it now and invite the class when you know it. People will be falling over themselves to come so their kids makes friends at that point. I wouldn't make a huge deal about the arrangements to DS though. I can't remember if 4/5 is too young for all that 'you might be able to come to my party/ you're not coming to my party/ if you don't x you can't come to my party' nonsense kids love to indulge in but don't risk it!

Thanks all. We’ve never been invited to a party with two weeks notice so was assuming most people would already have plans. But I guess in early October that’s less likely.

We hoped people would be keen to come to make friends, but a lot of the children come from the same nurseries so we were concerned they wouldn’t!

The venue can accommodate all of the children, so any of the 3 options was a possibility. Obviously I don’t want a party with 46 unknown kids, but it feels better than a party with 5 if most of them don’t come 😂

46 is too many, it's best his actual class for friends etc

I'd go for option 3. At least a months notice is the normal around here (quite often 2 months) . 2 weeks and most people would already have plans.

2 months notice for a 5 year olds party seems excessive.

I would just invite the class. I don’t remember ever having more than two weeks notice of a child’s party; I definitely only ever gave about ten days notice for my daughter’s parties and there was never an issue with children not being able to come. At that age, parents really make an effort to make sure their children can attend parties to help them to strengthen friendships. If you give more notice, parents will have forgotten by the time the party comes round.

I would probably do option 1 as a hall type party. Not everyone will come anyway

Option 2 for sure. Round here 2 weeks notice is normal. At that age you will get a lot of people happy and grateful to attend - it fills an afternoon, kids have fun even if they're not really close friends yet, they are probably not heavily committed to weekend sports yet, and kids get to run off some energy. You're in the key class party stage, it doesn't last very long so I'd say go for it

Very cute that your son is already excited for a party with kids he hasn't met yet 😊When do we lose that excitement and optimism??

Its quite normal here - DD4 got one last week for a 19th July party. My DS8 has an Aug party invite already. RSVP's aren't until 2 weeks before though.
Most venues are booked out 3-4 months in advance.

I'd do option 1 with a church hall. I always invite the whole year to parties although our classes are smaller so it's never more than 25 total. But if you can afford it and can face the effort it would feel the simplest to me. Definitely not all of them will turn up, they'll have weekend activities, trips out and family events already booked in by now. Two weeks would be too short notice around here, the norm is about a month.

Option 2.5, do a class party on the weekend after his birthday and do a family celebration at home on his actual birthday weekend

I would speak to Reception teacher also to let her know your plan and what date you can give her a stack of invitations to put in book

Not everyone will do a class party in Reception as many will stick to old nursery friends, so be prepared that nearly everyone will probably accept!