What to Ask a Parent About a Child's Invitation to a Birthday Party

Your little one is going to a friend's birthday party and he is so excited. He is looking forward to the party, but you may have some concerns about some of the party details. Contact the birthday child's parents and ask a few questions to ease your mind.

  1. Location

    • You need to know how to get to the party, including travel time, directions to the party venue or the parent̵7;s house. You need to ask about what to wear for the party and if your child needs any outerwear. If your child is old enough to attend the party without you, ask when you need to pick him up. The party location might give you keen ideas as what type of gift to purchase. For example, if the party is at a zoo, you could buy stuffed lion or small safari costume.

    Foods

    • If your child has any allergies, you must convey this to the party host. You can order substitutions for any foods your child is allergic to. Ask about the ingredients in all homemade and home-baked goods, because a well-meaning mother may inadvertently bring cookies with nuts, which can be life threatening if a child with nut or peanut allergies eats them by mistake.

    Supervision

    • The invitation may be unclear as to whether parents are to stay on site or if the party is kids only. If your child is very young, stay at the party with your child. It is appropriate for you to ask about the supervision and childcare available at the party no matter what the age of your child. Be sure that your child will be well-cared for if he is old enough for you to leave at the event.

    Safety

    • If it is a pool party, you will want to know how many lifeguards are on duty, if the pool drain system is up to code and how well the venue maintains the chlorine level. The same is true of other locations. You will want to know if areas are fenced in, if the venue includes animals or heavy equipment such as miniature trains or miniature mechanical bulls. As a parent, you may want to stay with your child for the entire event to make sure he is safe.

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