birthday party with embarrassing (too young) theme?

[Anonymous]

Can you do paw patrol at home on his birthday and another theme (or use colors) for the party?

[Anonymous]

Yes 3rd graders notice this stuff - and especially notice if they think it is “babyish”

to OP - just tell your kid no you need to pick something else; don’t feel terrible about it either.

Like others said but some plates for cake you have at home with just him and you and spouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were kids to say negative things about the theme, that would be chiding, criticizing, making fun of, etc.

It would NOT be “bullying.” Overuse of that word undermines its specific and significant meaning. And drives me crazy.

That's literally bullying, but somehow I'm not surprised a DCUM poster wouldn't make the connection.

New poster here. No it's not bullying. It's just being mean. Not every rude or mean act is bullying. Bullying is a targeted and repeated act. The rest is just being a jerk.

So if the friends left the party and mocked and teased this child for the rest of the year about his Paw Patrol decorations, yes that's bullying. If they come and say "Omg Paw Patrol is for babies!" and then move on after the party, that makes them rude or mean, but not bullies. There is a difference.

OP here. Which is why I don't want to do this party.

Girls still do themes in 3rd grade. Boys, not so much. Why does there have to be a theme? Just put out colorful plates and cups and call it "birthday theme". Boys don't even want to do favors. The theme is just "birthday party". Tell him the theme is not necessary and to pick a color he likes for general party supplies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were kids to say negative things about the theme, that would be chiding, criticizing, making fun of, etc.

It would NOT be “bullying.” Overuse of that word undermines its specific and significant meaning. And drives me crazy.

That's literally bullying, but somehow I'm not surprised a DCUM poster wouldn't make the connection.

New poster here. No it's not bullying. It's just being mean. Not every rude or mean act is bullying. Bullying is a targeted and repeated act. The rest is just being a jerk.

So if the friends left the party and mocked and teased this child for the rest of the year about his Paw Patrol decorations, yes that's bullying. If they come and say "Omg Paw Patrol is for babies!" and then move on after the party, that makes them rude or mean, but not bullies. There is a difference.

OP here. Which is why I don't want to do this party.

Girls still do themes in 3rd grade. Boys, not so much. Why does there have to be a theme? Just put out colorful plates and cups and call it "birthday theme". Boys don't even want to do favors. The theme is just "birthday party". Tell him the theme is not necessary and to pick a color he likes for general party supplies.

Disagree as a mom of a 3rd grader. Every party is a Minecraft or Pokémon party. I love a Pokémon party because I don’t have to think hard about the present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were kids to say negative things about the theme, that would be chiding, criticizing, making fun of, etc.

It would NOT be “bullying.” Overuse of that word undermines its specific and significant meaning. And drives me crazy.

That's literally bullying, but somehow I'm not surprised a DCUM poster wouldn't make the connection.

New poster here. No it's not bullying. It's just being mean. Not every rude or mean act is bullying. Bullying is a targeted and repeated act. The rest is just being a jerk.

So if the friends left the party and mocked and teased this child for the rest of the year about his Paw Patrol decorations, yes that's bullying. If they come and say "Omg Paw Patrol is for babies!" and then move on after the party, that makes them rude or mean, but not bullies. There is a difference.

OP here. Which is why I don't want to do this party.

Girls still do themes in 3rd grade. Boys, not so much. Why does there have to be a theme? Just put out colorful plates and cups and call it "birthday theme". Boys don't even want to do favors. The theme is just "birthday party". Tell him the theme is not necessary and to pick a color he likes for general party supplies.

Disagree as a mom of a 3rd grader. Every party is a Minecraft or Pokémon party. I love a Pokémon party because I don’t have to think hard about the present.

So you insist there is a theme? The point is that it's not even necessary. Just have a party and buy solid colored things. Tell the kid "no" and it's not worth paying extra for the "themed" crap. It's not hard.

