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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:

Kfjsjdbd · 16/10/2021 12:44

I have been meaning to create a similar post, but for the small fireworks party I’m throwing for 4 year olds on a Friday between 6 - 7.30!

Trebormints74 · 16/10/2021 12:49

I think it’s a perfect time to be honest! You can still do stuff during the day and dinner is sorted…

CeeceeBloomingdale · 16/10/2021 12:50

Maybe parties we different where you live but here parents stay and if there's no other childcare then siblings would have to stay too therefore watching the party goers eat the food.

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6 year olds

TheYearOfSmallThings · 16/10/2021 12:55

I'd be fine with it, although I don't know that DS(6) has ever gone to a party from 4-6. But lots of the 2pm ones have gone on until 6pm, so in many ways 4-6 would be a mercy.

AlexaShutUp · 16/10/2021 13:05

@CeeceeBloomingdale

Maybe parties we different where you live but here parents stay and if there's no other childcare then siblings would have to stay too therefore watching the party goers eat the food.

Parents mostly stayed at parties when dd was young too, but I think everyone understood that this was difficult for single parents and nobody ever batted an eyelid if they dropped their kids off and came back later.

Nanananani · 16/10/2021 13:06

@Kfjsjdbd a fireworks party? For kids? Just nope

OP I think it’s fine as long as food is substantial and it’s drop and go so parents can feed other kids etc

Camomila · 16/10/2021 13:39

I think that's fine as long as they get tea there. Plenty of 5/6 year olds are in afterschool club or go to rainbows etc after school so I don't think it's too late at all.

I prefer it actually to a weekend morning party where we might have to miss swimming/park run/church.

icedcoffees · 16/10/2021 13:41

@CeeceeBloomingdale

Maybe parties we different where you live but here parents stay and if there's no other childcare then siblings would have to stay too therefore watching the party goers eat the food.

I've never once experienced that. If a parent has other siblings, then they leave them at home/with family or take them off to the café or something while the party is going.

There's no need for all the parents to hang about age 6, surely?

Mumdiva99 · 16/10/2021 13:42

Perfect. They eat tea at actual tea time and not mid afternoon. As others have said doesn't impact Saturday morning activities either.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 16/10/2021 14:56

@icedcoffees Maybe where you live, here the norm is for parents to stick around unless it’s a house party. Single parents can’t just leave kids at home alone therefore it’s the norm to have siblings there. If it’s a hall party with a lot of kids attending I would not want to be responsible for watching all of them while also sorting out cake, prizes, food etc.

I have no idea why so many people have picked up on my comment and want to tell me I’m wrong if something is different to their own experience. I don’t live in a particularly deprived area but it is up north so maybe that’s why things are different. It’s not always possible transport or time wise to drop off and collect later, parties are not usually close to a cafe hence people stay. They then help with food, clearing up, games, chat and catch up etc.

merryhouse · 16/10/2021 15:14

Sorry. I was thinking from the point of view of the host - if someone had brought siblings to a church-hall party I would have put a couple of extra chairs up at the table and seen if we'd got any more character napkins.

It seriously wouldn't occur to me, in a place where I had control of all the food, to tell a couple of extra children that they couldn't have any.

(I might have grumbled later about the CF mother if I knew perfectly well that she had oodles of childcare options, but that's different)

RussianSpy101 · 16/10/2021 15:15

It’s absolutely fine. It’s a one off. You’ll find most people will be absolutely fine bar a few precious ones.

Kfjsjdbd · 16/10/2021 15:38

@Nanananani we probably just have a bit more of a relaxed, sociable style parenting to you.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 16/10/2021 15:44

Pain for me but I have a younger child who needs feeding at 5- wouldn’t be the end of the world obviously but end of the day more likely to have tantrums and issues etc. Too.

AnUnlikelyCombination · 16/10/2021 15:49

I’d probably have had to take a crying / tantrumming child home early at that age. But I appreciate most DC can make it to 6.00, or get hyper when tired rather than inconsolable. Maybe just be ready for a few early exits, and have party bags etc ready.

Clymene · 16/10/2021 15:50

It's fine as long as you feed them

MoreThanAnOffDay · 16/10/2021 16:25

My 1 and 3 Yr old went to a 2year old party 6 till 8pm at a play centre. One late night is fine. They were ready for sleep as soon as got home.

reluctantbrit · 16/10/2021 16:55

I think people are far too hung up on bedtimes and children meal times.

A one off is absolutely fine, most 5-6 year olds can handle it without causing major distress. We always did a later bedtime and family dinner but I know we were the exception.

I would look for decent amount of food though, maybe more than just two sandwich triangles. We had a late one one year and the venue had a kitchen where the host did a huge pot of hot dogs. Others organised a pizza delivery.

I personally found a party later in the day a lot nicer than a 2-4pm one, at least with a 4pm start the day is not fully wasted.

RussianSpy101 · 16/10/2021 17:19

@AnUnlikelyCombination a y2 child can’t stay awake until 6pm without a tantrum? Are there any AN?

RussianSpy101 · 16/10/2021 17:19

Sorry, y1. Still.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 16/10/2021 17:23

I personally found a party later in the day a lot nicer than a 2-4pm one, at least with a 4pm start the day is not fully wasted see we see things totally differently, I want a party to take up my day as something to do, all a late party means is I have 7 hours to fill before it

ParkheadParadise · 16/10/2021 17:24

I'd be happy with that time.

Nanananani · 16/10/2021 17:25

@Kfjsjdbd based on what?? I couldn’t be anymore relaxed or sociable in my parenting style. But I think private fireworks at home are stupid, especially with young kids.

Sally872 · 16/10/2021 17:25

I prefer that time to middle of the day. Also weekend morning usually have clubs the children would have to miss.

Pea22ches · 16/10/2021 17:39

I still think 03.30 is late. You would be better will early sat morning people will be more likely to come too.

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