do I take DD to this party or not?

[IDoDis]

I've taught at schools that have rules that state that if birthday invites are passed out at school, they have to be given to the whole class, otherwise they need to be mailed. And I've had students who have invited the whole class and maybe 1 or 2 kids from the class attend. I feel bad for the child when this happens.

If your DD wants to go, let her go. Just go with her. My DD has been a figure skater for 7 years so I've seen lots of birthday parties on the weekends at the ice rinks. Most kids your DD's age last about an hour tops on the ice (depending on how cold the rink is) and then they are done. Four hours is way to long for a beginner in rental skates.

 

[summerrluvv]

I'm a mom who invites the entire class. I'll explain to you why. First off, you either invite the entire class or no one, unless you mail the invites home. Well that would probably work for most "typical" children, but see my son has social issues (PDD), so it's hard for him to "get" who is really his friend. So rather than sit with the directory and try to figure out exactly who likes my son, we send the invites into the entire class. Some kids never come, which is fine. My son is always excited about the ones that do and it's usually about 15 of them or so. So maybe this mom has the same kind of situation going on. Just giving you another perspective on the situation

..and maybe you didn't mean it, but your tone is kind of mean spirited when you say "maybe her mom knows that her dd has no friends". Maybe she does, and maybe she wants her DD to have some. What's wrong with that?

 

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

I'm a mom who invites the entire class. I'll explain to you why. First off, you either invite the entire class or no one, unless you mail the invites home. Well that would probably work for most "typical" children, but see my son has social issues (PDD), so it's hard for him to "get" who is really his friend. So rather than sit with the directory and try to figure out exactly who likes my son, we send the invites into the entire class. Some kids never come, which is fine. My son is always excited about the ones that do and it's usually about 15 of them or so. So maybe this mom has the same kind of situation going on. Just giving you another perspective on the situation

..and maybe you didn't mean it, but your tone is kind of mean spirited when you say "maybe her mom knows that her dd has no friends". Maybe she does, and maybe she wants her DD to have some. What's wrong with that?

That totally makes sense on why you invite the whole class. And, sorry, no I did not mean to come across mean spirited. I think her mom should know that she has no (or almost none) friends. That means her mom is paying attention, is involved and is trying to do something about it. I know there are some parents that wouldn't care or do anything to help their child out.

 

[pandora174]

It also may have been easier to invite the whole class as to avoid hurt feelings. I know at my kid's schools, invites must go out to all boy/girls or the whole class if they are handed out in school. Maybe there were certain boys and girls the birthday girl wanted to invite, there by creating a need to invite the whole class.

I agree, it is very common for kids to invite the whole class to their b-day parties & it does not mean the child has no other friends. At DS's school also if you pass out invites to a birthday party then all kids must be invited.

& to the OP I think that if your DD wants to go I would take her & stay with her. As to the location, kids just like to play with other kids. DS (6) has had just as much fun running around a friend's backyard with a kiddie pool & a hot dog as he has at a full blown bounce house, entertainers type parties. That's what I love about kids