Birthday invite delimma....guests bring siblings?

Question

My son is having his 4th Birthday party next month. We are have a wonderful party planned, complete with some small Zoo Animals visiting.
My son's friends (about 8 of them) are going to recieve invitations. Most of these children have older and younger siblings. I do not mind if younger siblings attend (afterall, I also have a small baby that will be in attendance). But I do not wish for the older siblings to attend, meaning those older than 6. I want this to be focused on my son and his friends.
Is there any well-mannered way to tell people not to bring their older children???

Answer 1

If I got an invitation that said "Bob is invited." I would think that only meant Bob. I would always ask the host if I wanted to bring another kid. After all, you are only planning for the ones you invite. You could always include a line in the invite like, "Siblings 6 and under welcome to attend." That would clearly mean older kids were not. Parents will understand that you have this planned for a certain age group. It will look good if you "invite" the younger kids, rather than "uninviting" the older kids.

Answer 2

Good luck trying to get the parents to not bring older children. I help my firend with her daughters' parties all the time and there are always extra kids, regardless of whether or not she's not invited them.

For some reason people no longer understand that the only people invited to a wedding, party, or other event are those listed on the invitation.

You can address the invitation to only children 6 and under and tell the parents when they arrive with older children in tow that the party is not age appropriate for the older children, but you may be received as being rude (even though they are the rude ones for bringing a child who wasn't invited). How *dare* you not include their child!? :P

Just because your younger child will be in attendance doesn't mean you need to invite the younger siblings as well. Your younger son is the *brother* of the birthday boy and is not to be expected to be excluded.

Just as a note--trying to organize and keep 8 4yr olds entertained and happy is a difficult task if you don't have enough help. My friend's daughter just turned 7 two months ago and keeping 25 kids ranging from 3 to 9 happy and busy was like herding cats and we had 8 adults there.

Answer 3

Yes I think the best thing to do is clearly and politely write an age limit on the invitations. I have never minded children bringing their siblings to my childrens parties. I almost expect it because everyone I know has more than one kids and usually if you only invite one the other kids don't understand why they don't get to go.

Answer 4

Just simply state that you, in a polite manner, that you do not wish to have the older children attend. You don't want to put that in the invitation but maybe call the other parents and explain. I am sure they will understand.

Answer 5

Of course, just be honest. On the invitation, just ask for invited guess only or ~kids no older than six~. Be polite about it. Afterall, It is YOUR SON'S birthday so the attention shouldn't be focused on anyone else but him.

Answer 6

The fact of the matter is, you shouldn't have to. If you put the name of the specific child on the invite, then that child, and only that child, is invited, regardless of the other children in the household. It sounds like, by being so flexible with the younger sibs, you're opening yourself up to disappointment or confusion with the older sibs possibly tagging along. If you want them to come, put their names on the invite, plain and simple.

Answer 7

I surely have under no circumstances heard all of us say they assume presents from each newborn invited. I surely have 3 youthful ones or perhaps as they were youthful, they were invited to many birthday activities mutually. i purchased one present from the kinfolk!! Do you actually imagine those youthful ones' mum and dad are made from money?? And each of the birthday activities I threw for my youthful ones, they were given one present from each kinfolk. you actually won't be able to analyze Christmas. each kinfolk does Christmas diverse and it is kinfolk. some households do not even substitute gives you because it receives only too severe priced. in case you imagine your visitors are freeloaders, possibly you may want to do a positive kinfolk party because you imagine your son's friends are rude. You communicate about your lofty causes for education your youngster to furnish, yet you're also education him to assume gives you. My youthful ones were taught to have thrilling at birthdays and yuletide and in the adventure that they were blessed sufficient to get a present or 2, they were to be grateful. Why are you even retaining music?? EDIT: i'm rereading your question and that i'm astounded by using your gall. What you spend on any social gathering is YOUR determination. what percentage visitors you pay for is YOUR determination. Your visitors aren't to any extent further obligated in any comprehend to pay you again for the cost of the social gathering. I surely have under no circumstances spent $35 on a newborn's birthday present. pondering the kind of activities my 3 youthful ones were invited to, i'd have lengthy gone broke. and that i under no circumstances once counted what percentage presents my youthful ones received. i visit only imagine the way you judged the visitors at your wedding ceremony. Shameful!!

Answer 8

I would simply inform the other mothers that while you would be more than happy to also welcome the siblings to your son's party, you will not be able to properly supervise all of them by yourself. You can then suggest that you would be more than happy however, to have them come along and volunteer to lend a hand.

One of two things will happen; either the siblings wil be left at home, or you'll have some helping hands at your son's party. ;-)

Answer 9

Just be direct and those that want to still come without their older children can attend. The ones that are unable to or do not want to attend can be absent.

Answer 10

Not really. I would set up different activities that will keep them in a different place. I think it would be really quite rude to ask parents to hire a babysitter for one child while another gets to party - think of how that will hurt some 7-year-old's feelings!