to party or not to paty?

[Mercedes]

I don't know what to do. My dd has just started school and her birthday's next week. She didn't know anybody at the school before going. She and my DP want her to have a party but who would I invite when so far she only knows the name of 1 other girl?
I know I could invite all 18 in the class but I don't know if I'm that brave/social and unfortunately my closest friends and their kids who would normally help out are going to be away on holiday next week-end.
What else could I do to make it a special day? Should I stop being a coward and just have a party?
The grief I'm getting over this - I need help and advice.

[JackieNo]

Not sure if it's any help, but when my DD started school she had her birthday a week later, and we invited mostly people from her nursery where she'd been for the previous 4 and a half years, and 2 girls from her school, as she only knew one little girl in her class before starting there, and we knew that those 2 were good friends - to their credit (quite brave of them I think), they came, and had a good time. Couldn't face trying to invite everyone, though.

[Mercedes]

We haven't kept in contact with the nursery kids as by chance in the last term it was full of 3.5 year old boys who she just didn't relate to.
I did think about inviting the one girl she's made friends with over to play on the Sat morning as she only lives round the corner.

[PandaG]

How about taking the one friend she has made to the cinema or something - or round to play/for lunch. Then maybe having something later on in the year if you want to invite more of her friends round when she has made some - an unbirthday party? One of DS's friends had an early Sept. birthday, instead of having a party then she had the whole class round to play with a bouncy castle for an end of year treat.

[PandaG]

How about taking the one friend she has made to the cinema or something - or round to play/for lunch. Then maybe having something later on in the year if you want to invite more of her friends round when she has made some - an unbirthday party? One of DS's friends had an early Sept. birthday, instead of having a party then she had the whole class round to play with a bouncy castle for an end of year treat.

[Mercedes]

I did suggest a haloween party as an alternative but I was the only person in our family who was keen on this.

[cleaninglady]

my dd has just started school and her birthday party is arranged for 30th september as birthday 3rd october. ive had to just take the decision to book a play place and invite the whole class as just couldnt work out what else to do as she wouldnt really know anyone in time to invite to a party! is going to cost me a fortune though

[Mercedes]

I think that's a good ide it's just that I am a bit nervous of doing this when the kids have only been in the class for about 7 days. It just feels too soon to me although if my dd got an invite so early i would be really pleased.
I know I've just contradicted my reason for not having a party but put it down to nerves.

[mysonsmummy]

i was in this situation last year. ds just started nursery school didnt know anyone. so just invited 3 friends. however he then never got invited to any the others parties in the class. this year im inviting the class - so hoping he gets invited back.

[flumpybono73]

Hi Mercedes, I understand what you mean. I'm nearly at the point where I have to organise parties etc but I get the impression that there are playground politics with parents etc... I don't know what the best solution is

[flumpybono73]

I'd say just go with something that you're comfortable with as you'll only stress out more

[CarolinaMoon]

did you have the party mercedes?

[mymama]

Have read this too late - but I would have had the party and invited only girls. Cuts down the numbers and is acceptable to not invite boys when that young. Great way for her to make friends and you get to see the kids she spends her days with.