It may be a good way to make friends at a birthday party. We have always invited the whole class.

The nice thing about having just a couple of people is that you can do something a little more expensive without it getting out of control. You could do any of the above ideas, or go roller skating or ice skating or go to the movies or the pool or miniature golfing or the trampoline park. Stuff like that is preferable with a small group because you're not trying to herd cats the whole time.

Thank you all for the suggestions, I appreciate it!

What does he like to do? June is calling out for water fun.

Trip to a water park/pool with extras (Great Waves, Watermine, etc)
If you have a yard, invite just one or a few to have a water balloon, water gun fight.

You definitely don't need to invite the whole class, especially since school will already be out. I would ask him what he'd most like to do. Maybe the Baltimore aquarium would be fun for a small group.

Ask him if he has any ideas and which kid/s he'd like to invite.

I would do something special with his 2 close friends such as

-- play at imagination stage and dunkin donuts/baskin robbins is 1 block away or go out for pizza
-- chuck-e-cheese for the 3 of them (just give them $20 each for tokens and order a pizza but don't get a party package)
-- a day at Kings Dominion, Adventure Park or other local amusement park
-- have a movie/pizza party at home

We just do a small party at a playground with a Sprayground. Food, cake, playing, and maybe a pinata.

Watch a movie and eat cake
Make and decorate cookies
Make pizzas
Take them to a painting place
Do a party with just family

My son is in 1st grade and his birthday is coming up at the end of June. I'm not sure what to do about a party - he gets along fine with his classmates at school, but really doesn't have any closer friends. We've tried doing play dates with classmates, but nothing really stuck, and DS has only been invited to two birthday parties this year (one for a friend outside of school). It seems strange to invite the whole class at this point, especially since he's not really close with anyone. I was thinking of maybe doing something small with his one close friend from outside of school and the girl in his class that he seems to play with most often at recess, but I'm not sure what to do that would be fun and special. Any ideas?