To ask the ideal children's party time?

[Onthedowns]

Looking at doing class party either a sat or sun 2 hours, been to a few at different times but can never decide which is the best time I know over tea good or lunch? 3-5? Throwing it open as always conscious of people's weekend lives!

[TeenAndTween]

11-1 for me attendance wise.
Gets it over and done with, and in the afternoon we can do something depending on how tired they are. Very clearly signals that I won't have to do them lunch.

Hosting wise - I've never done a whole class party. DDs have always had smaller, calmer affairs.

[ColourfulOrangex]

I personally hate the ones that are in the middle of the day eg 1-3, just because it makes it hard to do things if you need to, also not a fan of parties on Sundays if they can be helped...another thing you have to think of is how much food you want to do, if you are doing it over lunch then you will need more than just a snack say if you were doing it an hour or so before dinner

[Lilaclily]

11-1 or 2-4

[Lilaclily]

I wouldn't go if it's 5-7

[ParadiseCity]

Depends on age of children, how far away it is and if parents are expected to stay. 4-6 is a.good.time.as incudes tea and can let.them.eat party. Bag content straight. Away!

Sorry for stupid.full stops everywhere

[Onthedowns]

I was thinking 11-1? They are 4/5 year olds

[Onthedowns]

It's the only full class party as her first year at school

[ecuse]

Beginning or end of the day for me. 1-3 torpedoes the whole day.

[yorkshapudding]

I'd prefer earlier (around lunch 11-1 maybe?) rather than late afternoon. It gets it out of the way you have the rest of the day to yourselves. I find sometimes with the 3-5 or 4-6 parties they're so overtired/overexcited that it impacts on bedtime.

[Nishky]

I agree 11-1 best slot.

[FourToTheFloor]

Dd1 is having hers 10.30 to 12.30 so we've got the rest of the day. Play, lunch, cake, bye.

[ICJump]

10-12 for me. No need to provide lunch. But good friends can stay to finish party food and chat.

[JennyOnAPlate]

I'd find 11-1 a pain in the arse to be fair...no time to do anything before it and a child too tired from partying to do anything after it (depends on the age of the child though I suppose)

We generally do 3 til 5 or 3.30 til 5.30 for our parties.

[Onthedowns]

330-530 sounds good or 3-5 I would give full tea food etc

[Mol1628]

10-12 or 11-1

I hate afternoon ones. But if it's for 4-5 year olds then it doesn't matter so much. A 1yos birthday party I was invited to was 4-6. Wayyyyy too late so I didn't go. (But my children get up at 5am)

[Artandco]

4-6, or 5-7pm. That way most the day is free. Anything before midday is too early at the weekend for us

[RicStar]

We have dance classes on sat morning so I prefer pm - say 3-5pm. We would probably be ok with a Sunday morning but I think that might be generally less popular.

[FannyUmbongo]

11-1 is the clear winner.

[SellFridges]

11-1 definitely.

Although I have just booked private hire at soft play which is 5-7. The kids are 6 now and a few parents have done it and it seems to work ok.

[CommunionHelp]

11-1 is irritating, sorry . It's takes out too much of the day potentially. Can't do anything before, and at this time of year, too late to do much afterwards. If you've got other kids to entertain, then they just end up trailing around after the party child.

We always do 2 - 4 and haven't had anyone not turn up yet, party on Saturday

[VanillaSugar]

10-12 or 11-1 are perfect times.

The kids are better behaved, you can give them lunch and then off they go.

Afternoon parties are full of over-excited whiney kids who misbehave.

However, NEVER book a disco party for 10am on a Sunday morning. It's too much, too much, I say, for the parents. The noise, the NOISE

[FaerieDusting]

11-1 as it covers lunch plus they don't spend the entire day asking if it's party time yet. They can have a lie in if they want to and parents have time to do any shopping etc after the party if they have stuff to do.
If you do it too late on I find attendance isn't good.

[ThanksForAllTheFish]

Afternoon for us as - anytime after 12:30, we have swimming lessons on a Saturday morning and Sunday morning is get up late and lounge around until lunchtime day.

I hate having to take DD to a party on a Saturday morning when I've already paid a small fortune (in advance) for swimming lessons.

Idea time for us is 1-3 but 4-6 is also fine.

[Unjudgemental]

11-1 for under 5s.

[Mottlemoth]

Morning is better, definately. The kids aren't waiting the whole day if it's party time yet and you have the afternoon free to do other things. 10.30-12.30 would be perfect.