My son does not want to have a birthday party. What can I do? He is in Y3

[QuintessentialOHara]

My son has been to many many birthday parties of different types. So I am trying to work out what party to make for HIS birthday.

He does not want to have a cinema party because there is no point as they dont interact.

He does not want laser tag because the guns are crap as they dont count up scores, and it is not real interaction.

He does not want to have a bowling party (despite being ACE at bowling at hitting strikes all the time)

He does not want to have a gymnastics party because the other kids might hurt themselves.

He does not want to have a trampolining party because there will not be enough time on the trampoline for each child and a lot of hanging around waiting.

He does not want to have a sports party with rugby and football, because he does not like those sports.

So, probing deeper, based on what he really likes and what his personality is, I asked him if he wanted a Teddy Bear Picnic party, he lit up and said, "no it will be embarrassing because really it is very childish"

I asked him if he wanted a really small party with 4-5 close friends at home for pizza, cake and play time, and he said "hmmm maybe"

The only thing he has asked for in the past is to take 2-3 friends to Legoland Windsor. Do you think other parents will let their 7/8 year olds go to Legoland with us?

Alternatively, 2-3 friends to a Build a Bear type of event?

He is a popular boy, with many friends, both boys and girls, so I really dont know what to suggest?!

What about a build a bear party at home followed by a teddy bears' picnic with said bears. It would be a more grown up crafty type party but your ds still gets to have the teddy bears' picnic that he would really like. You can buy the bear making kits online and they're rather good.

Why not have a family outing instead?
Or just one-2 friends for one special fun outing?
That's what DS had in y2 & y3 & doubtless will want similar in yr4.

Why does he have to have a party if he isn't keen? What does he want to do? Legoland sounds great if that's what he wants. I'd happily take my DC's lead (within reason!)

My dd1 had a hall disco party with entertainer when she was in Y3. Dd2 went ice skating with 2 friends then we came home and had mcds.

2 or 3 friends and an activity of his choice ( with in budget & travelling practicality)

DS took friend climbing last year ( age 6) and mountain biking this year age 7. He is already talking about climbing again next year tho I may drop the idea of fry slope sking past him.

I would let DS go on a day out with a friends family IF its not very far away, they are taking an appropriate number of adults for the size of group. Legoland I think I'd be happy with 1 adult to 2 eight year olds..

Just go with what he wants it does not need to be a big showy event. Keep it simple is usually the best rule.

For his last birthday (9) dh took him and 4 of his chums to the local science centre, then home for pizzas and endless rounds of You've Been Framed and a sleep(!)over.

I can't remember what he did in Year 3

Year 2 was a Star Wars party - pin the light sabre on Luke Skywalker, a short-ish Lego Star Wars video and finished up with a Death Star piñata (made by my own fair hand and a complete triumph if I do say so myself!). We had more games planned but mostly they enjoyed running around twatting balloons/each other with lightsabers

I spoke to him. He likes the idea of taking 3 friends to a build a bear!

Ooh interesting thread as just trying to sort out DS whose birthday is in a few weeks time.

Last few years we haven't done a party at all - just a family thing at Frankie and Bennies which has actually been great but think he should maybe do something with his mates too..

Like the Build a Bear idea for select few friends though - can anyone tell me how much it is? Do you have to book?

I have taken and my children has been taken for days out like Lego land at those ages.

took dd3's friend and ds friend to Legoland in September they were then age x2 age 8 and x2 age 10.

DD1 is in Y3 and has been to a variety of parties over the past few months: a cinema party (DVD in friend's living room, homemade popcorn), in-line skating party, a walk in the woods then back to friend's house for lunch, and more traditional parties in friends' homes.

For her own party this year she was keen on a geocaching-Famous-Five party! What she ended up with was a Famous Five treasure hunt - at the end of November, in the pouring rain which started in a local park and ended up at our flat (having first waded through a river, come through another park and a couple of alleyways). I used geocaching containers to hide the clues but we didn't use GPS.

So... my suggestion would be a morning/afternoon out somewhere with your DS and a couple of friends and a GPS unit so they can geocache. It's interactive, cheap, everyone can take part at once and isn't a ballsport!

Alternatively, how about a Mad Hatter's tea party? Essential a whimsical teddy bear's picnic there are good ideas on here.

I would just let him choose one or two friends to go out for the day.

Yes yes yes...
DS1 went to a build a bear with his bestest friend last year for his friends birthday.
there were 4 of them in total that went then they had macdonalds on the way home. they had so much fun DS1 still has his darth vader teddy complete with horrid personalised noise inside (scares the hell out of me if he needs a cuddle in the night and I press it accidentaly!)

You can go to the Build a Bear shop or use kits from the www.bearfactoryparties.co.uk which are good