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Original poster

Birthday party - how many kids to invite!!!

30 replies

NigelsNipple · 08/01/2019 00:46

DD has in reception and for her birthday I have booked a church hall and organised an entertainer.
At school there are 2 classes of 30 children, a good mix of boys, girls and different cultures. I was going to invite DD only class. However DH suggested maybe I should invite the other class too. In total this would be 60 invites going out. Its doubtful that they could all attend, then of course the usual non rsvp-ers, and the ones who don't show.... But it seems a lot and now I'm not sure if DH is right or unreasonable (or if thats me?)!! But I dont know what to do! Please help!

OP posts:
goldengummybear · 08/01/2019 00:48

30 is plenty.

goldengummybear · 08/01/2019 00:49

The children in the other class probably don't know your dd and vice versa. Just her class is fine.

PenguinPandas · 08/01/2019 00:51

A lot more common to invite the one class not both.

aNewMonica · 08/01/2019 03:26

Why not invite both classes. The costs will be about the same.

Flyingfish2019 · 08/01/2019 03:28

How old is dd?

agnurse · 08/01/2019 05:09

30 kids is really a lot! When I was that age it was 3 or 4 friends, max! You need to consider how many kids you can realistically supervise, especially if they are that young.

QwertyLou · 08/01/2019 06:06

I wouldn’t do 60.. too much work Smile 60 invites to print, 60 party bags to make... etc. Class parties are not a “thing” where I am so even 30 sounds huge to me, we’d probably just have five closest friends (plus friends from outside school)

Remember some may bring siblings too Smile

coolwalking · 08/01/2019 06:10

Why can't you just invite her friends?

Don't understand this need to invite everyone. She can't be friends with them all right?

Raindancer411 · 08/01/2019 06:18

I would just invite her class. Is your husband thinking of the presents per chance? Grin

Btw does the entertainer have a limit? I would be inclined to check just in case.

whassupmissus · 08/01/2019 06:19

I would go for 30 max too much work with 60. Class parties are the best though at infant school

FluffyMcCloud · 08/01/2019 06:22

The thought of 60 4 and 5yr olds, plus their parents who will probably mostly stay at that age, meaning siblings will end up hanging around too, is bringing me out in a cold sweat!! Stick to the one class!

Horses4 · 08/01/2019 06:27

My p1 is having a joint party with her p4 sister (their birthdays are close together and I have already forked out £££ on theatre tickets as a present). They were allowed to invite 20 kids in total so only chose those they felt were their friends.

TheBigBangRocks · 08/01/2019 07:33

I'd invite just her class and then any friends from outside of school.

AnotherPidgey · 08/01/2019 07:44

30 is plenty. The whole class came to ours last year, plus we had a few external friends & siblings.

The present unwrapping was unreal... I think our house receieved half the contents of Toys R Us' closing down sale!

Absolutely not 60!

If the classes are well integraated, then pick a selection of better known children.

Starlight456 · 08/01/2019 07:49

My Ds when in reception there was lots of free flow between the two classes so he picked 20 children across the 2 classes.

60 no way. Will be chaos

lola006 · 08/01/2019 07:51

Twice I’ve over-invited for DD’s birthday party thinking of the inevitable declines and both times ended up with more than I expected. (Think invite 20, expect 13-14 and get 18.)

60 is a lot and other parents may stay but in my experience they don’t always want to help but sit and chat with other parents.

Stompythedinosaur · 08/01/2019 07:52

I think 60 is too many. 30 is plenty!

SallyWD · 08/01/2019 07:57

60?!! You'll have your hands more than full with 30.

saoirse31 · 08/01/2019 08:02

Always feel sorry for the parents who are struggling financially when I hear this kind of thing... Who are you trying to impress? Who would your dd like to go to her party,?

Swishswish26 · 08/01/2019 08:06

I would say 60 is far too many. Only one child had a party for all 60 when my dd was in Reception and it was absolutely chaotic and not enjoyable at all.

MarchInHappiness · 08/01/2019 08:09

Omg at 60 children, OP you must love a good challenge Grin

30 is more than plenty, whole class parties are bad enough, never mind two.

babysharkah · 08/01/2019 08:10

Jesus yep classes?!? Just stick with her class:)

Gatehouse77 · 08/01/2019 08:11

No way would I be doing that. If she's turning 5 then 5 friends is enough.
We didn't bow to any 'perceived' pressure to do a whole class party.

We did what we could afford, suited our child and was right for us. Anyone who had an issue with that either bitched behind our backs or weren't people whose opinion we respected/cared for so no problem!

TheDowagerCuntess · 08/01/2019 08:12

Before you invite 60, you better hit some of your friends up to help supervise.

CastleCrasher · 08/01/2019 08:17

30 is plenty. We invited 37 (dds class). 35 rsvpd to say they were coming, plus a few family, invitee siblings that just showed up etc. In all I think it was 44 dc, plus parents. I'm very used to large numbers of dc, but I'll admit that it was a bit stressful and pp are correct that those parents who stay often don't lift a finger, even to help their own dc. No way would I do a party of 60

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