Summer celebration for four year old - I'm thinking ahead!

[Sparklemagic]

My DS will be four in the summer and I was thinking of doing a party for him for the first time. But then I thought maybe he is still too young, he doesn't really play much with others yet and isn't at the stage some of his pre-school peers are who save seats for their best friends!!! I don't think he would be thrilled with a party if you know what I mean and I'd rather save the effort for a year or two's time when he will appreciate it!

Has anyone got any bright ideas for how we can make the day really special for him? I plan to make a huge 'theme' cake for him as he loves cake and I can do which ever character he is 'being' nearer the time....but have got no ideas beyond the cake - help!! Has anyone had the best day out ever or done things at home???

cake is definitely the most important thing at that age in my experience

Do you have family close by ? For my kids at that age being with their favourite family members is best.

do you have a garden?
we have barbecue type type party's for ds2 whose birthday is in the summer.we invite the family and friends and set up the paddling pool and the sandpit etc.The adults sit in the garden drinking wine and the kids run around getting wet and having fun.There's not too much stress, ds gets the attention of lots of people , and has a cake etc, but it's not too much like a kids party iyswim.

gosh, Throck and Alexsmum! Hit on the right ideas straight away, I love the idea of just his favourite people and the paddling pool! Don't know why I didn't think of it, I just seem to go in a blind panic about birthdays because I'm not a real socialiser.

I shall make it a family day (very much like the sound of wine in the garden for the grown ups....)

Only problem here is that DH's family and mine don't mix - not any falling out, just you could not imagine two families more poles apart. It would stress me out because I would know that DH's family would be thinking mine were wierd and mine would be sweetly trying to look like they were having fun....and my SIL would be bossily taking over EVERYTHING and telling my DS what to do and my BIL just taking up space and contributing nothing.....oh blimey. It's one or the other really. Or perhaps my family in the am and DH's in the pm???

no too stressful.which family do you see the most of? Which are you closest to? invite them.or make it no family at all just your friends and their kids.your aim is to make this as stress free as possible.
the one who doesn't get invited, visit them the next day or something.
OR- you could just invite them all and let them get on with it-don't worry about them.

thanks Alexsmum. Think maybe I'll talk to DH about this one. Just have the feeling if we do no family, my Dh's would get deeply offended...mine would be ok with it. Oh blimey. Families, eh.