[Anonymous]

I would do a dog themed party and get some paw patrol cups or plates and call it a day.

I have 2 boys and have thrown a ton of parties. Some had themes. Some didn’t. I did a Minecraft one last year. We had green cupcakes and Minecraft napkins. That was the extend of our theme. It was outside and windy and no one cared.

Have a fun activity. I think we did laser tag in 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were kids to say negative things about the theme, that would be chiding, criticizing, making fun of, etc.

It would NOT be “bullying.” Overuse of that word undermines its specific and significant meaning. And drives me crazy.

That's literally bullying, but somehow I'm not surprised a DCUM poster wouldn't make the connection.

New poster here. No it's not bullying. It's just being mean. Not every rude or mean act is bullying. Bullying is a targeted and repeated act. The rest is just being a jerk.

So if the friends left the party and mocked and teased this child for the rest of the year about his Paw Patrol decorations, yes that's bullying. If they come and say "Omg Paw Patrol is for babies!" and then move on after the party, that makes them rude or mean, but not bullies. There is a difference.

OP here. Which is why I don't want to do this party.

Girls still do themes in 3rd grade. Boys, not so much. Why does there have to be a theme? Just put out colorful plates and cups and call it "birthday theme". Boys don't even want to do favors. The theme is just "birthday party". Tell him the theme is not necessary and to pick a color he likes for general party supplies.

Disagree as a mom of a 3rd grader. Every party is a Minecraft or Pokémon party. I love a Pokémon party because I don’t have to think hard about the present.

Boys do themes but Paw Patrol would be seen as babyish. Pokemon and Minecraft are played by all ages.

[Anonymous]

Dog-themed party yes, Paw Patrol no.

[Anonymous]

this is thrid grade.

Every parent that posted that this is childish is absurd.

Who cares? OP if your kid has friends that will be mean after a party they are not friends.


Parents who worry about this are the ones whose kids fail out of college. Ugh

Silly just silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this is thrid grade.

Every parent that posted that this is childish is absurd.

Who cares? OP if your kid has friends that will be mean after a party they are not friends.


Parents who worry about this are the ones whose kids fail out of college. Ugh

Silly just silly.

Paw Patrol is specifically geared towards pre schoolers. I guess you've never heard of Paw Patrol. That is the target demographic. 3rd graders aren't usually into the same things preschoolers are and start to have different interests. Maybe the kids wouldn't say anything or care, but a few might think it is odd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this is thrid grade.

Every parent that posted that this is childish is absurd.

Who cares? OP if your kid has friends that will be mean after a party they are not friends.


Parents who worry about this are the ones whose kids fail out of college. Ugh

Silly just silly.

Paw Patrol is specifically geared towards pre schoolers. I guess you've never heard of Paw Patrol. That is the target demographic. 3rd graders aren't usually into the same things preschoolers are and start to have different interests. Maybe the kids wouldn't say anything or care, but a few might think it is odd.

+1. Why even go there? As others have said, I'd gently guide him away from Paw Patrol and choose a general dog theme or no theme (what we do, birthday kid picks out colors for cake and paper products)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dog-themed party yes, Paw Patrol no.

Yeah, how about dogs and you can ask people to bring something to donate to an animal shelter (towels, dog food etc) or make a contribution instead of gifts ?

[Anonymous]

As the mom of a 3rd grader who is not fitting in very well socially, I would steer him towards something else too. This group of kids had their K year and half of their 1st grade experience stolen from them. It has not been easy for some kids to fit into 2nd grade and they feel like it's going too fast. I would not want to expose him to the potential comments or teasing. Maybe have an honest discussion with him and if he really wants that theme find way together to make it age appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Other than trying to talk him out of it, have you actually asked him what made him pick the theme?

[Anonymous]

I would try and steer away OP -Paw Patrol after 1st grade would definitely be considered babyish- he may be disappointed but you can still have a birthday dinner at home with Paw Patrol tableware?