My daughter went to preschool Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays last school year, which ended June 30. Her birthday party is in two weeks so we sent out the invitations before the school year ended and we gave out invitations only to her classmates who were in school with her on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, but not the two kids who went to school Tuesdays, Thursdays beacuse she never sees them so we didn't see the point.
The new school year began as of July 1 and now my daughter goes to school Monday-Friday. I knew she would be going to school Monday-Friday before the new school year began, but when I was sending out the invitations, it just didn't click so I didn't send out the invitations to the two kids who go to school Tuesdays, Thursdays. So now I want to extend invitations to the two kids by sending their parents an email, but I'm not sure what to say or how to approach it. Do I just simply invite them and leave it at that? Do I go into an explanation as to why their kids didn't get an invitation in the first place? What do I do?
I was thinking of not inviting them, too, but I don't want them to feel like they were excluded. Her school is a small community of its own and my daughter will have this year and another year of preschool after that with the same kids, and I don't want any bad blood (you just never know what kind of people you're dealing with. Some will make a big deal and others can brush it off). I feel like it's always better to be over-inclusive than the other way around. So I guess my question should be should I invite them and if so what should I say?
I would just invite them without explanation. Send them an email or text. You don't want the other kids sitting around talking about the party in front of them. That would be really sad for those two that were excluded. I don't see the harm in two more to the party.
Just invite them now. don't worry about the fact that it's late. I think they will understand that you were waiting until you saw them in class. I think it's nice to invite them, since it's only two additional kids. You don't need to say anything, just hand them an invitation tomorrow.
I would just send an email "Hi, I am so-and-so's mom. Sorry about the last minute invite but I would like to extend an invitation to your child to my daughter's birthday party on such and such date. It would be a great chance for them to get to know each other a little better! If your son/daughter can make it, please just send me a quick reply email. The party is on such and such date/time. Hope to see you!"
Good luck!
Invite and include in email, " my Sophie just met your John and would love to have him there"
I'd invite them. I don't really see the downside. Just email and say you're glad DD is now in school with Johnny/Suzy and DD would like to invite him/her to her bday party on x date etc. I think that kind of highlights the change in schedule if they're wondering why it's a kind of late invitation. So either they're thinkers who will figure it out or they're not and won't think anything of it but then there isn't risk their kids come home upset they didn't get invited.
I agree with Starr. I don't think they will find it weird they didn't get an invitation before because you really didn't know them. I agree to send them an email or if you see them at school just say, hey my daughter's party is coming up and I know it's late but we'd love to have you. I'm sure they will be happy to be included and try to have their child attend.
Honestly, 2 weeks is enough time for "normal" invitations to many parties. So, extend them an invite now, and unless someone brings it up, don't even mention the fact that other invites were extended earlier.
If someone says something, just mention "Oh yes, Jaya was only going to classes 3 days a week, so I didn't realize that we had left out anyone until she started full weeks. I do hope you are able to make it, we extended an invite as soon as we realized our omission!"
T. :)
I would just invite them and leave it at that. No explanation needed. 2 weeks is plenty of time to give out an invitation. You don't need to mention that a first round of invitations already went out.
I'd leave it alone and not bother inviting them this time around.
Your daughter barely knows them.
Next year it will be different.
Somewhere along the line - usually sometime in elementary school - the class sizes get too big to invite the whole class - and kids eventually learn that not everyone is invited to every party.
Also, inviting everyone (even relative strangers) makes some people think you're going for a gift grab.
Large parties make for lots of writing thank you cards.
It's easy to get carried away with this stuff (we've done it ourselves a few times) but it's ok to get to a reasonable party size even in pre-school days.
Are these children her classmates or not? If they are, I'd call their parents and invite them. If not, don't give it another thought.
Invite them.
We had a similar situation. Ours is a small private school. DS was in a class with 3 & 4 year olds, some of whome went part time (1/2 days) and some of whom went part time 3 days. For his 4th birthday, which was in October we invited all the 4s whether or not they were full time. All the threes, even though they had only been there for a month, and all the 5s, because they had been in class together the year before.
Best,
F. B.
Send an invite now. It's two weeks away. That's like the normal time frame to send invites.
I wouldn't invite them just because the parents could be odd and hold it against you. I wouldn't worry about that. It's totally normal that you didn't include them on the original invite if your daughter didn't know them.
Where the party is in a couple of weeks, you could reach out and just say she'd like to invite her *new* friend in preschool. It's still 2 weeks away (which is all some people give for time to send out invites anyhow) so it's not like a super rushed invite.
I don't think you need to - as I'm sure no one would expect you to. But if it is a close little group and tight knit in general, and you feel it would be a kind gesture.. go for it :)
I would feel more awkward if my kid was invited to a party of a child they hardly knew out of obligation. I'd let it go.
I would call/email and introduce yourself. Let them know you invited the class and you realized the two kids who will now be in class with her were not invited.
I think is would be totally sweet even if they have other plans. I'm sure they would like to know you made the effort for their child(ren).
Just invite them. It's really not something you need to worry about. Or have to explain. Unless they pin you down insisting they know why you didn't invite them sooner, go ahead and say, hey having a birthday party for my little daughter and their child is invited. VOILA
I'd pick up the phone and call the parents. Most people simply don't RSVP. They don't have time or they just don't care. So get a verbal commitment from them.
In a couple of years she won't be having birthday parties anymore so enjoy these while you can.
