Hellobee Boards

same! small and at home. my mom always made the cake and goodie bags. I feel like we did a craft or had a sleepover party, too.
But I also lived in the 'burbs in a bigger house with a yard.
We live in a small city townhouse with no room for a party (or parking!). And my son is a December baby in the Northeast, so we can't do anything outdoors either.

My parties were split. Some were at home, some years we had it at a special kids location (Like Chuck e Cheese). There was never elaborate pinterest-worthy set ups or anything. That wasn't my mom's thing. I don't think any particular party was very expensive. I usually had maybe 10 friends there.

As a kid, I think it was usually just home parties with 10-15 kids. Maybe at Chuck-E-Cheese or something at least 1x?

As I got older, I wasn't into having parties and just did things with 1-2 good friends. I think the fact that my bday is near a major holiday and people are out on vacation was/is a factor, too.

I don't remember many birthday parties, I think they were mostly at home with just my small immediate family? I remember a few occasions doing something bigger, but it definitely wasn't every year or very elaborate!

@regberadaisy: TOTALLY! we can't wait to have a skating party (my husband teaches and has access to most of the rinks around here)
his friends are too little now but maybe next year?

When I was young, say under 8, we had parties at my house and I had maybe 10-12 friends there? After that I invited maybe 4-5 close friends and my parents would take us swimming, ice skating, bowling etc. then out for a meal. The trend these days around here, for school aged kids seems to be to invite the whole class (20-30 kids) and have it at a venue with catering, entertainment etc. Not sure if I want to go down that route for LO!

We had small family ones every year. When I was in 3rd or 4th grade I started having slumber parties for my bday.

I honestly don't get the point in having elaborate birthday parties for kiddos. Maybe 1 or 2 fancier birthday parties throughout their childhood, but anything more than that is over the top imo.

I find it especially odd that 1 year Olds are having such elaborate parties.....it seems more like a party for the parents.

I just remember 2.. One was at home, my mom had games and stuff and made it fun!

The other one was at church and I thought it was so cool b/c we had a big space and all these built in cool toys!

I had a big party at home the year I was in 1st grade. All the girls from my class were invited. It was Pinterest worthy. I think my mom felt bad for mr because my two front teeth had just been knocked out. My mom says that wasn't as big as my 2nd or 3rd birthday party but I don't remember that one at all. I had some other slumber parties with 2-3 friends but that was normal weekend activity with cake & candles. We had no family in the area so the other years it was just the four of us which was fine too.