'All Class Party' WWYD?

[Letsgetreadytorumbleagain]

I know school hasn't even started yet, but my DC1 starts school next week and his birthday is fairly early on in the school year and I want to get his party booked quite soon. So my question is - his year group is a 45 intake, split over 2 classes. I know they spend a lot of time outside where all the children are together - so should I be planing a party for both classes or just stick to his class of 23?

I really don't know what the etiquette is around this?

Just his class and any particularly close friends from other class.

My dc have been to parties where both classes have been invited, ones where just their class is invited and Ones where just a handful of close friends are invited.

It really depends on budget, type of party (e.g. Big village hall with entertainers fine for loads of kids, soft play party would cost a bomb for all those kids), who your child wants to invite, who you want to invite etc.

Agree, just do his class, not both.

45 kids is really way too much.

Just his class.

You're brave to even contemplate having 45 kids at a party. I'd just invite his own class. Even with that it'll be very busy!

I'd do just his class, 45 is far too many!

Just do his class and any particular kids he likes from other class.

23 is a big party though. An easy way to cut the party in half again is just to invite the boys in his class - bringing it to a more manageable number of kids. Unless he is particularly friends with any girls in which case the divide isn't going to work.

Thanks guys, that's what I was thinking - just wasn't sure.

I'm planing on hiring a hall, with bouncy castle and disco as that's what my son wants so 45 wouldn't necessarily be a problem, just sounds like a horrendous idea

Why not just a small party at home? Maybe book an entertainer. Plan to invite however many kids you would be comfortable having in your home when planning what food etc to buy, then get DC to name a few people after the first couple of weeks. Or ask the teacher who DC is friendly with & can she put invites in their book bags. Far fewer kids to wrangle/rsvps to chase/ party bags to fill etc

That would be nice @wheresmycake - but my DH couldn't cope with that, I did a small party for my son last year and it caused so much stress between us that I swore never again

Another vote for half a dozen dc, who are actually people he' named as friends.
Wit until the end of Sept until he's had chance to get to know a few names, and just invite them.
(My dd2 is an early Sept birthday and knew no-one. It would have been a nightmare to try to host / entertain a couple of dozen dc.)

Children he went to nursery with and a few new acquaintances from school? Or whole class. 23 is far too many in my view. Just wait until you are sorting out dietary requirements! How many parents are you expecting to stay? Always happens with young children.

45 party bags!!

Dd is in a class of 15 (rural school)
She had 8 at her party this year
Never have done nor will do a whole class party. I think the idea of them id bs
Why invite kids that your kid may not even play with or like? The rule for dd is, if you dont play with them at school, why invite them?
Plus the cost of a whole class, the amount of food, party bags, space needed. I wouldnt cope with 20 plus kids
It was the norm at her old school, still didnt do it

Depends on how much help you have? With 45 kids bouncy castle could get hazardous but just manageable with 25. I'd ditch the bouncy castle and just do disco and balloons. Buffet style food and sit them on the floor. Maybe on disposable table cloths or decorator dust cloths that can be just rolled up and thrown away. Party bags: the works do cheap book bundles ... one each plus a cupcake and it's done.
Don't expect many parents to stay and help supervise.

This made me laugh- it's so gloriously Mumsnet.

OP- I want to do a whole class party, should I invite one class or both?

Subsequent poster "Why not do a small party at home?"

I have done 3 whole class parties where I have organised and run the whole thing - exhausting and fun but it is my day job!!! I think 23 is perfectly doable but at that age they really need being organised the whole time. Whilst my boys love the free bouncy castle and disco type parties I have been to many that are close to chaos and seen lots of tears and some injuries. I would recommend finding some kind of entertainer alongside a disco with party games, dancing competitions, intermingled with the disco. If you find a venue with a separate room for a party tea or plenty of room for setting up tables then it is much easier. One year I did individual picnic boxes which were easier to set up in advance and just hand out. At this age I think inviting the whole class saves any issues with friendships as they are so fluid.

Just his class. 45 is far too many, you will lose your mind. 23 (plus the siblings that people will bring) is still lots. Have fun!

Bertrand - OP's ds hasn't started school yet. She said "should I be..." and "What is the etiquette.....?"

It's therefore not unreasonable to point out that she doesn't have to do a full class party at all, and there are other preferable options. Reading the op, I got the impression she thought that was what she had to do, rather than bounding in going 'I really, really want to..'

Hence, pointing out alternatives.

lacebell for a reception age party especially with a bouncy castle early in the school year I wouldn't be surprised if all parents stayed. You do need to consider the number of adults. Even though you don't have to offer the adults any refreshments, many do.

I always did while class i.e. 23. They are too small to know who their 6-8 bfs are at the age, so while class allows you to get to know the other parents and children. And much less political.

The only etiquette is that you do whole class or half or less - anymore gets very divisive.

I'd do one class, although possibly allowing for one or two from the other class that they might have made friends with.

I'd do whole class, plus a couple of particular friends from the other class if she is able to point to them as being special friends. She probably won't! Do expect parents to stay though, as others have said.