Plan Your Guest List

Plan your guest list around the type of party you will be having. If you’re hosting a makeover party at a girly spot in the mall, your daughter will have to agree to keep the guest list down–and it will probably have to be a girls-only party. Many party places will tell you what the maximum number of guests can be.
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Invite Close Friends and Family

Invite close friends and family first. This is a no-brainer. Your child will undoubtedly have one or two favorite pals that simply must be on the guest list. Add any must-have family members, such as cousins, and that’s the start of your guest list.
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Don’t Invite Kids Your Child Doesn’t Know

Don’t invite kids your child doesn’t know. It is not necessary to invite your child’s entire class to his or her birthday party. That said, it would be wrong to invite everyone and exclude just one or two children. Try to keep the classmate list to the kids that your child actually plays with. And be sure to mail the invitations to the guest’s homes instead of having your child hand them out at school.
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Don’t Feel You Need to Reciprocate

Don’t feel that you have to reciprocate. Johnny across the street invites your kids to his party every year–but your kids don’t play with Johnny any other time. Don’t feel as though you have to invite him just because he always invites your kids. By not sending him an invite, it may send a message to his parents that your kids don’t actually play together.
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Don’t Hurt Feelings

Don’t hurt feelings. No trimming down of the guest list is worth hurting a child’s feelings. If you’re having a backyard circus party at your house and the kids next door is going to be sitting in his yard watching the festivities, then that’s just wrong. Be sure to use your judgment to spare any ill will.
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