No 7 year old birthday party?

Question

Most of the kids we invited to my son's birthday party couldn't come this year. We are thinking about canceling it entirely on the day we choose and just doing something as a family (and maybe taking him and his close friends out for something fun during the summer). Do most kids have kid birthday parties every year? every other year? How big should you make it each year? If he is sad about it (and I can't get any kids to come) what could I do to make it special?

Thanks.

Answer 1

be sure to get his input on what he wants to do, if he wants to try and have a large party - etc.

if the large party isn't an option i would do a special family birthday. if he loves baseball - take him & a friend to a major baseball game.... just whatever he's into.

Answer 2

He's old enough to explain the situation, and ask him what he'd like to do! Just explain that a lot of the children who he invited really wanted to come, but already have other plans. We all have to learn about disappointment at some point in our lives.

I'm almost 31, and on my 6th birthday my mom invited my entire first grade class to my party, which was on memorial day weekend. A lot of parents didn't even bother to RSVP, so my mom went along with the party as planned. Only a couple of kids, and some family showed up. I still had a great time because there was a clown! I think it upset my mom more than me!

So, I think it's possible to still give him a fun and fantastic day! Maybe suggest taking the few kids that did respond to the movies, or a fun park for the day. You can do that with a smaller group! I'd just ask him what his dream day would be, and go from there...

Answer 3

I rotate between my two kids and host a mini family reunion on one of their birthdays each year.  Relatives make up for lack of schoolmates.  Helps balance costs, too.  For example, my son's past b-day was a party with 50 guests (mostly fam/church memebers).  They always bring a dish and we had our own talent show so no formal entertainment.  Our costs were decorations, goody bags, BBQ supplies/meat, drinks, snacks, and a Power Ranger cake ($300 total).

My daughter gets the "small" party this year.  Glamour day for her and 4 friends.  We've reserved a limo for the day, will go shopping at the mall (each girl gets $50 for a new dress to wear), got a v.i.p. table at a popular local restaurant and they can order what they want.  Afterwards, mani/pedis at a local salon and a Hannah Montana themed sleepover.  Cost is $750.  

Believe it or not, my kids prefer the smaller gatherings because they're intimate and more special because they get exactly what they want... to be the center of attention, lol :-)  Don't stress over size.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Maybe you could go as a family to a theme park or the beach or something and let him bring one or two of his best friends with him that could come. Or ask him where he'd like to go.

Go to the park or something and bring a nice lunch.

I went to Chuck E Cheese for my 7th or 8th birthday with a couple friends.

If none of his friends can come you could make it later in the year. My cousins birthday last year was in March but he celebrated it in October w/o a problem.

Answer 5

Every single year I have a big party. I wouldnt cancel it. Take the few of them that can go to like, boonbocks or the Y or something.

Answer 6

You could schedule for a different day.  Kids that age only don't come because their parents have other plans that day.

Answer 7

Most kids have parties every year. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't cancel the party. Take him out to his favorite restaurant  and tell him you'll get him anything he wants on the desert menu.

You should make the parties really big at ages 4-8. But from ages 9-18, lessen up on how big it is. Just let them do what they want.

Answer 8

Kids don't have to have birthday parties every year, and don't need them. My brother and I both got one "big" party (like 20-30 kids) for our 5th or 6th birthday and the rest of our parties we just got to invite one or two friends to join us for a small (just mom and sibling and grandparents) get together at our favorite restaurant or fun place (i.e. Chuck E. Cheese when we were younger). We were happy with that and looking back I don't feel we were cheated or anything at all.

Answer 9

I think it should be his decision whether or not you cancel his party.

Answer 10

Take him out somewhere special where you've never been before, but make sure it'al be special and that he will never forget it :)

One of my few memories is when i went to lego-land for one of my birthday's and i've never forgotten it!

Although parties are great because not only is your child enjoying their personal birthday but their friends are too!  It's great to see everyone happy for a special occasion!

If not you could always change the date of their party and go out somewhere special auctually on the day?

Good luck with everything hope your child has a great party!!

Answer 11

I always worried about this to but i have learned that they don't care. Something small with a few friends and family is good as long as its fun. and you can make it a better party because only a few kids are coming so you can do something fun like an amusement park or something. Or get a bigger gift. Children can only get a long with 1 friend at a time most of the time. so you child will still have fun.

Answer 12

When I was younger I always had a family party at my grandparents' house. Then I started having them at my house. Occassionally a friend would come, but it was mostly a family thing. And still is.

