Question About Birthday Party Invites for 4 year old

[camdensmom]

My son's bday is in the summer. We're planning a "friend's party" for him. We're doing a simple backyard party (with a rain date) with pasta and cupcakes. Because there is space at the 'venue' and food costs are low, I have the option of inviting quite a few kiddos. My question is where do I draw the line. My options are:

A. The whole school - 57 children (assuming there will be a good # who don't come)

B. Just those returning next September

C. Just those returning next September PLUS their siblings who attended this year, but will be moving on to K next year

The upside to inviting them all is that I can pass out invites at school and not pay postage. The downside to that is that it's A LOT of kids.

Also, when would you send out invites for a 7/23ish party. For past parties he was at a year round school so I just popped invites in their cubbies a week or 2 before. Since this school gets out next week I'm perplexed.

What would you do?

 

[MSSANDRA]

Most four year olds would be overwelmed with that many kids. So would I!
What about just those in his class last year and their families???

I see a problem with just then ones returning next year as his better friends may have been some children moving on.

Good luck deciding.

 

[camdensmom]

Thanks for the response. I should clarify...

He goes Monday through Friday full days.

The 57 kids consists of those who are on that schedule as well as those that come MWF mornings and afternoons and T/TH mornings and afternoons. So in reality they are all in his class.

I wasn't sure if that would matter in advice.

 

[zoemurr]

for the summer you don't risk hurting anyone's feelings. I would invite who your son is friends with. We usually keep party lists to under 20 for an outdoor, summer party. We often have siblings 'cause my kids are friends with the whole family. At 4 most parents stayed. If you have a lot of kids you need to make sure that the parents will stay. Not all of them will plan on it.

Are you going to have activities planned? I would keep it smaller and have some games/crafts to do. 50 kids just running around eating sugar doesn't sound like a good idea to me. The last few years we have rented a bounce house and set up carnival type home made games. The kids loved that.

Invites should be about 2 weeks before. I would mail them.

 

[msmayor]

I've never been one to believe that EVERY child must be included for something like this. Its unrealistic to have a birthday party with 57 children, and also runs the risk of making OTHER parents feel an obligation to include everyone at their parties.

Throw a party like one SHOULD throw a party and invite only those children he sees regularly OUTSIDE of school and is friendly with.