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Original poster

Preferred time for child's party?

30 replies

Cam2020 · 15/01/2022 16:25

Hi MN,

My child wants a birthday party this year with primary aged school friends. I'm just trying to gauge whether to hold it on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon! My daughter normally has hobbies she does on Saturday, so I initially thought Sunday, but is that inconvenient?

Which day/time would you prefer? I realise everyone has different schedules and you can't suit everyone!

Thanks

OP posts:

angelopal · 15/01/2022 16:28

Everyone will be different. We do them on Sundays dues to activities. But have missed the odd week to attend parties on a Saturday.

Motherchicken · 15/01/2022 16:29

I can’t stand Sunday parties!! They get in the way of Monday prep. Also parties that start after 4 are too late 😅

ringoutthebells · 15/01/2022 16:33

Yep nothing worse than a graveyard shift kids party

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HerkyBaby · 15/01/2022 16:33

Hold it on a Saturday.You will need Sunday to recover.

girlmom21 · 15/01/2022 16:34

Arrange it for a Saturday at a time that means the kids will be fed around an actual mealtime

ManonCrochan · 15/01/2022 16:35

Saturday

11-13:00 (lunch half way through and should actually eat lunch as it's at the normal time)

ISmellBurnings · 15/01/2022 16:36

I don’t mind later parties on a Sunday as it feeds the kids and I don’t have to think about it, plus they’re tired. We do activities/lessons on a Saturday so prefer Sunday.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 15/01/2022 16:37

I prefer Saturday early afternoon or Sunday morning. However today we've been to one which started at 11am and are currently at a 4 pm start.

I do have friends who refuse all Sunday invitations due to religious reasons though.

Fundays12 · 15/01/2022 16:37

I prefer sat mornings or Sundays afternoons. I wouldn’t take my kids to a party on a Sunday night.

ilovebagpuss · 15/01/2022 16:41

Saturday 11-1 ish perfect still have the afternoon or if kids are tired can put a film on and have a quiet afternoon.
Didn’t mind Sunday parties but early rather than late.

LegallyBlende · 15/01/2022 16:45

Saturday 11-1 or 2-4 or 3-5

ADialgaAteMyDog · 15/01/2022 16:47

I held my kid's party at 2.30 which was perfect as they didn't need lunch and dinner time followed on. Just been to one at 1.30 that was good too. I don't like ones over a meal time as mine are too excited to eat anything sensible so you're either nagging them to eat or dealing with a meal at a weird time on a sugar crash.

MrsPotatoHead22 · 15/01/2022 17:02

Saturday or Sunday
11-1 or 1-3.

I made the mistake of signing my children up to an activity on a Saturday, not realising they'd have lots of parties to attend. They now do their activities during the week. Weve already attended 3 parties In 2022.

SnoozeAllDay · 15/01/2022 17:31

Saturday 4.45…. Is too flipping late.

Felt like we couldn’t have many plans through the day as we needed to make sure we were back in time for the party
And it means the adults dinner is delayed as it doesn’t finish til after 6.15/6.45 waaah

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 15/01/2022 17:37

saturday 3-5 if food involved. Feed them at a mealtime and after lots of activities will have finished.

plus one of my DC has a close friend who doesn't attend on Sundays.

AlexaShutUp · 15/01/2022 17:38

I'm long past that stage, but I used to have a slight preference for Sunday parties as they were less likely to clash with other things. Saturdays were fine too, though.

Unlike most of MN, I liked 4-6 type parties as it meant that dd got fed but also allowed us to do other stuff during the day. Same with 11-1ish or 12-2 - takes care of lunch and leaves the rest of the day free.

I never understand why people think 6pm is too late for a party to finish, but then we were never slaves to a 7pm bedtime, so maybe it has something to do with that?

2-4 was the worst time slot in my view. Not really a sensible time to eat and takes up a good chunk of the day.

SpeedRunParent · 15/01/2022 17:54

I preferred Saturdays. Sunday was always my family day. I always checked the commitments of key guests ( my kids' best friends) to make sure they would be available if it was our party.

senua · 15/01/2022 17:59

Feed them at a mealtime
This.

One hour of fun & games, one hour of eating at something approximating to a normal mealtime, a bit of winding-down time and then everyone goes home happy.

Flowersinamilkbottle · 15/01/2022 18:05

Saturday 3-5pm is my favourite time (or better still 3.30-5pm). If they are over-excited and don't get to sleep until late I'm not worrying about school the next day. It allows them to eat at a sensible time and also we can do something else during the day.

Not keen on Sunday parties especially in the morning.

Original poster

Cam2020 · 15/01/2022 18:16

Thanks for all the opinions, as I suspected, there are a range but some really good pointers and things to consider.

OP posts:

Equimum · 15/01/2022 18:16

I don't really mind which day, but prefer them in the mornings.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 15/01/2022 18:18

Either sat or sun morning, lunch or early eve! Really doesn’t matter to us! Just happy to be able to go to them again!

Pinchofnom · 15/01/2022 18:19

No preference as to days really as my DCs activities are in the mornings of both. Ideal time would be 1pm so that food is provided to save me faffing around with lunch.

PeonyRose80 · 15/01/2022 18:19

Either 10-12 or 4-6 either weekend day but meant could still do something as a family

Namechangedforspooky · 15/01/2022 18:20

3-5 either day
And if you give them hot food I don’t have to feed them again so that’s a winner!

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