How to Tell How Many Kids Will Show up to a Birthday?

my advice is don't invite a number that you can't handle - period b/c you can't tell how many will show up. You have to plan for the full amount and hope for less but you can't plan for less and hope for less too.

My son's b-day is December 16th--I'm in a different situation, because he's only in preschool, so all his "friends" are pretty much my friends who have kids his age, from the neighborhood. Because of that, they ALL show up to his parties--throw in siblings and it can all be a little overwhelming in terms of numbers--it's not just a kid's party, but time for us parents to see each other and socialize. Because of that, next week we are having his party at a local pizza place that has a party room. My advice, if you want to cut down on the numbers without cutting down on the invites, is to hold the party on a weekday afternoon, after school. That way, you don't have to serve a meal, just cake or snacks, and you're less likely to have both parents attend, as mom and/or dad will likely still be at work.

my experience with inviting kids from a class is that maybe 1/3 will show, really it is only the kids that myself & my child are close to them & their parents...but also make rsvp's easy like e-vites where they just have to click yes, no or maybe

are you sure that the rule is not meant to mean that all invites that are sent in to school to be distributed there are to include everyone? That is our schools rule...if you send them out yourself in the mail then you can do whatever you want.

If I had to guess...your school doesn't demand that everyone be invited UNLESS you send the invites to school where the children will notice. Send the invites in the mail, and all will be fine.
You better bank on all of them attending because the moment you assume a couple won't show up and make less preparations, (i.e. less goodie bags or food) is the moment when they all show up, and their parents and siblings stick around, too.
My son's last party had an RSVP...only about 50 people actually RSVP'ed...and of the 23 kids invitied, 21 showed up...and about 5 siblings (he has a Christmastime birthday too...and all the parenst took it as a great time to get some shopping done).
Just roll with it, and prepare for the worst.

When I just read the title my initial thought was that's like asking "how many licks does it take to get the center of the lollipop?" or "how many inches of snow we will get on Christmas?"

If you invite the entire class, no matter what time of year, it's very rare that more than 12 will show up, being so close to Christmas probably less.

Kids will talk to each other and feelings will be hurt if you don't invite them all if that is what he wants.

I would just invite the entire class then call each and every one that doesn't RSVP by the date and ask them if they got the invitation because you hadn't heard from them. Then you can plan on how many are coming. There will still be some that don't show up due to forgetting or something coming up. But it will give you a clearer idea of how many are coming.

My friends son's b-day is the 18th. She never does his b-day party until January after school is back in session.

Dear A., I do not think there is a way to predict this, the only way is to invite and have them respond. I don't know where the party will be but maybe some of the parents will stay to help you out. The fact that it is so close to Christmas, maybe some families will go away or just not be able to attend. You have to take your chances. My best, Grandma Mary

I can't believe the school thinks it can tell you who to invite...what if one boy is a bully and your son really doesn't get along with him (or you and his parents have "history")?

I would just invite those that you want to invite (don't hand them out at school) but maybe give directly to the parents.outside of school.

To actually answer your question, you don't know. It is completely a guessing game because even if they reply they may not show and some won't reply. My daughter's birthday is today but we did her party last weekend (big brother home from college then and not this week). She had invited about 10-12 kids from her preschool and only one showed up. The others had not replied either way.

Hi A.,
School can't dictate what you do for your kid's birthday party - the rule is that if you are handing out invitations in school, you must invite the whole class or all the kids of your child's gender. If you mail them on your own, you can do what you want. But it's rude and insensitive for someone to invite MOST of the kids and leave out a few. It's nice that you are inviting everyone. When my kids were birthday party age, I found that usually about 2/3 of those invited showed up, but you can't ever know for sure. When my daughter was turning 6, I invited a lot of kids, maybe 18, and only six showed up! You do need to be prepared for them all to respond YES, so if that's too many, trim your list. Invite earlier, and if you get a bunch of No's, invite some more kids.

What a ridiculous rule.
I have never heard of that....
I think it is personal... who a family/child wants to invite to a party. Not the school dictating it.
USUALLY... a Teacher recommends, that IF a party invitation is given out.... to give it to the TEACHER (in a generic looking manila envelope).... then SHE will, discreetly.... put the invitations in the child's home-packet. IT should NOT EVER... be given to the child themselves... to give out in class. That will always lead... to complications.

I would... just invite his closet friends. Make it a small party. Especially this time of year. AND because... many kids/families go away on trips at this time of year.

My daughter gets along with EVERYONE in her class... that does not mean I invite everyone... to her party. JUST her closest friends. And because I have a budget.

Just tell your Son... how many he can invite... and then plan from there.
That is what I do, with my kids' parties.

all the best,
Susan

I bet that rule was for the purposes of if invites were coming in through school. If your school has a directory, you can mail them to those you choose to mail them to. How many kids will show up? I think that depends on how social your child is. When kids get school age they want to go to the parties of 'Friends" not just a party. I also do not think a date will have a great effect on the party unless it was the 23-26th. I guss if invites have not gone out yet, I would just place on the invitation a RSVP request with a dead line posted. Then follow-up with a phone call if necessary. You would get a good count that way.

Be prepared for everyone to show up and their siblings---but most likely only 40-50% will show who RSVP'D and you may have a few who just show up without RSVPing. Good luck!

M

Uuuuuuhhhhh--yeah....if the invites are distributed at the school, then they may require that all boys or whole class be invited. Believe me, there is no way to discretely pass out invitations to a K-1-2 grader! That would just be rude.
You could request a class list or that the teacher give a request for parents' emails to get info to contact certain kids by USPS.
I usually get all but O. or two kids.....

I think you better count on just about everyone showing up! I've invited too many kids to my daughter's birthday parties thinking that a good portion of them wouldn't come. Both times, nearly everyone came. Her birthday isn't close to Christmas, though. It's in the summer. But, I thought that people would be too busy with vacations, etc. If you can't handle all of them, don't invite all of them! I wouldn't think the rule applies if you don't send the invites to school.

Some parents may come to get 2 hours free to shop. School-aged kids are often dropped off. I would get everyone's phone number so you can call them and find out if they are coming. It is so hard to get people to rsvp.
I have NEVER been invited to a party over Christmas break. Here they have a party by mid December of after returning to school in January.
If you do a party the kids want to come to(indoor bounce house or gymnastics) more will come than if you do a kids restaurant that parents hate.