To put this on a children's party invite

[QuadrupleL]

Hi,

I have never been great at writing party invites (which is why we have avoided parties for the last couple of years) however, Middle L has decided to forgo his annual trip to LEGOLAND (I think because we are going to Alton Towers for Little L's birthday) and really wants a party.


We have explored lots of ideas, but he is really keen on hiring out the local pool and having a swimming party.

So, the pool costs £80 to hire regardless of how many people come and then a party meal is £3.95.

I was going to add on the invite: Parents and siblings are more than welcome to join us in the pool (as long as I have an idea of numbers) but party food will only be available for the invited children. If siblings want to join in the meal we would ask for a contribution of £3.95 to cover the cost.


Does this sound okay? I am more than happy to have how ever many people in the pool but I can't really afford to pay for siblings on top of the 15 children he will be inviting.

If it doesn't sound okay, can you help me reword it, or just tell me to leave it off completely!

Thanks

L

[variousthings]

I think I'd just leave it off. Why make things complicated?

[Waltermittythesequel]

Personally, I wouldn't get into that.

I'd just invite the kids he wants and leave it at that.

I think you're asking for hassle/confusion/chaos.

[Nanny0gg]

You don't want hordes of people (and cheeky ones will ask if siblings can come) so just leave the invitations for the children you actually want.

[Purplecan4]

No, I wouldn't allow anyone else in the pool. It's just opening up scope for trouble of various kinds. Keep it simple. I've done about 10 kids parties over the years and attended what seems like hundreds.

[MimiSunshine]

I think the first bit is fine but I wouldn't ask for a contribution as you'll then have to go around the parents asking for get be money, people never have the right change so you'll have to sort out getting that back to them and then what if people avoid paying you?

Instead I would put:
Parents and siblings are more than welcome to join us in the pool (please let me know how many of you will be joining in on the the RSVP) but party food will only be available for the invited children.
However A meal can be purchased for £3.95 from the cafe so please feel free to stay.

Then just make sure you or someone else has a list of the invited children and have them line up separately

[Hassled]

Do you need parents in the pool for safety etc - is it one of those "children under X years needs an adult" things? If not, just don't bother with the complicating factors.

[WineIsMyMainVice]

Personally I think that's absolutely fair enough!
Enjoy the party!

[Akire]

How old are the kids? At an age where most of them can swim confidently? How many people are you inviting max 15?

To be honest you would get more of an atmosphere with more people in the pool. Plus is there's only 15 and 12 of them are great swimmers and down the deep end the ones who can't will be left on their own.

I would put siblings happy to join in but extra food needs booking and its £3.95. I'd rather go swimming with a younger child and pay the extra then sit with them getting board for the whole length of the party

[formerbabe]

I wouldn't put anything...It will just over complicate things.

[Witchend]

I think it sounds fine. However, wonder slight on age/age of potential siblings. A crowd of rowdy teens coming along could ruin the party for nervous 8yos, or a couple of precious mums and toddlers could be difficult if they want the 8yos not to splash or move to roughly near little darlings.

[PandasRock]

What age is the party for?

Is there any chance of being able tondo your own food? At our local pool thisbis possible, and if for any age over 7, then I'd say just do a job lot of cocktail sausages/crisps/grapes plus a drink. Then you won't need to worry too much about extra childrens costs.

[Soooosie]

Just say 'if siblings want to swim they can. I'm bringing crisps for them to much while the the birthday party eat lunch'

[QuadrupleL]

Middle L will be 8, his friends range between 6 - 10 (very tiny school with massively mixed age classes). His little bro is 2 so DH will have sole charge of him in the pool. The pool do ask for 1 adult per 4 children under the age of 8. We have that covered with just the family adults.

But, I do agree with the poster who said there will be more of an atmosphere with more people. I have hired the pool out for my Girl Guides in the past and even with 28 kids and 3 adults it was massive!

The pool is lovely and has a really large zero entry playing bit. There are large floats out and I will organize a few games nearer the end. I just thought it would be nice. Plus we live very rurally as do most of the kids he is inviting, the venue would take around 20mins to get to and unless you went to the supermarket for an hour, not a great deal to do around the area - whole party is only going to last about 2 1/2 hours including food. I thought if siblings and parents were welcome it might be better rather than drive home for 20 mins before coming back again.

[Soooosie]

'If siblings/parents want to swim too they can. We can eat cake while the birthday group are having birthday tea.

[mrtwitsglasseye]

I think it's a good idea. I know I wouldn't want my dc to go in the swimming pool without one of us and if childcare is an issue for siblings it might mean some children not attending if siblings aren't welcome. I would never expect party food for siblings but know from experience of parties that plenty of families do so pre-empting that is a good idea.

[mrtwitsglasseye]

My ds is 8 but not a strong swimmer. He couldn't go to a pool party without a parent.

[OffRoader]

I wouldn't say anything, all sounds very complicated! Just wait and see if anyone asks.

I personally think that less is more in these situations. You don't want a load of random older/younger siblings and cousins turning up that your child doesn't even know.

[OffRoader]

Hmmm, just read your reply.

I think that people are either invited or not. I think it's a bit really rude because you want the siblings there to make up the numbers, but don't want to feed them.

[Hellochicken]

I think it sounds great and very reasonable/ thoughtful considering rural location/ parent may prefer to stay/ siblings.

I wouldn't expect you to pay for siblings meal, and it gives them the option. Like pp said can they pay the pool on the day for an extra lunch? This would make it less awkward collecting money etc

[MrsHathaway]

You would need to make it more clear that siblings must be accompanied by parents.

At the moment one could read "dump as many children as you like and go for a nice quiet coffee" which is not what you want.

Presumably with a small school you know most if not all the families and can predict who'd need or want to bring a sibling. Perhaps you could do a hand-written PS on those invitations saying eg

If you would like to bring Jack and Harry as well, do feel free. You will need to stay in the pool to supervise them. When the party children go for birthday tea, you can either stay in the water or eat in the cafe (children's meals are £3.95).

[Viviennemary]

No I don't think I'd put that on the invitation. It sounds awful to ask for contributions. And not sure I'd go along with the idea of a pool party. Sounds like hard work and parents will have to be their supervising. I'd go for an easier option. But saying that the pool does sound a nice one.

[emsyj]

I think saying siblings welcome in the pool, you can purchase a meal from the cafe is fine - but I am quite surprised that 1 adult per 4 children under 8 is considered enough. At my local pool, adult supervision is required on a one to one basis for children up to age 7. I wouldn't allow my 5 (nearly 6) yo in the pool without an adult as she's not a strong swimmer. I would be shitting myself if I thought I was responsible for 4 kids, some of whom may not be able to swim at all. I am a wimp tho!

[PeridotPassion]

I think it's a lovely idea to invite parents/siblings into the pool.

I would go with the wording of 'you can purchase a meal for X' rather than talking of contributions though.

I don't think it's confusing at all! Just make sure you give the venue the names of the invited kids so that there's no cheeky buggers that try and get siblings names on the paid-for list.

[NewLife4Me]

Keep it simple.
You'll have siblings confused and lining up to eat, parents asking if they can just give you the money and let sibling line up as he is crying.

We thought you meant you'd invited them both etc etc.

Don't go there. If anything happened are they part of your party? Not necessarily anything catastrophic but all the minor things that could happen.

[MazzleDazzle]

Don't over-complicate things! Either invite people, or don't. Wait and see if anyone asks.