Which is better - at home or hired venue - for 3-4 yr old party when you don't know the parents !

[centraltendency]

Sorry this is a bit long !

DS is turning 4 in October and we are still finalising the venue ! My main worry is that since DS has started at a new school - we don't know many parents (except 2). I should also add that DS goes to the private pre-prep, so we are not sure what to really expect of the other parents. Also some of the other parents are already cliquey and know each other due to older siblings of the children etc etc. In such a case is it better to have the party at home or outside?

My worry is that if we do it at home, would parents (that we don't know) be hesistant to come, as it is not a 'neutral' venue so to speak?

We can do it at an outside venue and it would certainly be much easier in terms of arrangements, but this has the risk that if only 3-4 children turn up, the party will appear to be a disaster i.e. the hall/room will be empty. At home, it will still appear intimate and cosy, even if the turnout is low.

Another thing to put the spanner into the works is that another child in DS's class has a birthday before him. We have not received an invite as yet - so not sure it will clash or not ! Is this something I should ask the class teacher?

This is really stressing me out !

Just get your invite in first and then the other child will have to avoid clashing with you (unless you think they may have already gone out and you haven't got one, in which case, I think I would ask teacher).

My children prefer having parties at home (and it's cheaper) and I have done them there since they were 4. I empty most of the furniture out of the room and we don't have carpets. I usually have an entertainer of some sort or a planned activity (like icing cakes and making biscuits) so this works quite well. I think you need to make sure that you have enough to keep them distracted at home so they don't rampage.

My children are at prep-schools and I would say that so far the "have at home" approach is a minority one. That said, everyone always thinks the kids' parties are fab and I usually get a full turn out.