4 year old birthday party RSVPs

[caravanlife]

Our first party with 4 year old who attends nursery/preschool. So I sent out invites about 4 weeks ago via nursery, not heard back from some parents. Do I just presume these children won't be coming? I've had some reply that can't make and some that can, just don't know what to do about the ones that haven't RSVP 🤷‍♀️ one week till party, what would you do?

Do you have numbers to chase them up?

Could you catch them at the gates?

Otherwise I'd assume they may well still come so factor them in when doing party bags etc.

Ugh, this happens a lot at that age. Also factor in siblings coming too…. I usually give a rsvp deadline and chase after that (when I have the contact details)

I posted this same question yesterday!

I have made enough party bags in case they all come, because the anxiety of running out is just too great 😅

I've had a couple of texts checking if siblings can come but I'm expecting more.

I'm such a chronic people pleaser, 100% i will end up with loads left over.

Don’t do them party bags. Prep for the children who have parents polite enough to respond to an invitation.

Aw I couldn't do that! Not the kids fault.

Oh no 🙈 it's so hard to know what to do! I have chased a few up at nursery door but it do feel it is really rude, they've had 4 weeks to respond 😬 some of them I've even spoke to the mums and they've said they need to see if they can but still no response, it's really odd! In fairness about 60% have got back to me.
Problem is the lady from the party venue needs a list of names, surely I shouldn't account for those that haven't RSVP.
I would always send a text either way within atleast a week or so.

Nope no numbers to chase them up 😬

@RainbowUnicornPoo too stressful this, I am a people pleaser too, but my max is 25 kids and I have 27 on my list, a couple of people have asked to bring siblings but we have to pay extra for them and they aren't allowed food 😳 lol how to manage all this and keep everyone happy? Hoping next year might be different when she's at school!

It's so stressful I do find the earlier years are the worst for it - personally I would only accommodate those that RSVP but query what will happen if extras come. If it's a soft play people should pay for the siblings themselves if they bring them that's what is usually do!

I always take extra party bags tho they always go - any leftovers I dish out to siblings but they usually all go.

Oh see we have a hall with a disco and bouncy castle so party bags and food is all I'm worried about. Birthday girl is secretly hoping the non-RSVPers won't turn up I think so she can raid the left over bags 😅

I think it's even more rude not to come back when it's obvious you have to submit numbers tbh. Not as big a deal with ours. It's in the village hall so round the corner for a lot of the kids which is why I'm expecting a few extras too.

Same happened for our invites. We had a couple that didn't respond and came, also we had few siblings, I just prepared the number I invited of goody bags and those I had left saved for the next year 👍

That's a good plan, I'll talk to the soft play centre about the numbers and see what they say? They probably get it all the time. Thanks 😊

I've had extras come on the day and they just let them in and I pay a little extra - if for some reason it's fully booked it's not your fault!

It does get easier once you have everyone's numbers I ageee though it's a bit rude especially when it's a venue that people know js pay per head but there's always a few!

Ugh, this happens a lot at that age.

It didn't used to, this is a modern phenomenon. But not every social group is like this so it tells you about people.

I'd issue reminders, catching them personally if I could, and say that catering and party bags are being finalised on date X at time Y so you need to know by then for definite. (I would still have some stuff spare that you can eat up in the week and maybe a couple of spare bags of something, maybe just sweets, for the inevitable ones who STILL turn up without RSVPing.) Although aren't party bags going out of fashion now because of the environment and because they had become peak overachieving naff in the last decade?!

Keep a list of who is flaky for the future and try to avoid inviting that child in future. I really can't be doing with this personally.

Definitely seeing the end of the plastic tat in plastic bags here - more like a bag of sweets or a big lolly or something. Better!

I have to confess to dodging flakey parents unless DC is very keen on them - and the rude ones.