We stopped at kindergarten for the "whole class party". Then we have then if we feel like.

However, my boys have birthday during the summer and we just got tired of no one being around for a party. So we go out of town for them!

Lol, just did a 14 yo. bday party! It was a blast and so much more fun now that they are old enough to entertain themselves.

Yikes. We have parties, but in our small house.

Stopped the parties at 4.Only close family and friends get together for a cake.

Yes, outrageous expensive these days

Parties start getting much more low-key in middle school. My 14 yo DD just wants to have a few friends for a sleepover. My 10 yo DS still wants a big bowling or laser-tag type thing.

When they go to college. The two of my kids who are in college are actually home on breaks during their birthdays so we do a family party as usual, and then they invite a bunch of friends over and do a house party.

DS is turning 9 and we opted to go out of town and stay overnight in a hotel as a family for his birthday celebration. Probably costs the same as a party, but we all benefit from it!

My 6th grader just had a sleepover. 4 girls. I provided plenty of food and a movie...and really hardly saw them all night. Still party but totally different then when they were younger.

In mid ES it dwindled to two or three for an overnight. Since MS, there have been none.

Around 6, kids could be very excited by a sleepover party for just a few kids. By 10, kids may be out of the big party thing. The benefit of big parties now is you may actually train your kid not to want that. We did the huge invite the whole class style party every year for DCs. I thought it was the nice thing to do, to invite everyone, and that my kids liked it. They actually didn't like the big party scene, but I was so enthusiastic, they tried what I suggested. Starting about 8 and 10, they told me they'd rather not do anything, if the only other option was a big party. Since then, we have stayed small - a few kids to dinner and a movie, or a sports game, etc.

My brother only did a big group party for his son at age five, and then again at 10.

I do them every other year. I'd do them less if I had more than one kid. Money is an issue, at least for us.

My son really wants to have a friend party this year, but it's an off year. I told him he ca have a few friends over, or go to a movie and get pizza. Something like that. He is happy with that idea. They do adjust.

So simplify it. Your kids adjust. Their expectations reflect what you do/manage. It ends when you make it end. Stop escalations and don't try to keep up with your friends and neighbors.

Just bc your son had a big one for four your daughter doesn't have to too. You had one kid then. Now you have two. Things change.

Just say no if you don't want big parties. Make it family only. Or just family and a couple of friends per kid. We did a big party for a first bday. Only small ones for family since then. I don't want mine growing thinking he is entitled to a big celebration for every bday. I have adult friends who celebrate bday weeks! It is insane. And they think everyone should to along.

Anyone else feel like it's getting out of hand? Me included, DD had a fantastic 1st birthday, next year I would like to simplify it but then what about my son...he had a big 4th birthday, I would like to do another big one for 5 but DD would be upset that hers stopped. Get's sooooo expensive... Laser parties, circus parties, jumpy, bear, American girl, gymnastics- what's next- White House parties? Oops not anytime soon on the last one.