Party Etiquette
Who should you invite ?
In the world of children ’ s birthday parties , no decision is more important than who will be invited . With a bit of thoughtful planning and attention to some old fashioned etiquette , the party will be a great experience for your child and everyone who attends .
Have you heard the formula where the invitation list is your child ’ s age plus one ? This means your 5-year-old would invite six kids to his party . Realistically , groups of friends are much larger and you have to decide where to draw a comfortable line . Talk to your child to decide whether the party will include both family and friends , or only one group such as school friends , athletic buddies , all boys or all girls .
Preschool
Email invitation websites
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birthday parties often include the whole class , but school age children begin to gravitate towards special friends . It ' s OK to invite only your child ’ s friends and not the whole class if you gather an address or email list and send the invitations individually . Explain to your child why guests shouldn ’ t talk about the party in school where feelings might be hurt .
If you ’ ve ever planned a party , you know the frustration of not getting a response to your RSVP request . Remember to include a deadline date on your invitation to add a sense of urgency . After the date passes and you ’ re still missing some responses , try calling , texting or reaching out to the parent by email . Explain that you may have missed their RSVP , and you are really looking forward to having their child attend the party . Despite your best efforts , its possible you won ' t connect and it makes sense to have a few extra goodies on hand just in case .
Once children are school age , many party invitations give parents the option of dropping off their child . Parents of younger children may not be ready for mom or dad to leave and the secret is to avoid stress by welcoming them to stay . Parents of older kids are usually happy for a couple of free hours . After mom and dad drop their child off at the party , its up to you to have enough adult helpers on hand to make sure everyone stays safe and has fun . Plan on one helper for every five children .
Opening presents during the party is optional depending on your child ’ s age and the time you ’ ve allowed . Most givers do like to see how their gift is received , but however you choose to handle opening gifts , nothing is more important than teaching your child to thank each guest as they leave . Thank you cards are a project to tackle within two weeks after the party . Helping your children acknowledge the kindness and generosity of friends encourages them to grow into thoughtful and courteous adults .
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