To do a party without party food?

[Teddybeau1988]

DD is 9 on the 19th this month. Is it acceptable to invite her friends to the cinema to see a film, feed them popcorn and ice cream and send them off after with a party bag after? DH thinks we need to feed them properly.

[ErmagerdANerknerm]

Depends on the time of day really, if it falls between meal times then fine, if it runs over then I'd feed them to be honest. If you aren't going to then make it clear to parents beforehand so that they can make sure they're fed before going.

[ilovepowerhoop]

if its a cinema trip then no I would not feed them other than the popcorn/ice cream.

[StripyBanana]

I think its fine but let parent's know. Some parents do the pizzahut thing afterwards but there's no reason to.

Even better if you have a £1/£2 weekend morning cinema....

[whatever5]

I think that it's fine but perhaps mention in the invitation that there will be no food apart from popcorn/icecream.

[londonrach]

McDonald's happy meal?

[LuisSuarezTeeth]

Of course it's fine! Hope she enjoys it

[LuisSuarezTeeth]

And what whatever said

[NoodleOodle]

Yup, no food is no problem for cinema party.

[ICanSeeTheSun]

But there will be cake right.

[Notsoyummymummy1]

I'm sorry but no cheese and pineapple on sticks - no party.

[itiswhatitiswhatitis]

I would do a happy meal and forgo the party bags

[WooWooOwl]

I think it's fine as long as it doesn't fall over a natural meal time, but I'd let parents know so that they can feed their children properly before.

I'd worry though that other parents would then make arrangements amongst themselves to go for pizza or something else treat like after they have collected, and then your dd would be left out of something that was connected to her birthday celebration. Depends on the dynamics between the people you are inviting though.

[Teddybeau1988]

We were thinking of having cupcakes in little boxes to hand out as people go and a cone of sweets.

We were thinking of going to McDonald's after, but the though of trying to herd a dozen or so children across the town centre has put us off that idea.

The film will be a 2pm start. Presumably people will have lunch beforehand. Any ideas of wording the invite??

[WooWooOwl]

Popcorn, sweets, cupcakes and ice cream sounds like a lot of sweet stuff to give children right before they will need to have dinner.

[Teddybeau1988]

Hmm your right. They'll all be on a massive sugar rush.

[MyFirstName]

Umm...party = sugar rush. It is what parents expect surely?

[Cheeky76890]

What about packing popcorn, drink of apple juice, sandwich or sausage roll in the bag for the cinema? Then after sit in the foyer of the cinema, sing happy birthday and hand out a cup cake each

[waithorse]

It's fine, but I wouldn't know how to word it on an invitation though.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

2pm start so c4 pm finish?? No need to say that there won't be food, IMHO. though no cocktail sausages means it's not a proper party

My 8yo wound be very embarrassed at everyone singing to him in the cinema lobby!!

[CariadsDarling]

I think you need to give the children their snack before they go into the cinema and not had things out one the picture has started or they'll be asking each other what did you get, do you like it, can I swap with you etc? and disturb everyone around them.

So a box hand to them in the foyer so they can examine it before they go and sit down. But then would you be allowed to take food in or does it have to bought from the cinema shop?

If so perhaps just letting them have stuff from the cinema shop would be better. A hotdog or nachos, sweeties/popcorn and drink.

[Teddybeau1988]

The cinema do nibbles as a package. Ticket, small drink popcorn and ice cream for £8 a head.

[CariadsDarling]

It sounds ok but like your husband I think there should be food and a more substantial snack. Perhaps the size up from small?

[CariadsDarling]

sorry - otherwise it just seems too ordinary, like a saturday at the cinema for a group of classmates. It needs to be a bit more special.

[DaisyFlowerChain]

I'd feed them too otherwise really a it's just friends meeting for a movie.

Could you not take them home after for food? Given their ages, it wouldn't be a problem walking them to the McDonald's after as it appears that's an option.