A 6-year-old who gets a mermaid invitation reads it out loud, twice, to whoever is nearby. A parent reads it for something else: when, where, and when to pick up. The wordings below do both jobs for a mermaid party aimed at ages 5 to 8. After them come an RSVP line that actually gets replies, a favor bag you can fill for under $4 a child, and a short thank-you. Anything in [square brackets] is a blank for you to fill in with your own name, date, address or phone number, so please check that none are left before you send.
Put the Plain Facts in Their Own Lines
The clever part is for the kids. The facts are for the grown-ups, and they skim, so give each one its own line:
- Start and end time. “Saturday, 2 to 4 pm” lets a parent know whether they can run errands.
- Address and one landmark. “Blue mailbox, park on the street” saves a text.
- Stay or drop off. At 5 and 6, many parents will want to stay. Say which you prefer.
- Swim or water play. If anyone might get wet (a splash table, a sprinkler), say so, so kids bring a change of clothes.
- Allergy line. “Please tell me about any food allergies” is plenty.
Send invitations two to three weeks ahead. Four weeks gets lost under school flyers, and one week is tight for families who plan weekends early.
Four Mermaid Invitation Wordings to Fill In
The message in a bottle. “A message washed ashore! [Child’s name] is turning [age] and invites you to a mermaid party under the sea. Swim over on [day and date] from [start time] to [end time] at [address]. Send word back by [RSVP date] to [parent name] at [phone].” Roll it up and tie it with ribbon (or just print it on a scroll shape) and it feels like treasure. This is the one to write if you only write one.
The royal summons. “By order of Queen [Child’s name] of the Sea, you are summoned to her [age]th birthday celebration. Arrive on [day and date] at [start time]. Court ends at [end time]. Location: [address]. Please reply to [parent name] at [phone] by [RSVP date].” Kids of 7 and 8 enjoy the bossy tone, and it does not read as babyish.
The simple splash. “Come splash with [Child’s name]! Mermaid party, [day and date], [start time] to [end time], [address]. Please reply to [parent name] by [RSVP date].” Short wins when invitations go into backpacks and have to survive a cubby.
The group-text version. “Hi! [Child’s name] is having a mermaid party for her [age]th birthday on [day and date] from [start time] to [end time] at [address]. Could you let me know by [RSVP date] if [guest name] can come, and about any allergies? Thank you!” Parents tend to answer a text in minutes, and a paper invitation can wait in a bag for days.
If you are sending paper, fill-in cards with envelopes mean you only write the facts once. The Mermaid Under the Sea Party pack lists a 24-set of invitations with cards, envelopes and stickers, plus a separate pack of mermaid thank-you cards with envelopes.
An RSVP Line That Gets Answers
“RSVP to [parent name]” with no date gets you half the replies the night before the party. Write the date, the method, and what you want to know: “Please text [parent name] at [phone] by [RSVP date] with your child’s name and any food allergies.” Set the date one week before the party. Then text the families who have not answered, once and kindly, a few days after the deadline: “Hi, just checking if [guest name] can join us on [day]. A quick yes or no helps me plan.” Most replies arrive within the hour.
A Favor Bag Under $4 a Child
The main mermaid party article covers the painted shell take-home. Here is how to build the rest of the bag around it. Plan on four things per child, since more than that is clutter:
- The painted shell from the arrival activity. Nearly free.
- One thing to eat. A small bag of fruit snacks or a few wrapped chocolate coins, about 50 cents. Check the allergy replies first, and pick something with no nuts.
- One thing to use. A lip balm in a fruity flavor ($1 to $1.50 each in multipacks) or a sheet of temporary mermaid-tail tattoos (about 30 cents a child).
- One thing to keep. A hair clip or a ribbon bracelet, around $1.
For 12 guests, that comes to roughly $35 to $45 for the whole batch, with a paper or kraft bag at about 50 cents each. Packing takes about 20 minutes with a helper. Write each child’s name on the bag with a marker, so there is no tug of war at pickup.
Two cautions. Skip anything small enough to fit in a toddler’s mouth if younger siblings are coming, because shells and beads are choking hazards under age 3. And skip loose glitter in the bags for a house with carpet; your future self will thank you.
A Two-Line Thank-You
Send thank-yous within a week. At 5 to 8, kids can write their own name and one detail, and you add the rest: “Dear [Guest name], thank you for coming to my mermaid party. I loved that you found the most sea glass! Love, [Child’s name].” One true detail beats three lines of generic thanks. For gifts, name the gift and say one thing about using it.
Want to fill the party hours too? The mermaid party games article has the activities that go between arrival and cake.
Questions Parents Ask About Mermaid Party Invitations
What should I write on a mermaid birthday invitation?
Put the child’s name and age, the date, start and end times, the address, and a reply-by date with a phone number. Then add one mermaid line, like “A message washed ashore!” The facts are what parents need, and the mermaid line is what the kids remember.
When should I send invitations for a 6-year-old’s birthday party?
Two to three weeks ahead. Ask for replies one week before the party so you can buy food and favors for the right headcount.
How much should I spend on party favors per child?
Between $3 and $4 a child is plenty for ages 5 to 8, including the bag. One thing to eat, one thing to use, one thing to keep, and something they made at the party is a full bag.
Is it okay to put glitter or small items in favor bags?
For ages 5 to 8, small items are fine, but leave them out if younger siblings are attending, since beads and shells are choking hazards under 3. Loose glitter is messy and better saved for a craft table you can sweep.