What age to stop having birthday parties?

[MagicalMom]

At what age did you stop having big cake & ice cream birthday parties with all of your friends? I know I didn't have any past the age of 10. We'd have Grandma over, maybe a friends spend the night, but nothing big. DD is going to be 14 & wants 2 parties this year. One for family & one for friends. She hasn't chose the themes yet. It appears that she intends to plan it all & then inform me of the costs. I really didn't expect to have big parties every year, forver. When do you think they'll stop? Senior year? College? Do all kids have big parties every year? I told her we may just have one party this year. Here new boyfriend can sit next to Grandma!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I just spoke with a friend about this today--they get them until age 10--then afterwards, they can invite a friend or two and they will go do something to celebrate the birthday, but not a party. They can ever parties every other year on even birthdays (So it covers the sweet 16).

I kind of like that.

My last party for me was 3rd grade.

Not sure what we will do with our kids.

 

[Lessa of Pern]

well, since we're Jewish...the ultimate birthday party was my dd's bat mitzvah when she was 13. she didn't have a party at all for age 14. though now she's talking about a Sweet 16...

 

[monarchsfan16]

I stopped having friend parties after I turned 16. My friends threw me a mini party for my 18th while we were in St Louis on a school trip but that's an entirely different story. My mom has offered to let me have a party each year, but after my 16th I felt I was too old for one. Most people have a pretty big sweet 16. I had a small one. 6 friends for pizza, then we had tickets to a hockey game (AHL, not very expensive) then they slept over after. But that was what I wanted. My 14th and 15th were also sleepovers. My 13th may have been too. We always kept friends and family separate (until this year's grad party). Trust me, it's a lot more fun and more comfortable.

 

[mick67]

I want parties until I'm dead

 

[jellymanoffspring]

My son is 11 and he had a big party for his 10th (took about 8 friends to a Devils hockey game , after a pizza party at home) this year we just had family.....he may have a couple of smaller ones (a few friends to a movie etc. from now on)
My DD just had her Sweet 16 (which is popular again in our area) it was at a catering hall with 50 guests and a DJ....i'd say thats it for her!! LOL
(she really did not have many from about 10 or so on either...only family

 

[SherryNC]

I want parties until I'm dead

Yeah, seriously.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

We just had a family discussion about this a few weeks ago. The kids and I all agreed that 10 would be the cut off age for big parties. DS turns 10 next June, so he has 11 months to prepare himself for his last she-bang.

 

[Hermosa11]

When my son was 5, I said no more. Ha, just kidding. You know, I think that WAS the age he was no longer interested. It really depends on their personallity. Go with the flow and your pocketbook. I have the cutest photo of my boy in Jr. High age standing with his helium baloons in one hand, 6-pack of root beer and something else. he just wanted pizza and root beer. so cute. Anyway, back to you......... just take each year as it comes to decide what seems right to your child. That's my $.02 worth

 

[wdw4us2]

Well, DD just turned 14 and had a party. She hadn't had one for the past four years, so we figured it was okay.

She had a boy/girl party with 10 guests. Pool/pizza/DVD party from 4 p.m. until 10:30, which is when the guys left. Then, four of the girls spent the night. They had a great time, and we're glad that she wanted to have the party.

 

[Sandy22]

DS is turning 13 soon and it's the first year he doesn't want a birthday party with friends. But we'll still do the extended family party thing - that's for life.

 

[golfgal]

We cut off at 10 as well. After ten they can have a couple friends sleepover or take them to a waterpark or something like that. They will probably get a party when they are 16 as well, but we have a few years to see if they want something then.

 

[Christine]

I have never given an annual "friend" party. We just have parties when we are in the mood. Some years my DD wants to have a big party, sometimes she doesn't, and sometimes we are just too busy. I never realized that there had to be an age limit on it.

My only limit would be "you cannot have a big party EVERY year." My DD's last big party was when she turned 8. She is turning 14 today and decided she was just too busy doing other stuff to have a party. But, I would have had one if we could have gotten it together.

 

[Southern4sure]

I leave it up to my kids. If they want a party the we do if not we go shopping!

 

[cruisnfamily]

We agreed on 12 as the final "party". DD had hers last year. We told her it was her last big blow out. Now we did tell her that she'll be allowed to have a friend spend the night or go out to dinner somewhere special(like the melting pot) but no more "parties". We'll always celebrate in some fashion but no more inviting huge numbers of kids for some great event.

 

[KelNottAt]

DS turns 13 next week. I've mentioned to him once that 13 will be the last party, but it's been a while, so I think I need to remind him again. DD will be 11 soon. She'll get the same rule: 13 is the end. (I might bend a little if Sweet 16 is important to her.)

Then, after all that, they only get 3 more: HS grad, college grad, and wedding reception.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

For my 2 kids, 13 was the last party.

When DD turned 16, we let her take several girl friends and go out to dinner alone. We took them and picked them up.

 

[chrissyk]

My sis and I had a large b-day party when we were 8 and 10 (at the roller rink! Whoohoo!!), and that must have been our last big party. I recall having a blast, but I don't recall being eager to do it again the next year. I think kids sort of age-out of the big party naturally around 10-12.

 

[bethd]

My DS turns 12 today and we took a few friends to a local Water park earlier this week. Family party for cake and coffee is tonight. No more big parties for him as he really prefers spending it with a few close friends.

 

[skiwee1]

We have them as long as the kids want them. I don't think I should instill a "cut off". Each kid has had a different idea about it. My oldest didn't want a big party once she turned 14. She then went to having a couple girls over for a sleepover. My son stopped when he was 11. After that he would just chose a few friends and go to ESPN Zone. I think it depends on the kid and when they want them to stop.