how many kids would you invite

AlsDonkBoxSquat

to a 3 year old's birthday party? There are 6 kids he talks about (one is iffy), the rest if you ask him who he played with he'll say "i can't remember his/her name." But, I feel bad only inviting these 6 kids when there are more kids in his class. However, the party is this saturday so the likelihood of anyone showing up is low anyway. (We've been out of town and had some other turmoil, so we didn't think we were doing a party but changed our minds this weekend)

That being said, we plan to have a get together later this year or in the Spring for all the parents and kids because it's the only way at this point to get to know them since it's not like the kids can set up play dates for themselves at this point.

Thoughts?

FaugHorn

Hard at the age of 3 to know, I didn't go to/have a big birthday party until I was older but I think that if you're going to invite some of the kids in a certain class (like more than just 1or 2 "best" friends) then it would be nice to invite them all

You never know which parents will talk to which other parents "Billy is going to the party this weekend how about Sammy? Party...oh...my kid must not be liked...well I'll just tell Sammy not to play with that mean non-inviting boy"

How many kids we talking here? Definitely ask for RSVPs though so you don't have to prepare for too many

momwhosbusy

You may want to check on policy at the school as well. For ours it is policy that if invites are being passed out at school then the whole class is to be invited. If you don't want the whole class invited then you need to mail the invites. In the event of sleep overs where it's all boys or all girls some teachers will stretch the rule depending on the age of the class...

Dub_D

34

corn63

34

No no. 42.

cmriverside

At that age, I'd just invite one or two little friends and the rest family.

Turtlehurdle

Where are you getting your invitations? >.>

maddymama

You may want to check on policy at the school as well. For ours it is policy that if invites are being passed out at school then the whole class is to be invited. If you don't want the whole class invited then you need to mail the invites. In the event of sleep overs where it's all boys or all girls some teachers will stretch the rule depending on the age of the class...

This. If you are going to invite some friends from the class, invite them all. Chances are most won't show up, but it's better to be inclusive then exclusive.

rossi02

I would go ahead and send invites to all the kids in the class.. at that age, and with it being this weekend, I doubt more than 3 or 4 would accept. Though, some say we're crazy because we had 25 kids attend a joint birthdy party for both of my boys back in April. It was worth it to get both over and done with at once!

VelociMama

42. The answer is always 42. (just kidding)

You may want to check on policy at the school as well. For ours it is policy that if invites are being passed out at school then the whole class is to be invited. If you don't want the whole class invited then you need to mail the invites. In the event of sleep overs where it's all boys or all girls some teachers will stretch the rule depending on the age of the class...

^ This is ridiculous as well (the policy that a whole class must be invited if anyone in the class is).

I think keeping it small with your child's closest friends is very reasonable. Remember that 3 year olds will also need a parent present so you're doubling or tripling that number of people to feed entertain.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

42. The answer is always 42. (just kidding)

You may want to check on policy at the school as well. For ours it is policy that if invites are being passed out at school then the whole class is to be invited. If you don't want the whole class invited then you need to mail the invites. In the event of sleep overs where it's all boys or all girls some teachers will stretch the rule depending on the age of the class...

^ This is ridiculous as well (the policy that a whole class must be invited if anyone in the class is).

I think keeping it small with your child's closest friends is very reasonable. Remember that 3 year olds will also need a parent present so you're doubling or tripling that number of people to feed entertain.

We've already discussed that and agreed that because he wants a Lightening McQueen party we're going to call it a tailgate and do bugers and dogs and chips and cake pray that no one is so inconsiderate as to just leave their 3 year old with us for 2 hours. The last one I went to the moms all stuck around so I'm hoping some of those same moms come to this one and maybe bring the dads since we never get a chance to talk ;-)

Oh, and thank you all. I felt terrible even considering not inviting everyone, so now when M gets mad at me for handing out invites like candy I can blame it on the school.

VelociMama

42. The answer is always 42. (just kidding)

You may want to check on policy at the school as well. For ours it is policy that if invites are being passed out at school then the whole class is to be invited. If you don't want the whole class invited then you need to mail the invites. In the event of sleep overs where it's all boys or all girls some teachers will stretch the rule depending on the age of the class...

^ This is ridiculous as well (the policy that a whole class must be invited if anyone in the class is).

I think keeping it small with your child's closest friends is very reasonable. Remember that 3 year olds will also need a parent present so you're doubling or tripling that number of people to feed entertain.

We've already discussed that and agreed that because he wants a Lightening McQueen party we're going to call it a tailgate and do bugers and dogs and chips and cake pray that no one is so inconsiderate as to just leave their 3 year old with us for 2 hours. The last one I went to the moms all stuck around so I'm hoping some of those same moms come to this one and maybe bring the dads since we never get a chance to talk ;-)

Oh, and thank you all. I felt terrible even considering not inviting everyone, so now when M gets mad at me for handing out invites like candy I can blame it on the school.

That's a great idea about the tailgate!

lorib75

We've actually never done friend invites yet... mine are 5 & 7. We usually do family only. They have many, many, cousins....

beach_please

You may want to check on policy at the school as well. For ours it is policy that if invites are being passed out at school then the whole class is to be invited.

My kids' school has this policy too though I don't think they really enforce it. I think if I were you, I'd invite the whole class. Like you said, with it being short notice, many won't show up. Also, I always think about if the kids discuss the party in front of other classmates who weren't invited, there could be some hurt little feelings.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

We've actually never done friend invites yet... mine are 5 & 7. We usually do family only. They have many, many, cousins....

If we lived near family I would only invite family (I have a large family with lots of kids around his age) but we're 8 hours from them, so to have anything that resembles a party we need to invite the fun!

christine24t

Either invite the whole class or none of the class.

ChelseaYepThatsMe

I would only invite the kids that he really talks about.