If you do/did bday parties every year

At what age did you/plan to stop?
I had bday parties for my older DS up until this year- so 7 years of parties. This year instead of a party we took him to Villa Roma for the weekend.
My younger DS is going to be 5 in March. I feel like he should get a couple more parties, but I'm selfishly tempted to do a trip instead.
So at what age did you stop the big parties? If I do decide to throw him a party this year I'm going to have to rent a space $150, I'm going to get an animal lady for an hour $275, and then food and favors. It will probably end up costing $550-600. I'm thinking maybe a ski weekend instead?

ETA- we also have our immediate family over for either pizza/Chinese food and cake. We plan to continue that indefinitely.

Message edited 1/13/2015 8:23:12 PM.

Re: If you do/did bday parties every year

I would ask him what he wants to do. If he wants a party with his friends or to go away. I don't have kids of school age yet but I'm thinking my DC would want a birthday party since i'm sure the other kids in their class are having them too.

If you do/did bday parties every year

I never started. Waste of $$$$ IMO.

Re: If you do/did bday parties every year

I will do them up until 5. My DD turns 5 next month..Still dont know what to do. Then it will be smaller partys at house with immediate and then maybe as she get older sleepover parties/spa parties.

If you do/did bday parties every year

I would ask him and get his thoughts.

We only started the parties at 5.

Message edited 1/13/2015 3:46:27 PM.

Re: If you do/did bday parties every year

We started at 3 - This year my older son will be 6.
I have no clue when we will stop. I guess when they don't want it anymore and are old enough to understand we can put that crazy amount of $$$ toward something else. for them ...........

We always do pizza/cake w/ the immediate family

Re: If you do/did bday parties every year

It stopped becoming a yearly thing after 8..
for 9+ I let him decide if he wanted a party or to "Do" something. Some years he will pick medieval times, some years a small party (10 kids) at a trampoline place, last year he just wanted a sleepover with his BFF, this year paintballing with a small handful of kids. My DH was over the expense of the parties before age 9. I go totally overboard though.

If you do/did bday parties every year

DD is only 3 but I don't plan on stopping her bday parties until she no longer wants them, or asks for something else. I always had a bday party as a kid- every year-- so I would do the same for my DD's, however I DO NOT go over overboard and try to keep the cost reasonable and do not go crazy with gifts.

Re: If you do/did bday parties every year

This part year we went away for my son's seventh birthday to the great wolf lodge. Then we went away to canada for two weeks. For my daughter'a fifth birhtday we went to the American girl store and had a family party. We moved over the summer to a new school district and my kids birthdays are over the summer and the first few weeks of school. It was just too much to get a party in there for us. I would like to have a party for my son's eighth and daughter's sixth birthdays, but will likely just do smaller things after that or vacations.

If you do/did bday parties every year

I had a bday party at a place every year until I was 11. Imo it's not a waste of $, especially if you don't go overboard. Some of my best memories are from those parties.

Re: If you do/did bday parties every year

I have no set time to stop BUT we have never done big, blow-out parties OR kid parties to begin with so I'm not eager to stop celebrating their bdays right now. Except for their first bdays where I spent a little more and invited more people we keep things simple and at home for their bdays.

The kids pick whatever theme they want, I decorate the house for them, we invite our families over (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins) and we just either order a hero or pizzas and I get a Carvel cake. It's easy, inexpensive, and they have a blast.

If you do/did bday parties every year

I don't see the necessity in having birthday parties every year. We plan on having a moderate 1st birthday for DD and then after that - cake and pizza at our house w/ family and a playdate with friends... gifts not necessary. Birthdays will continue to be celebrated of course... just nothing elaborate or expensive.

ETA: When she's older - she can have a sleepover with some friends or something like that.

ETAA: I think if DD had a late Spring/Summer/Early Fall, I'd consider doing a BBQ type party at home or pool party since those aren't too $$$ but she has a late Winter birthday.

Message edited 1/13/2015 11:08:02 PM.

Re: If you do/did bday parties every year

i don't ever plan on stopping. Birthdays are the best days in my opinion.

DS is 4. on his actual birthday, we go to his favorite restaurant/diner.

for his 1st, we had a catering hall party with 60 people.

for his 2nd, we had 3 parties. one at my parents with their friends, one at DHs parents with his family, and a bbq and playground at our house.

for his 3rd, we had it in the backyard in our apartment.

his 4th was at a carousel at flushing meadows park. It was very quick and shirt because it rained right after, but he had a blast.

his 5th will be at another park with a bbq area.

none of these are really expensive, and what makes them special are all the little touches. He always picks the theme (or for the past 3 birthdays) which makes it that much more special.

i also saved the candle (themed of course) from each of his birthdays so far. I'm thinking of putting them all on his 21st birthday cake (with just us of course)

Re: If you do/did bday parties every year

I also dont plan on stopping, he loves his birthday and his parties. Granted he is only 3 but I think he will be in his teen years and even then maybe he will want to do something cool with a couple friends. I had birthday parties out until 8th grade and then my sweet 16.

This year he had a school party, a party at a place, a little party at my moms (bc she was going away and going to miss his party the place) and then cake and pizza at home on his real birthday lol

Re: If you do/did bday parties every year

My son is 6 and this is the last year I had a party with friends. I will have my families over to celebrate and I told him next year he can choose 3 friends to come and we will go anywhere he wants. It is really ridiculous the amount I spend every year and I was doing it a lot to keep up with the joneses. My second son I plan on doing a party for his first and then just a small celebration at least for the 2nd and 3rd.

Re: If you do/did bday parties every year

I will Never stop. As long as he wants a party, a party he will have. But we are party people...we celebrate everything. Life is short.