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Should I have a big party?
DS is going to be 4 in November. I just want to do a small party with just grandparents and godparents in the house but DH thinks we should have a big party and invite all his friends from pre-K.
While I sort of like the idea of a party, I think we should do the big party when DS is a little older. DH thinks that this would be a great way for us to get to know some of the parents of the kids in DS's class on a more personal level and I do agree with him in that but I just don't know. There are only 11 other kids in son's class so even if all kids came with both parents the max guest number would be 36 but it's not likely all the kids would come and typically only one parent comes to these kid's parties.
So what do you think? I would probably be the one to do all the work so that's another con for this thing.
Re: Should I have a big party?
I don't have kids, but I don't think your 4yo is going to care either way. Since he doesn't care, and the likelihood of your child staying friends with these kids into teen years is exceptionally slim, just do the simple family party. If for nothing else, it's cheaper.
If you want to meet the parents, organize a day at the park for everyone. If you invite the other parents to a birthday party where they're obligated to bring a gift, you've then set in motion an obligation for the entire group. You and every other parent will now be invited to 10 other parties and have to buy 10 other presents throughout the year. No thanks.
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Hmmm. I see how you can be torn. But you know, a big guest list doesn't have to mean a big party.
How about invites that say something along the lines of "Join us for ice cream and & cake 2-4pm"?
Maybe you can add some chips and dips, but b/c of the time you won't have to provide a full meal.
You can put together super simple goodie bags and you're done! (I LOVE the Target dollar section for these types of things.)
Good luck!
The thing about the gifts is part of my dilemma. I don't want these people to bring gifts, I'd have two or three things from me & DH for DS to open, this would be more of a social thing. I wouldn't even know how to state on the invite that I don't want gifts. I also was thinking of just having cake and punch or milk and have it only be a couple of hours but DH wants to do the big thing at Tiger Schulmann's or someplace where we come, party and leave and pay someone else to clean up (I like that part of it).
I honestly don't think DS would even notice or care what kind of party he gets. Most of these kids will be in Kindergarten with him next year so maybe I should do it next year when he turns 5.
I would second the "Ice Cream and Cake" or "Desserts and Drinks" at 2-4PM, and leave it at that. I also have seen several invites that says, No Gifts Please.
I don't have kids, but when I do, I probably would wait until they're a bit older so they can remember it. Have fun!!
I also like the "cake and ice cream" party. I went to a really nice, low-key birthday party for a pre-schooler at a park where they served pizza, (we live in an urban area and the parents had it delivered
juice boxes, water bottles and instead of cake - a tower of frosted donuts on a platter with his candle. Each child/adult got a donut. (They also had a clown who did magic, face-painting, balloons etc.) But you wouldn't need that for a "meet and greet".
Whenever you say "no gifts" on an invite - people tend to bring them anyways...