August birthday and parties

[Eyesshut]

Quick poll, what do others do?

Birthday party in early July nowhere near their actual birthday? Birthday party at the start of September, near their birthday but when others are already turning one year older? Or a small party in the summer holidays, finding a date when their best friends are around?

I can't decide! We did early July last year but it felt a bit odd.

Not the world's biggest problem I know!

Last year we went for a bigger party once school started again in September. It didn’t really work TBH. DD was confused that her party was so far away from her birthday. We’ve done smaller parties during the summer holidays previously and I think we’ll go back to that this year.

Could you not send out the invitations in July but have the party in August?

I’ve done end of July when still at school, early September when back and around actual bday - but be prepared for lots of no shows because of summer hols

I reckon end July was best

We do a party in September. It's a really nice way to catch up with everyone and get to know newcomers in her class. I always say I will try to send invitations out in July before end of term but never get round to it. Getting hold of people in late August can prove tricky.

DDs Birthday is early August. We usually do a party near to her birthday but expect that at least half her friends won’t be able to make it. We also sent out the invitations about a month before school closes to give us time to chase people up

We do parties in the later half of July. We felt that having a party in Sept when some friends are already turning a year older would highlight the age gap further. He loves having a party & a "birthday day"

Thanks, a bit of a mix really. This year matters are complicated by the fact that the parallel classes will be mixed up for the year ahead. I was thinking a party at the start of the new school year might be a nice way to meet the new class (we get given the new class list before we break up), but slightly worried about the highlighting the age gap point in DC's eyes.

I think this won't be a problem for much longer as surely we will be moving away from big class parties soon and for a small party and August birthday could be a plus as there's more limited risk of offending others in school, or making anyone feel excluded.

I'm an August baby and have tried all combos my entire life. Unfortunately, I've never found the perfect soloution. Even now I'm trying to party plan for a 'milestone' birthday but with so many friends with kids - August is still not going to work.
Only plus side when you have kids is that they will be at home during their school years so they can spoil you :-)

One early August DD here and one late August. We've done the early September option for the past couple of years which has worked better for DD2 (late August) - trying to arrange and send invites before school holidays seems ages away and get birthday usually coincides with the late August bank holiday so no one around.... It's been easier though as they've both got older - when it's just a couple of closer friends for sleepover and cinema type affair, we can just work with vaguely sensible availability..... When they were younger, we did the early option, before end of term.

DD (11) early Aug.

The very best we’ve found is just before they go back early Sep. Most ppl are back from holiday and school usually doesn’t go back on a Monday, so the last weekend or thereabouts usually works best.

We’ve always found July tricky as there is so much else going on, and they are all knackered.

DD's birthday falls near the August bank holiday. I have found that the first weekend back after term starts in September to be the best for her/us. It's close to her birthday and she really doesn't mind being the youngest in her year.

I guess it depends where in the month your DC's birthday falls; one year, DD had a party the weekend before school broke for summer, but it was another 7 weeks until her birthday and it just felt a bit... weird.

If you are going for a whole class one, then definitely do it in July before they break up, even more so if the classes are being mixed up. That way it will be with all their friends. Odd to have a party with lots of people you don't really know - this is your dc's party, not a gathering for you to get to know parents.

My dc positively like having their school party 2 - 4 weeks away from their actual birthday - it means the get 3 birthdays in their eyes (open presents, have a candle in a cake, get sung happy birthday by house family on day...... Birthday 'tea' with Grandparents / local Aunty and cousins on closest weekend...... school friends party later or earlier in the month). What's not to like ?

I have an August child. 11 now.
Family party usually on holiday for actual bday and 'official' bday in April for friends.

January son here, he's had birthday parties in June July and August before now as he wants outdoor types (and I'm not freezing outdoor for two hours for anybody)

What does your child want? Do that!

Hmm DD is not full of practical advice on what she wants, she wants to share a party with her best friend whose birthday is in March .

FWIW she knows and gets on with a number of others in parallel classes so would definitely enjoy a party with her new class I'm sure. Most parents drop off anyway so definitely not a party for the parents!

Thanks all.. will give it some more thought

I think it depends.

We have down the f
Last weekend before theyy breakup which was nice however this year DS was changing schools so we did his main party at his new school as an icebreaker. The only thing was we got cards for. Year older! DS wasn't botherered though.

He also had a smaller the party on his birthday.

Dh is a august birthday and says he can remember hardly anyone being able to come to his parties so we avoid the holiday if we can.