4th Birthday party food

[Oysterbabe]

I'm a novice at kid's partys, we've been to a few but this will be our first time holding one. We have exclusive use of a small soft play and have to supply our own food and drinks. The party is at the rather early time of 9:30-11:30 (the only other option on this day was 4-6).
I was thinking tea, coffee and biscuits for the adults but I'm not sure about the kids! Too late for breakfast, too early for lunch. I don't know whether just biscuits for them too or if it's worth doing a proper buffet with some sandwiches and things? They will almost all be 3 or 4 years old. What would you expect to see? Also, should I serve the cake or put it in the party bags?

Hopeful bump

I would do a normal party buffet and serve it at 11 so at the end. Its close enough to lunch for kids of that age.

Yes normal party buffet. Sandwiches, sausage rolls, chocolate fingers and party rings.

I always cut the cake and serve it to them at the party. It never gets eaten when sent home in party bags in soggy napkins and I hate the waste!

Oh and Pom bears. How could I forget Pom bears.

I wouldn't do too much sweet stuff that early in the morning. Crackers, cheese (babybel?), sausages and crisps- plus the birthday cake.

Then don't underestimate how much they'll need to drink... Lots of water, juice etc.

Definitely a proper buffet, open it at 11.00, they'll be famished after running round for an hour and a half.

Just done a 4th birthday party (last week). I did pots of tomato and sweetcorn pasta in tubs (cooked a pack of ditali, large tin of sweetcorn, garlic granuals, mixed herbs and 2 cartons of passata). I had loads of nuby weaning pots that we’ve used a couple of time for this reason and bought Olympia kids forks.

Hotdogs in the slow cooker - warmed through before we set off, drained and transported in the warmed cooker added a flask of boiling water when we arrived. Sliced finger rolls at home and put them in a tub. Brought ketchup and mustard.

Also in a food box (like McD’s) bottle of drink (Aldi fruitshoot-alike), box of raisins, a french fancy (Aldi again), bag of mini cookies and a bag of pombears.

Also brought a jug for juice and cups (we have loads of ikea ones) and 2x2L bottles of water to make up squash.

The kids at ours were boiling and needed more than just a drink at food time. The advantage of this approach is you only need to put the hotdogs in rolls, everything else is in the boxes on the table. Plus anything not eaten can be taken home by you or guests, so less wastage. There won’t be no wastage - it’s a child’s party after all!

I agree eating at 11 is perfect after a busy morning, having it at the end is easier too if the eating area isn't totally closed off to the soft play, easier to keep tabs if you can say play is over and now lunchtime. I wouldn't worry about time of day regarding sweet stuff, very few people send their kids to party begrudging a treat or two. Enjoy! :)

That's great, thanks. A standard beige buffet with maybe some chopped grapes and veg sticks it is!