Invitation cards: Make them yourself or buy them ready-made?
Handmade invitations are unique, and crafting and writing them increases the birthday child's anticipation for their party. Especially for Theme parties there are great craft ideas for creative invitation cards. As for store-bought cards, they are especially practical and are usually sold including envelopes. If there is little time for homemade cards or if your child specifically wants certain invitation cards, e.g. with their favorite comic character, bought cards are the safest way to avoid birthday stress.
What should the text of the invitation look like?
A personal message is nicer:
Bought invitation cards for the birthday party often have pre-printed lines for time and date. Still, an invitation card should always begin with a personal salutation and be signed by the birthday child, for example: "Dear Max, I would like to warmly invite you, [...] Yours, Ben"
Choose text that fits the theme:
If you're having a themed party, you can tailor both the invitation card and the wording to the theme. Little pirates might invite like this: "Ahoy Marie! On [date and time] I'd like to invite you aboard [address] to join our pirate crew in making mischief on the high seas."
What information should be on the invitation card?
The most important information should be clearly communicated on the invitation card. These include:
Date and time as well as the approximate duration of the party
Address
A phone number (of the parents) for questions
Any extras, such as whether a costume should be worn, whether the children need warm clothing for outdoors, or should bring a car seat or slippers.
The note: "Please let me know by [date] whether you can come." This makes birthday planning easier for the parents
You can optionally add general gift wishes, e.g., "I'm happy to receive books from / toy figures from ..."
Sample text for a children's birthday invitation
Dear [birthday guest], On [date] I will turn X years old. I would like to celebrate this together with you from [time] to [time] at my home at [address]. Please let me know by [date] whether you can come. I'm looking forward to seeing you! Your [birthday child]
The most important questions about birthday invitations
How many birthday guests should my child invite?
A rule of thumb is: as many guests as your child’s age. However, this is only a rough guideline. Some children would love to invite their entire daycare group; for others, four or five guests are already nearly overwhelming. Ask your child who they want to invite and help them, if necessary, to make a selection.
When should the invitations be handed out?
Ideally, all children should receive their invitation two weeks before the birthday party. This allows the date to be entered in the family calendar and gives all guests enough time to possibly reschedule other appointments. If the invitations are distributed later, you can also ask the parents of the guests orally to keep the date free and hand out the written invitations a little later.
By when should the birthday guests respond?
That depends on what you have planned for the children's birthday. If you're going on an excursion and, for example, need to organize seats in the car or buy movie tickets, then all guests should have RSVP'd a week in advance. For a party at home, it's enough if you know a few days beforehand who will be coming so you can plan food, drinks, activities and party favors accordingly.
Should you write gift wishes on the invitation?
If your child has specific items on their wish list, they can note them on the invitation. But this can also pressure guests to feel they must buy a particular gift. It's best to mention gift wishes verbally if asked, or simply be surprised.
