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Original poster

Is 4-6pm ok for a kids party?!

53 replies

Clarabellawilliamson · 16/10/2021 10:07

Looking at hiring a local venue/ hall for a kids party- 6 year old. Bouncy castle, party tea, pass the parcel- job done.

The only time they have for the weekend I'm after is 3.30-6.30 on the Saturday. Would a 4-6 party be ok for you with kids of that age?

OP posts:
MsChatterbox · 16/10/2021 10:09

Ive been to a party at that time and I wasn't excited about it purely cos of later bedtime etc but my children handled it fine weren't grumpy etc. None of the children there were!

Ligglepiggle · 16/10/2021 10:10

It would be fine with me but to be aware, I think people often agree and then don’t turn up when it’s later in the day. We were at a party 3-5 on the Sunday and about ten people had said they were coming and didn’t, I think sometimes people find something else to do or can’t be bothered to go back out unfortunately

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 16/10/2021 10:11

For me on a Saturday it would be fine. On a Sunday possibly not.
At that time I’d also expect not to have to feed them tea when they get home so a decent spread.

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6 year olds
Caspianberg · 16/10/2021 10:13

Yes fine

tiramisualwaystiramisu · 16/10/2021 10:13

My 6 year old has just been invited to a 4-6pm party. It's not ideal, as the venue is a bit of a drive and I suspect they might fall asleep on the way home, but I'll live with it.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 16/10/2021 10:13

I’d say fine as long as the food is sufficient that they won’t need dinner at home before bed. DD1 needed to be in bed at 7pm when she was 6yo. A party finishing at 6pm would have been fine if straight to bed when home.

Whinge · 16/10/2021 10:14

I think people often agree and then don’t turn up when it’s later in the day.

I agree. I suspect you'll have a few no shows, as it's later in the day. Many of the children will be 5 and after a busy Saturday of doing other activities and being out and about, parents might think a party ontop is just too much.

Whatwouldnanado · 16/10/2021 10:15

Pyjama theme and a really good tea would make it perfect - straight home to bed!

alrightfella · 16/10/2021 10:15

On a Saturday perfect. Home and straight to bed. Would want them to have eaten enough so that they didn't need tea or anything else. Could you do the food towards the end of the party.

Original poster
Clarabellawilliamson · 16/10/2021 10:17

Ah good feedback from everyone- thanks! The venue is less than 10 minutes walk from everyone's house (we are a compact community!) so everyone home by 6.15. I'll wait and see what one other venue can offer, but won't totally write it off.

OP posts:
LittleBearPad · 16/10/2021 10:17

My six year old goes to bed at 8.30. I’d be absolutely fine with it

Frlrlrubert · 16/10/2021 10:33

My five year old goes to bed after 8pm (asleep by 9pm is a win for us) so it would be fine for me. She's up at 7:30am for school but has never needed much sleep!

I know other children have earlier bedtimes but home by 6:15pm on a Saturday would be fine for most surely? I'd assume you're doing some food as it's over a mealtime? So the can go straight home to bed if needed?

userchange987 · 16/10/2021 10:35

I don't mind parties at that time, it helps when they're over mealtimes if they're getting fed!

littlefireseverywhere · 16/10/2021 10:38

Sounds fine to me.

Crunchymum · 16/10/2021 10:40

Would be fine for my 6yo.

CyclingIsNotOuting · 16/10/2021 10:46

Yes would be fine for us too.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 16/10/2021 10:47

I’m not keen on parties that affect the whole day and mine would have been hyper all day and a nightmare waiting for a 4pm start. However later is better than mid day which effectively stops you doing anything at all. It might put off those with other children though as it’s right on tea time and sitting watching your sibling enjoy a birthday tea when you’re hungry too is rubbish. When I’ve done hall parties I’ve invited siblings to eat too.

shivermetimbers77 · 16/10/2021 10:50

Yep would be fine as long as a good food spread is served which could count as dinner.

Caspianberg · 16/10/2021 10:57

Most kids rarely eat much at parties imo as over excited.
I would just plan to give mine a quick eggs/ toast type thing when home if it turns out they didn’t eat much so I wouldn’t worry about catering for a full blown out meal.

I remember only ever eating hoola hoops at parties when young, even if loads of other stuff I usually ate

Anoisagusaris · 16/10/2021 11:01

Yes fine, and wouldn’t impact on bedtime here. Sure a lot of kids only leave their childcare at that time if they have working parents.

AlexaShutUp · 16/10/2021 11:04

Sounds fine to me, but I was never a slave to strict bedtimes or routines etc. I always preferred parties that went across a mealtime slot as it meant that dd didn't need to eat again!

merryhouse · 16/10/2021 11:13

@CeeceeBloomingdale "watching your siblings enjoy a birthday tea"??

Who the hell does that?

LinuxPenguinPCnerd · 16/10/2021 11:15

Very British issue with strict bedtimes. In other countries people go out to eat with kids way later and they manage. Yes we would come.

icedcoffees · 16/10/2021 11:19

@CeeceeBloomingdale

I’m not keen on parties that affect the whole day and mine would have been hyper all day and a nightmare waiting for a 4pm start. However later is better than mid day which effectively stops you doing anything at all. It might put off those with other children though as it’s right on tea time and sitting watching your sibling enjoy a birthday tea when you’re hungry too is rubbish. When I’ve done hall parties I’ve invited siblings to eat too.
Eh? Surely you take siblings home and feed them yourself?
Heiferr · 16/10/2021 12:10

We're heading to one that starts at 5 this evening. Im quite pleased about it actually. It doesn't interfere with weekend activities, gives me time to run errands, ends the day quite nicely.