To invite DS' new school friends to party?

[teekay88]

Hi all. Mum to just one so no experience of what's normal in this situation, thought I'd ask for views!

My son will start school in September and he's old in the year with an early Oct birthday. This makes planning for his bday party a bit tricky. He goes to a nursery and so far bdays have been a combo of children he knows through DH and Is friends outside of nursery plus some select nursery friends he's close to plus family as lots of kids in our fam.

I'm going to book a hall this time around as my thinking is that being new to the school, it would be a good opportunity to make some new friendships if we invited his whole school class. I know he won't "know" them yet so I wondered if this would be considered a bit weird that early on? This would mean I'd have to invite ppl pretty early on when he starts so not sure how to do that, assuming the school might have a list of names?

My question is is it weird to invite kids he doesn't know yet so early on as they'll be the majority of children going? What have others done for sep/oct kids bdays in first year of school?

YANBU = invite them. Its a chance for him to make new friends!

YABU = it's a bit weird. He doesn't know them. Stick to family and nursery friends this year

The rule of thumb is either the whole class (or all the boys, or all the girls), or less than half (or less than half the boys, or less than half the girls). That way if you're only inviting some, more children aren't coming than are, so they should feel less left out. I'm a TA and we had a party recently where probably 2/3 to 3/4 of the class were invited, and it caused some friction!

A mum did this in my DD reception class. His birthday was September and she booked a soft play party. All invites were given out in the first week or so of school. It was received very well.

Not weird at all. At my daughters school they just give invites to the teachers and the teacher hands them out to everyone. No need for names. Do put a "RSVP by..." on them though!

It's definitely not weird. Someone will most likely have a September birthday so you may not be the first. Invite them, great opportunity to meet classmates and parents. And yes invite whole class - or all the boys / all the girls. At this age I'd say both tbh.