I think canceling it would be ok. And like you said, take him and his close friends to do something fun over the summer. If he's upset about that, just try to explain to him that everyone already had other plans and that you'll make it up to him over the summer. I'm not sure how a 7 year old would take that. I don't remember much from when I was 7.. haha. But if you have to cancel it, I hope he'll understand! :)

Answer 13

I give my kids parties every year.  Sometimes they have big ones(12 kid total) and sometimes they are really small(5-6 kid total).  It doesn't really matter, as long as they have fun.  When I was a kid, we usually only had family parties and I can only remember having a friend come once.  I finally told my mom that if I couldn't have a party with my friends than I didn't want anymore.  My husband has never had a birthday party in his life.

Answer 14

i just moved and my mom didnt let me have a birthday party becuase she knew peoplw wouldnt come. so i just went to the mall and had a family dinner

Answer 15

You could either have the party at another time when more of the kids can attend.

You could do a small family party on the day/around the day and then have a larger one with his friends later on.

When I was growing up, my mom would only invite as many children as my age (like if I turned 7, only 7 children and so on).

I didn't always have a birthday party will all my friends every single birthday. Some years we did, some years we didn't. But we would bring some sort of treat for the kids in our class and celebrate it that way. I went to a school where that sort of thing was allowed.

Answer 16

Well most kids that I know have birth day partys every year! And I would celabate it just do it  n another day so people can come!

Answer 17

I have a birthay party every year. I invite at least 15 kids and at most 30. You could ask him if he wants to cancle it and if he does then do,and if he does not then have the party. I would,if you cancle the party,do one of those things where you just wake him up and take him out in his PJ and go to his fav place. Hope this helped!

-Tara

Answer 18

Most kids do have a party every year but it does not have to be a huge one every year. I think you just do the small party and maybe get him that big present he wanted and most kids just want present rather than a lot of kids around.

Answer 19

Is there any way you could make the birthday party earlier or later? Because I know firsthand that a birthday party for a kid is quite a big thing. Try your best with that idea and if not, maybe you can invite some cousins that are his age and go somewhere. What about providing pizza and cake to his class?

Answer 20

In today's hyped up society, most parents feel their kids absolutely must have a party every year.  This is not so, of course, but there is great pressure on both kids and parents.

Taking the child and his friends for something fun during the summer sounds like a party to me.

If he is sad on his birthday, he will survive those feelings.  Hard as is sounds, you will actually help him by allowing him to feel disappointment and survive those feelings.  This is not the end of the world.  Don't treat it as such and he will do just fine.

Answer 21

We started kid birthday parties when he was in school.

We would give him 5-10 invitations and tell hiim to give it to whoever he wants and just wait for RSVPs

I usually do chuck-e-cheese or a water park or something

Yeah if I was you I would cancel it if there aint a lot of friends coming and do something special with just the family

Answer 22

My brother has parties every year and he's 8.  I would just re-schedule.  Or go to a zoo as a family thats always fun.

Answer 23

well it depends what family you talk too.

this is how my family does it

okay for example

I'm Joe ( not really )

He gets to have a friend party everyother year

He gets to have a family party everyother year

but he gets to go and eat with his family ever year

but im not a fan of the idea just change the date

Answer 24

Take him and a few of his buddies to a water park.

Birthday parties have gotten so out of control these days.  Last year when my son turned 7 he had to have a skating party at the rink.  The year before we rented one of those giant inflatable water slides for our backyard.  It was a huge success,  what kid wants to miss that.  If you are throwing him just a plain o'll  fashion party with nothing super exciting chances are not many will show up these days.

PS  This year he is having a Pizza party and that's it !  What happen to the days where cake, ice cream and a few games sufficed?

Answer 25

bring him his breakfast in bed on the morning of his birthday. Let him help decorate the cake and pick out his own b-day meals the day before. while he is sleeping barracade his door with tons of streamers so he has to rip them all off to get out....kids love this!

Answer 26

omgosh.

kids dont have to have huge parties all the time. Some of the best parties are the ones where only a couple close friends go and do something really cool.

Answer 27

having kids not being able to come is very common and it actually happened to my sister. It really depends if he wants to have a birthday party each year or if u decide. Some of my friends stopped having them when they turned 14 or even 13. And you can make it special by getting a good birthday present, bringing him to a restaurant that he likes or the movies or even maybe a fun activity that he wants to do.