Children's party etiquette?

go_cat

I was considering asking the same question after my DS who is coming up for 6 invited his class, so far we have had 2 replies and one upset little boy who cannot understand why no one wants to come

I know its Easter hols and am hoping will get a few replies when he goes back to school

Next year I won't put myself or him through the stress

bestpud

Agutka wrote: »

I have no manners when it comes to that sort of thing, so I have told all my friends that if I don't reply it's a yes! If I can't make it I will call you with an excuse.
I found an invite in ds bag for a party that afternoon. I, or he, had no idea who the kid was so I did not phone!

I'm not rude on purpose, just too busy thinking about chocolate I guess

You decided not to reply so you were definitely rude on purpose!

How can it be anything but??

Honestly, that takes the biscuit!

Rebecca01

The top and bottom of it is, like anything else some people are rude others not, some maybe not intentionally so.

Usually soft plays take this into account and will charge you for whoever shows on the day. At least ours did anyway.

SallyCinnamon

My DD was 4 in December and we sent the invites out quite early as it was the Xmas party season. The nursery staff put the invites in bags and most parents responded pretty quickly. I sent a couple of very polite chasers about a week before the party and I think all but one responded.

The strange thing was that on the day, 3 of the kids who were confirmed to come didn't turn up! We did have one sibling come along but there was plenty of food and party bags, so he was very welcome.

I always try to respond immediately and the most I've left it is a week if I've got to try to juggle commitments. I'm the sort of person who wouldn't be able to get to sleep if I didn't let the parents know if she was coming or not!!

Edited to add: I've got to know many of the parents through going to parties, whereas I didn't get to know anyone really on the pick ups, so going along to parties has been really positive for me

neverdespairgirl

My son's school issues a contact list at the start of each term, with each child's name, address, email addresses and contact numbers for the parents, etc.

So we just email a polite reminder, or send a text.

Because it's a trendy Islington school, more than half the children also have a "nanny email" and "nanny mobile" contact too.

Aimless

Wow, is that standard practice in schools nowadays, or just trendy ones? I'd be furious if a school gave my personal details out to strangers.

Just thinking, I always rang when we got invites, but I hated talking to people I didn't know on the phone. Maybe other people feel the same?

jackomdj

Our preschool would not even give out a list of names! However you were ok to stand in the cloakroom and write down the names.

jellyhead

Our school won't give a list of names, and we're not allowed into the cloakroom. We stand in the playground making our own lists when it's christmas card time.

neverdespairgirl

When your child first joins the school, you are asked to "opt out" if you don't want your address and contact details given out termly. It doesn't appear that anyone in my son's form has opted out, though.

gingin_2

Aimless wrote: »

Wow, is that standard practice in schools nowadays, or just trendy ones? I'd be furious if a school gave my personal details out to strangers.

Really? Our non-trendy school does it too. It makes life so much easier. I've never thought of the parents as strangers either, we've certainly got something big in common and are likely to bump in to each other for many years.

I'd send a polite chase-up email saying you know people are busy but you really need to confirm numbers and hope to see them at the party.