Birthday parties can be stressful.thinkstock
Don't send invitations to school unless everyone in the class is invited.
Do make the party big and invite everyone, or make it small and invite a small number, but never invite "all but a few."
Do stress to children that they should not discuss birthday-party details at school, either before or after, whether they are a guest or the host.
Do tell the teacher if you believe your child is being socially shunned or having to hear details of a party to which she or he is not invited. The teacher can use the incident to discuss exclusion and can quash birthday-party chatter in no time.
Do take the issue - but not the specific details - to a parenting committee meeting. Parents develop a common strategy on how to prepare children for this behaviour by coaching them on what to do and say about birthday parties.