WWYD birthday party

[MrsSocks]

I know this is one of the oldest problems in the book but it is causing me no end of worry and I would like some opinions;

DS is 5 in the new year. We have a local outdoor pursuits centre that offer children's parties and he wants to have a birthday party there. They have an adjoining cafe and the whole party can be housed there, with the children getting instructor led pursuits and party food for a reasonable price. Max number 12 children. DS is extremely sociable and is only in his first term of reception so although has his 'best' friends it is all very new. We live in a small community though and I know all parents in the class incredibley well. DS has a firm list in his mind of who he wants to invite. This leaves children of who's parents I am particularly friendly with out of the party. WWYD? Do I go ahead with DS's invite list knowing that close friends, who consider my DS as one of their children's close friends, will be left out? Do I knock some of DSs choices off the list to allows others to come to avoid fall outs or do I scrap the party idea in favour of something that could involve the whole class (twenty odd)?

Same here. Itvwas generally invite a few friends round for pass the parcel & a birthday tea or a trip to the cinema.
The first class party I remember was when a 13th birthday. Someone hired a church hall & a disco.

No whole class parties in my area - S.E. London suburbs in the 70's. My dgcs 5 - 12 have never had one either. Always around 12 special friends.

As adults we mostly don't just invite exactly who we want to birthdays, weddings (especially weddings!) There is an element of "pay back" in invitations - did any of these friends' dcs have your ds at their party?

I would talk to your friends and explain about the limited numbers. Most people are understanding about this sort of thing.
If you read MN people are not at all understanding about this sort of thing. Children at this age chop and change their friendships all the time.