Daughters Birthday Party

Most schools require that you invite everyone in the class and not just a few. This avoids hurt feelings for those students left out. You can usually figure that only 1/3 to 1/2 of the class will RSVP and not all of them will actually show.
Watch Walgreens ads for things like christmas pencils, activity books etc and then hit the nearest Dollar Tree. Stickers, multi-paks of toys and all kinds of stuff can be found throughout the store. I used to get everyone their own chap stick. Practical but the kids love it. Anything not used for the party can be used as stocking stuffers or put away for that dreary day during winter break when everyone's stuck inside and you need a distraction.

You can pay a little extra and have CEC supply the gift bags. They aren't bad and the give them a coupon for 100 free tickets in it. So much easier!

As far as inviting the whole class, that is really a personal decision, but at my daughter's school they require that you invite all or none of you are sending the invitations to school. If you have the kid's home addresses and you want to mail them their invitations then I think it's fine to pick and choose.

Elementary school is so hard.... they all know who is invited and who isn't, but I always said all parties are NOT co-ed to my children. So I only had half the class to worry about each time and I always invited all of them.

I liked giving a thank you card with the gift bag, because we are horrible about doing them afterwards, so I just gave a small candy, a pencil or stickers or maybe fun chapstick... or sunglasses.... depending on the birthday month and a note that said "thank you for coming to my party!". There are so many themes for you to choose from.... ask your daughter.

Chuck E Cheese has party bags too, don't they?

Enjoy and try to get keep the level down on how much you do for parties, because your childs expectation grows each year.

check with the school first. at my daughter's school, you can't hand out invites directly to the students. we had to address them to the parents and leave them with the teacher. but the dollar tree is a great place for goodie bag stuffers.

For preschool I say invite the whole class. Only about half will show up anyway and most will not RSVP. I never did treat bags at Chuck E Cheese. They get tickets off the tokens you provide and get prizes that way. Have fun and take lots of tylenol with you. LOL

As far as invitations, I have always been told that if you give out invites at school you need to invite the entire class. otherwise mail the invites. but in general its always best to invite the entire class...people talk and someone will get there feelings hurt.

have fun!