At what do you stop the birthday parties with the bells and whistles for your child?

Question

We usually have a birthday party every year for my son who just turned 9, it is usually a theme and we get all the themed supplies($80), I make goody bags($10 each) for all the children and we invite our family and their sibblings total 25 people, 12 adults. We have a pinic at the park ($30.00 permit fee) unfortunately I have everything to do my husband does not do much and spend several hundred by the time we are done. I love my son but at what point do we do the make a special dinner and have a cake with just our family, me, my husband and my son and his brother instead of the party

Answer 1

OK my felling is that you should ask your child if he even wants a party at his age... I´ve been having a party for my child for the last 5 years (also the first 5 for him) and he has a deciding vote on wath theme he wants and we go from there, even though we go over the top most of the times... (we spend about 1500 dlls for a party of 100 to 120 people every year).. It´s a real joy to see your child have the time of his life with his friend and all of his family, and people are still talking and asking when is the next party (I think it´s the over the top thing that makes people talk).
Well the point is ask the child if he or she wants a party next year, they might say no at first, but when they see a friend or are asked by their friends if they are having a party, he or she will probably want one at 12 or 14 (and probably at the last minute) and you do wath you can to make it happen.... just because you love them.....

Answer 2

If you want to limit the birthday party extravagance, 10 is a good age. Families parties are fun, and a lot less stress.

If your child would like to do something 'special', let him/her invite a friend over sometime near the birthday - but not for the birthday - just to play, or go to a movie, or something special. No presents, no cake, just a chance to do something fun with a friend, which becomes more important to them anyway by the time they are 10 or 11.

You can still celebrate the birthday in the family, and find lots of ways to make the birthday child feel special without all the extravagance of an elaborate theme party.

If they still really want a 'party', let them have 2 or 3 friends over without all the extras. Just a chance to do whatever they like - which they enjoy at that age anyway:)

Answer 3

We started doing birthday parties for all of the cousins twice a year. There are 13 cousins, all under the age of 9. 5 were born Feb-April, 6 born May-Aug, and one lone wolf in Nov. We have a party in March for the spring b-days, and some time over the summer for the summer ones. The Nov. b-day usually goes into the summer one for her half birthday.

We all invite the same people, so we split the cost of the party. It is much less expensive that way and everyone still gets their big party.

Since it usually doesn't happen on their real birthday, I still get to take my kids out for a nice quiet dinner and I still make a personalized birthday cake for them.

Answer 4

I think that you will get lots of different answers to this, so you'll have to look them over & see what works best for you.

I can tell you that my son just turned 9 in early August. I had a bigger party for him last year, at 8, than I had intended, so I told him no more big parties.

For his 9th, I told him he could take 4 friends to the movies---filling the 5 back passenger seats in my mini-van. At this age most parents are willing to let their child go to a party without having to stay themselves.

I bought candy in a discount store & took 2 juice boxes for each kid. I brought lunchbags, but I suggest ziploc bags, & bought a large popcorn & divided it up amongst the kids. The movie theater we went to gives free refills of a large popcorn so it worked out great. You could also take a small group bowling.

Answer 5

I stopped parties for 2 of my kids when they turned 10. My last child who was so much wiser and savvey than his sibs, requested no party after his 8th birthday. I still had a special dinner with immediate family and a cake but no balloons or favors. Many times since grandparents all lived too far to travel,we just had the 5 of us.

Answer 6

I think its up to you and your son, and what is right for you but still will make your son happy, you could also try having more smaller parties like taking maybe 5-6 to a movie with him, or to dinner, doesn't have to be huge and expensive parties all the time

Answer 7

i think you have reached that point.
or you need to refine your party throwing and keep having parties just go a different route
don't spend that much on decorations.
balloons and streamers. dollar store plates and napkins. or bjs/costco
have the kids make the "theme decorations" if they want them. if he wants fire fighter party- get red and blk balloons- have him cut out boots, dalmations, fire trucks and hydrants out of poster board and decorate... that sort of thing.
skip the goodie bags.
the permit fee's not bad= and they are outside getting to run around and ware them selves out lol

or you can say now is the time where we stay home, bbq with family and call it good. let him invite a few best friends and be done with it. you can do pot luck w/family and have them bring dishes too.

my parents stopped doing parties around 9-10. but we were do it yourselfers and i never really gave out goody bags.

Answer 8

Offer him money or a party. At his age he will take the money. You will save by doing this. Just have a nice dinner out with his choice of a restaurant.

These parties could go on until they are eighteen. Do have a 16th birthday party though.

Answer 9

i think that when you feel that tehy are older, just stop doing kids parties. i used to have parties like that but as i got older, i want to go out with friends or have a small group of kids come over instead. also i think your husband should help you. ask him to and itll be much easier on u

Answer 10

I would say around 11-12 years old. I would also say that next year you could cut down on expenses.