DD's 5th bday Party Dilemma (kinda long)

[Cindy's Mom]

My daughter just started full time kindergarten the other day; everything is going as well as can be expected She has already been enrolled in full time structured daycare for the past 3 years; so being away from me isn't a big deal. The problem isn't school - its that she misses her daycare friends. She hung around with 4 other girls for the past 3 years, thats a long time considering they're only 5.

Her 5th birthday is coming up and I need to get started on getting a party together for her. I have two options 1) Invite the 4 daycare friends and we can do something really cool, like Libby Lu or even Princesses on Ice or 2) invite her whole kindergarten class (18 of them) to our house for a good old fashion house party, if those are exceptable anymore.

The problem with #2 is that we live in Chicago - I really would like the party to be outside (this way I can rent a bouncy); but need to have back-up in case its too cold; and do I really want all those kids in my house.

Also, I think inviting both groups wouldn't work because DD would probably only talk to her daycare friends. Another problem with Option 2 is that all the parents would be there too; as I think 5yo are too young for drop offs at parties. If its outside - I don't care how many people there are.

I might add that option #2 would also serve as a meet and greet for the kids as my outgoing daughter has told me that she doesn't even know any of the kids name's in her class.

I'm rambling, can anyone offer advise or experience. TIA

 

[CEDmom]

My 6 yo DD is also adjusting to life in public school after going to her daycare for 4 years (she even went to kindergarten there) so I understand kind of what you're going through.

Do you anticipate keeping up friendships with the daycare kids? I know my DD will with 1 or 2 but not all the ones she regularly played with. If you do think this would happen then I'd lean towards doing something special with those friends. I'd then talk to her kindergarten teacher about bringing in a treat to share with the class and maybe even give the class a new book or game as a way of celebrating your child's birthday.

You're right about not really wanting all those people at your house and also needing to do something with the parents. I don't think you'd have all of them come anyway but you never know.

Good luck and happy birthday to your DD.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

You're right about not really wanting all those people at your house and also needing to do something with the parents. I don't think you'd have all of them come anyway but you never know.

Good luck and happy birthday to your DD.

Thats the scary part. You know what will happen, if it a gorgeous autumn day - only 1/2 will show - but if its rainy and miserable, everyone will come (and probably bring their siblings too!)

I will bring cupcakes to the school for her actual birthday; but I don't think that will suffice as a bday party in her eyes. Since we are not planning on keeping up the friendships with the daycare children - I am leaning toward something with the kindergarten. Any other ideas that doesn't involve my house (or spending a million dollars).

 

[halestrm]

Thats the scary part. You know what will happen, if it a gorgeous autumn day - only 1/2 will show - but if its rainy and miserable, everyone will come (and probably bring their siblings too!)

I will bring cupcakes to the school for her actual birthday; but I don't think that will suffice as a bday party in her eyes. Since we are not planning on keeping up the friendships with the daycare children - I am leaning toward something with the kindergarten. Any other ideas that doesn't involve my house (or spending a million dollars).

I am not sure what bouncy units cost there, but a lot of people do Chucky Cheese or Peter Piper Pizza in AZ. I am surprised that there are 18 kids in her class, seems like a lot, but trust me, few kids will show, especially if she doesn't know them yet.

I recieved an invite where their was no address listed, just cross streets. I asked the Mom about it and she explained she was tired of folks who just "show-up" unannouced. With that, you would know how many are coming.

 

[golfgal]

Well, if I had to do the whole birthday party thing over, I would wait until they are about 15 before I started having kid parties and then they could plan their own, lol!

Do you have to invite the entire class? Can you just invite the girls or even just some of the girls? We had a rule that you could invite as many kids as you are old, so at a 6th birthday party, they could invite 6 kids. Our school has a policy that if you are not inviting all the kids of the same sex in the class, so in your case all the girls, you have to mail invites, which isn't a big deal.

 

[halestrm]

If you want to help her meet the kids, or she is feeling left out, invite everyone if you have the patience and budget to do so. Otherwise, invites the ones she would like to know better. The problem is how many will show. At the party of one of my DD's friends, 10 people invited, 2 people showed. (Her b-day is xmas time though).

Good luck!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Do you have to invite the entire class? Can you just invite the girls or even just some of the girls? We had a rule that you could invite as many kids as you are old, so at a 6th birthday party, they could invite 6 kids. Our school has a policy that if you are not inviting all the kids of the same sex in the class, so in your case all the girls, you have to mail invites, which isn't a big deal.

I only assumed I had to invite the whole class- I'm going to have to look into that. There are only 6 girls in her class - so maybe just a girl thing would be best. This way we can do something special.

halestrm - I can get a bouncy for about $150 for 6 hours; I have always found that money well spent - my entire extended family gets them for all our parties (and we get together alot) this way the kids are always occupied. I'm not too found of the Chuck E Cheeses here in Chicago on the Near West side; so that is not an option.