Is 5.30pm - 7.30pm OK for a (weekend) party for 7 & 8 year old?

[PleaseYourselfandEatTheCrusts]

It's the only time available at a local softplay . Not sure if its OK, or I should go elsewhere?

I think I may just be being a bit daft because I have never done a party before, and I am nervous.

Would think so, my kids wouldn't have been in bed before 9 at that age anyway on a weekend

I think it is too late, especially if anyone has younger siblings.

It isn't too late to be up, but it is too late for the disruption of a friend's birthday party IMO.

Do you think most kids would have had dinner by 5.30pm, at that age? What food would you do ? Just looking for some advice.

Is it local for everyone?

We had a similar invite recently (was for a Friday 5.30-7.30pm) and it was a tube ride for me. I had to decline as I have two other children and there is no way I could have logistically got invited child there and back and have dealt with dinner etc for then other two.

I always think I'm a very boring, overly sensible person but declining an invite because a younger sibling needs to be in bed probably just an hour earlier - life really is too short! Appreciate you were making the point Classic rather than saying this was your take on it, but I don't understand how people live their lives so dictated by sleep routines. It must be so limiting.

I have a very soon to be 7 year old and a 4.5 year old. No problem for the 7 year old, especially if it was a fri or sat night.

Bit late for my 4 year old as her bedtime is 7ish (appreciate that’s not what you asked!), but if it was a close friend and a weekend I’d still let her go and she’d just go to bed a bit late.

We normally eat dinner between 5 and 6pm (usually closer to 6) and I’d expect at a kids party at soft play the food would be something like pizzas or chicken nuggets/burgers and chips

Yes, it is local Crunchymum

I hope the majority of people will come. I've booked it.

There's not a kitchen, so there won't be hot food. I just wondered what food I should serve. Should I do the sort of stuff you'd have on a picnic? Do you think most children would have had a dinner earlier, and just want snacks, or what?

BTW, Thanks for replies. I just want this party go well

For that age yes just dont expect those with younger children to come or expect children to be grumpy towards the end/parents leave early.

BIL is hosting his childs 2nd birthday party at a soft play place 45 minutes away at 5.45-7.45, my LO's will be 20 months and 2 weeks old. We have said that MIL can take the 20 month old but we will not be going with a newborn and getting back at 9pm at night, hoping MIL will have 20 month old over night that night for us as its also my birthday. BIL is understanding of our choice that it would be too much for us to commit to and is thankfull that our eldest is still coming with MIL.

For food i would ring local take aways, chip shop/pizza and see if you can do a pre order for a set time.

Too late. My 7 year old would be dramatic if in a soft play at 7:30 at night. Bedtime is 8 and I’m not precious about it but the meltdowns…

That would be fine with us. Our similar age children go to bed around 8pm at the weekend so would just brush teeth and go to bed after the party.
we don’t have a big age gap though so no little siblings to coordinate.

You do definitely need to serve a meal. Would be annoying for parents and you’ll have very hangry children otherwise. It’s prime dinner time.

A meal doesn't have to be hot just make sure there is enough food and variety so nobody is hungry 😊

Thanks

As there's no kitchen you could give each child their own "picnic" bag with a sandwich, juice box, a few cocktail sausages, packet of crisps, box of raisins and a wrapped cake like a mini roll. Mine always preferred that during an activity party to a sit down meal.

This would be perfect

I booked this slot before and got plenty of attendees for a 7 year old. I did make it clear there was no obligation to stay though, as most people will have other kids to do bedtime for.

Thank you very much. This is really helpful. I will definitely mention parents don't have to stay on the invites.

Just in case anyone finds this thread in future, looking for reassurance about whether or not it's an okay time for a children's party....

It went really well and almost everybody came.