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Original poster

3 year old's birthday - what are you doing ?

12 replies

2bayumimum · 29/03/2009 17:07

My DS will be 3 at the end of April and we are still unsure how to celebrate. We are having a family party, to coincide with DS2 christening, the day before my eldest son's bday, but dont know whether to have something seperate for him also. He's not that into parties yet, he loves the fuss on his birthday, but has been very happy with that coming from just the family. Have been thinking about a small tea party for 3 or 4 of his nursery friends on the Saturday, as not sure he would really enjoy something bigger at his age - given he's only just started to "share" etc. What is everyone else doing ?

Thanks a lot

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Prosecco · 29/03/2009 17:20

I had a family party for all of mine at 3. At 4, they had nursery friends.

CompareTheMeerkat · 29/03/2009 17:21

For DD's 3rd birthday we had a family party on her actual birthday and a small tea party for 4 of her friends at our house a couple of days before.

rookiemater · 29/03/2009 21:43

Hi it was DS's 3rd birthday this weekend. On the day we visited some friends who had just had a new baby and along with their 4 year old did the candles and cake then we took DS to a safari park.

Today we had a combined birthday party for our NHS baby group with 7 other children and a bouncy castle and cake. It was lovely, sadly next year I think we will have to have an actual party [shudder].

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steviesgirl · 30/03/2009 00:02

Well it's my nephews 3rd birthday on Tuesday and me, my sister, BIL, nephew, my dd and mum are going to the zoo. I think that's much nicer than a party with them stuck around the house at this age. Just a small group of us, should be nice.

toomuchmonthatendofthemoney · 07/04/2009 23:21

i am relieved to read the above. In my social group everybody seems to be planning big parties for the just about to be 3 yo's, hiring massive soft play park for afternoon or hiring village hall and bringing in catered food etc! eek! and inviting everybody, at least 20 little ones plus new siblings etc.

Till now i was thinking on just doing a wee family party with cake and maybe having a few little chums over the next day to finish the second half of the cake and bash some balloons around my living room. Now i feel i am depriving my ds of some fabulous experience and he will be emotionally stunted for life .

So, do you really need to go all out for being 3?

ChasingSquirrels · 07/04/2009 23:26

ds1's 3rd - went on holiday, he got a couple of books and small cars and had a special ice cream.

ds2's 3rd - a friend and her kids (who we see alot) came for tea, we had cake then went rollerskating.

screamingabdab · 08/04/2009 08:57

We had a big party for DS2 - pretty disasterous. Avoid

I'd say max of 4 kids, tea party

TrinityWino · 08/04/2009 09:02

my dd2 is goingt o be four on friday
she goes to nursery and has about 4 constant friends
but she wated for her birthday some ice cream and to see a giraffe so we have researched and found somewhere that we can take her to see a giraffe
the petrol and entry fee will be far far less thatn a party and I think she will enjoy it far more

we will take our own food and my other two will love it too

This is the first time we have ever been to a safari park type thing so very special for them at not much cost and far less stress for me than a party

hazeyjane · 08/04/2009 09:11

It was dd1's 3rd birthday a few weeks ago, I had 3 of her friends from toddler groups over for some cake and to play in the garden. I laid the table out with some party food (pineapple and cheese on sticks - birthday essential!) to make it look special, but kept repeating to myself 'this is not a party, this is not a party' the idea of which throws me into a panic!

Xavielli · 08/04/2009 09:30

DD will be 3 next week. We are either going to go swimming and have a picnic in the park or going to the Sealife Centre (again )

I wouldn't do a childrens party tbh. They'd spend more time fighting over her toys etc than having a nice time.

Original poster

2bayumimum · 09/04/2009 16:38

Thanks for all the replies, I feel a whole lot better now ! Yes I have a friend who is doing the whole, huge party thing, but I dont think 3 year olds are that into sharing etc, to really enjoy it. Think I'll keep it low key, with just family and closest friends.

Happy birthday to all your little ones too ! xx

OP posts:

gybegirl · 09/04/2009 16:57

I just had my DD1's 3rd birthday and did do a party. I ended up having about 14 children in the house (lots of siblings) but actually it was lovely. If you do end up having a party (of any size) these are my top tips at that age...
Let him make fairy cakes etc for the party, he'll love it.
Max of 2 games. Pass the parcel and then musical bumps (after that they get bored).
Birthday cake before the food frenzy. Sit your child on a chair or they will be trampled to death in the rush to blow out the candles.
Let them run around in the garden after. (To be fair this and the cake were my DD's favorite bits).
Beer and wine for the grown ups! Especially you .
Relax. It's not a competition. So long as he enjoys himself all else can go to pot.

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