Sending out invitations for your child’s birthday party might seem like a relatively easy task. You go to the store and buy some invitations, fill them out, and send them off. It’s only when you start to make that list of who to invite when you realize that the task might not be as easy as you initially thought. The invitation list can be a social minefield, causing stress for parents and children alike. As one of the premier kid’s birthday party places in Rohnert Park, we’ve been asked for invitation advice from many parents. Don’t let this part of the planning get you down! Here are some of the do’s and don’ts when it comes to making your invitation list.

FAQ About Birthday Party Invitations

Do I have to invite my child’s entire class?

Some schools have actually implemented policies about birthday party invitations in order to avoid hurt feelings in the classroom. It’s worth having a look to see if your school has any rules; often, they ask that you invite every child in the class so no one feels left out. That way it can be up to the individual child as to whether or not they wish to attend. If there aren’t any guidelines from the school, you might want to see if the teacher has any suggestions or advice on what other parents in the class are doing. If your school doesn’t have any rules, though, here are some guidelines you can follow:

• If you invite almost the entire class, go ahead and invite everyone. Chances are good that not all of them will be able to make it anyway, but by passing along an invitation, you won’t be leaving anyone out. You don’t want to invite almost the entire class and leave two or three kids off the list.
• If you don’t want to invite everyone, consider keeping it to one gender or the other.
• If you are only inviting a couple children from the class, make it discreet. Send the invitations via mail or email instead of handing them out at school and have a talk with your child about avoiding talk about the party while at school.

How many kids is a good number to invite?

A lot of parents follow the “child’s age plus one.” That means if your child is turning 8, having nine kids there is a good number. Of course, if your child is especially social, you may choose to invite more children. If your child is more introverted, they may prefer to have a smaller group of close friends.

Should invitations be hand delivered?

It’s nice to hand deliver a cute party invitation that gets kids excited about coming to the birthday party. But let’s face it, not everyone has time to make all those cute invites. While it might have been frowned on in the past, today it is perfectly acceptable to email a party invite. It’s often easier for the parents, too, because they can use services that will automatically track their RSVPs for them.

What if no one RSVPs?

A RSVP is a very good thing. It allows you to get a head count about who is and isn’t coming to the party so you can be prepared with the right amount of food and gift bags. However, it’s easy for parents to get busy and forget to send their RSVP back to you. If it’s getting closer to the party date and you still have a lot of people who haven’t responded, it’s fine to reach out to them again. Call them up or send a follow-up email and ask that they RSVP by a certain date.

Do I have to invite siblings?

There is no hard and fast rule on this one. If you have space and resources for siblings to join in the fun, then that’s great! Whatever you decide, it’s best to make it clear in the invitation. Either note that siblings are welcome or that you regret that you cannot host siblings at the party. If you decide not to allow siblings to attend, it’s a nice gesture to allow parents to drop off the invited children and pick them up later.

What if no one comes?

It’s every parent’s (and kid’s!) worst fear, but it’s really, really unlikely. Make sure you invite a couple of people who are sure to show up, whether that’s a best friend, cousins, or the neighbors. Picking a great venue for the party will get kids excited about attending, too! Making it a fun break for the parents will bring in more kids as well, so keep that in mind.

We Can Help Take the Stress Out of Birthday Planning

Is birthday party planning stressing you out? The team at Rebounderz can help! We’ve helped plan hundreds of birthday parties. Our easy, no-stress party options are one of the reasons we’ve become the premier place for kid’s birthday parties in the Rohnert Park area. Once you’ve tackled those birthday party invitations, let our team take over. We’ll take care of everything from the pizza to the activities and make sure that all the kids who attend are having a great time. we even clean up when the party is done.

Want to learn more about turning your birthday party over to us? Get in touch with our team! Give us a call or contact us through our website to learn more about having your child’s next birthday party at Rebounderz.