My 5th grader would like to have a party with about 15 boys and girls (we go to a small close-knit school, and he has friends of both genders). Is there anything inappropriate about this? It will just be a couple of hours of food/games and of course my husband and I will be supervising the entire time, plus any other parents who would like to stay and hang out. All 100% innocent, but I would be interested in other parents' opinions.
Thank you for all the replies. I see now that I was being a little overly paranoid about what the other parents might think. I won't worry!
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D..
answers from
Miami
on
What? Inappropriate? I don't understand. It's not like you're planning a slumber party. You feel that you have to actually say "100% innocent", as if a 5th grade party might be considered something other than innocent. Why??
The only thing that would be inappropriate is if you had 15 kids this age, all boys, all girls, OR boys and girls together, with no supervision. Kids can be mean to each other and groups of them can get a little wild. Have plenty of activities planned so that they don't get on each other's nerves.
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M.D.
answers from
Washington DC
on
Not in appropriate in the least. All 3 of my kids have had both genders at their parties for years...there is no issue with it.
My 13 year old had a pool party this year and was nervous to invite boys to that, but was so glad she did. They are her friends in school and so why not celebrate with them. There was NO issue.
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N.B.
answers from
Oklahoma City
on
The only thing that becomes inappropriate is when there is no supervision. What you're planning sounds wonderful.
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J.C.
answers from
Anchorage
on
Of course there is nothing wrong with this, why do some feel this weird need to segregate our children based off what is between their legs? Men and women are not different species after all, lol.
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D.K.
answers from
Pittsburgh
on
Of course it is appropriate. Why would having friends of both genders be inappropriate?
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S.H.
answers from
Killeen
on
My daughter invited both boys and girls to her birthday party in the 5th grade. Alot of her friends did as well. We also live in a small, tight knit community. I don't see anything wrong with it at all.
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J.C.
answers from
Philadelphia
on
Nothing inappropriate at all. The kids are obviously already in mixed gender classrooms and there is nothing wrong with that.
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D.B.
answers from
Boston
on
Of course you should have boy/girl parties if your child wishes it. You supervise any party, whether they are 5 or 9 or 14 years old. You're not hovering constantly at this age or directing every single activity, but you're bringing in food and cleaning up cups/napkins and so on. If they are playing games, they will probably want a neutral adult to organize it, count "1-2-3-GO" and so on.
I think it's great if they want to do this!
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C.T.
answers from
Santa Fe
on
I think it's great! They will all have fun together and what could happen...you will be there with them. My son has friends who are girls too and he likes to hang out with them as well as his friends who are boys. Hope he has a great party!
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G.♣.
answers from
Springfield
on
My 10 year old just had a birthday party. I told him to invite whomever he wanted. Honestly, if my so received an invitation from a girl in his class, my only question to him would be, "Well, do you want to go?"
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R.A.
answers from
Boston
on
My son invited his friends to a birthday party at our house. One of his friends is a girl, the rest were boys. He was in 6th grade. This year-same thing. I've always encouraged my son to have friendships with both boys and girls.. their is nothing wrong with it unless you make it .
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K.G.
answers from
Fort Myers
on
Wheres the party? Your house? You are fine. I would be worried if it wasn't supervised. The kids aren't going to make out with their parents at the party.
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X.Y.
answers from
Chicago
on
It's not big deal to have both genders
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D.N.
answers from
Chicago
on
I see nothing wrong with it. For my older kids 6th birthday we had both boy and girl friends at the party. When my 8 yr old was supposed to have a summer party, she wanted to invite 4 boys and I had no problem with it.
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M.D.
answers from
Pittsburgh
on
No, my son went to a boy-girl 4th grade party last year, and I didn't think anything of it. He had a great time.
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A.L.
answers from
Atlanta
on
If the boys and girls are willing to socialize together, I think that's fabulous and there is nothing inappropriate about it. Our kids attend a small school and were pretty chummy with everyone. It's not a sleepover and there will be adults around. In my experience, the main obstacle to having a mixed gender party is that the male kids don't want the female kids around and vice versa.
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S.G.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I just chaperoned a grade five dance last week. I don' see a problem with it.
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T.S.
answers from
San Francisco
on
Of course it's fine, why wouldn't it be? I don't understand...I mean they go to school together, are they segregated there?
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M.J.
answers from
Sacramento
on
I have a fifth grader and don't see any issues with it at all.
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T.F.
answers from
Dallas
on
I don't see a big deal. 5th graders are around 10 yrs old and will soon be having school dances and other coed functions.
I don't understand your concern for an innocent coed party. It's not like you are hosting a coed sleepover.
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C.C.
answers from
New York
on
All of those sirens / vixens / ball-and-chains messing up your son's party?! Yuck!! ;-)
Yes it is fine! Seems like there is no way for it to be anything other than "100% innocent" with supervision.
But you might want to post a separate question about recommendations for anti-cootie sprays. Just in case.
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J.J.
answers from
Buffalo
on
My dd wouldn't be caught dead with boys at her party at that age, but if your kid is okay with it, that's fine. What are they going to be doing? Is it at your house or a destination? I would think they'd need some fun activities going on to keep everyone involved