4 year old party panic

[Marvin6418]

It's my DS's birthday coming up at end of May. He wanted to have a party this year and invite his friends, this is the first year that he has wanted to invite his friends and he is so exited.

He invited 22 people and so far 4 have said no due to it being jubilee weekend and they are going away. I am starting to think I should have done it for the weekend before. I know that you always get people turn down party invites 2/3s I believe is the estimated to turn up. I know he has his heart set on his friends coming and has had lots of things happen recently that he has been let down on so I think I am panicing for no reason. Is this normal for a first party?

Hmm it is tricky if you stage a party in holiday time.

DS2's b/day s usually at Easter, and before now I have checked with the crucial people IYSWIM.

Also once Ds1 had a party in May half term (this is a popular time for breaks for folk) and again I checked that 3-4 best mates could come before I booked it.

Have you booked for the Bank Hol weekend then? It's also not clear from yr post - can 4 people not come but 15 can, or have you only had those 4 replies?

DD's party last year was a big success but I did worry in advance because 3 of her good friends couldn't come...it didn't matter.

i don't think he'll worry one bit about the numbers - if 10 come it will feel like a houseful, believe me! It's lovely of you to give him a party - it's such a great feeling for you too (when it's over especially!). Can i suggest you have a few ideas and props for games up your sleeve, but be totally relaxed about them maybe just wanting to run around with swords and eat crisps!

I probably should have checked with people before choosing the date but it wasn't something I thought about having never done this before. I think I will next time!

The party is at home so I don't have to worry about numbers for booking or anything. So far 4 have said that they can't come, but haven't heard from the others yet.

MrsCornish - Thanks, that helps. I am trying to come up with games at the moment and have Pass the parcel so far, we have picked the music and theme/decorations but do need to think of a few more games.

My dd1's birthday is in October 1/2 term, and, after 2 years of lots of people being unable to come (well, relatively lots, we never had 22 to a party, but proportionately lots), she's never had one in the holidays since. I think realistically, a holiday that's in the Summer time, and is also a really long BH weekend this year, and clashes with street parties and community celebrations is likely to mean a lot can't come.
Still, I'd have thought that was a good thing with the numbers you've invited

musical bumps
musical statues
blindfold one of them and get them to walk round the room identifying their friends
put a tunnocks teacake on a tray on the floor, then get a volunteer to kneel in front of it, with their hands behind their back, and then tell them to eat the teacake!
treasure hunt - when we were kids mum used to hang bits of coloured wool all round the house. you divided into teams and collected them up and got prizes!
i'll think of some more i expect...