No party food or drink provided

[ImaMumtoaboy]

So my ds(11) went to a football party yesterday. The minute we got in the car he asked to go the shop for a drink as he was so thirsty.
Party was at the local astro pitch, party room included that has 2 ovens, hob, 2 toasters, 2 microwaves and 2 fridges. Most parents bring in frozen pizzas and chips and cook them or order in pizzas.
Kids were running around for 2 hours in hot weather they were not offered any drinks during that time.
He said in the "party room" they got 1 small bottle of water (250ml) and a small slice of birthday cake. They only went into the room 10 minutes before I arrived to collect him.
When I went in the mother was packing up the cake which looked like there was about 3/4's left. I thought the kids must have had enough food that they didnt want cake. And parents cleaned up very quickly. Kids were all quiet(14 11/12 yr old boys) who are normally very loud at parties. Kids were just sitting waiting to be collected.Turns out they got a very very skinny slice, described by ds as thinner then a slice of bread.
Ended up bringing him to Mcdonalds as a treat and we seen 2 other parents of kids that were at the same party getting their kids food.

They weren’t teenagers, though. Why is everyone talking about teenagers?

A couple of jugs of tap water, some paper cups and some nibbly stuff wouldn't have gone amiss. Maybe the hosts were concerned about partygoers allergies?
I would have sent my DC with a water bottle to an activity party, particularly during a heatwave.

😂

😂 it’s a party and they’ve done 2 hours of exercise

Ok technically they are not teenagers but 11/12 year olds who are very nearly teenagers not toddlers are still very active growing kids who need more than 250ml of water a tiny slice of cake especially when they have been running around for 2 hours in this heat!

In this heat I would expect far more drinks. I would also expect a party to provide food. I could live without the food but think not providing drinks throughout when dcs are doing a physical activity is madness.

It's cheeky. What a poor show. People expect snacks and drinks at a childrens party. Its just what you do.

We did a football party for our son at the local premiership club, it was brilliant. It was pricey, though. We provided pizza and other snacks, juice and water and then the birthday cake. They all got party bags. I agree that if it was about costs then chilled tap water and snacks from Aldi would have been ok.

That's awful. I'd expect them to be fed and given lots of water/squash.

That's quite stingy but I wonder (generously) if they couldn't afford to do the party and food?

We did a laser tag party once that had nowhere to do food, too far from anywhere to get food and in the middle of winter so I made the lunch bags to eat on their way home because I knew how hungry they'd be.

And it included a massive slice of cake!!

Eating takes 15, 20 mins tops when kids are hungry. Certainly not an hour. I’ve hosted enough parties to gauge. My dd is 14.

It’s really rude not to offer some kind of food beyond a sliver of cake, especially if over a meal time. Kids normally do said physical activity and then are ravenous regardless of the time.

I would not have thanked a hosting parent for not feeding my dd as I then would have needed to do so myself in addition to taking and collecting dd 2 hours apart, which is a monumental faff in itself.

Thankfully out of the scores of parties she went to this never happened.

This!

That's quite stingy but I wonder (generously) if they couldn't afford to do the party and food?

If they can't afford a party then they could have invited some friends to the park for a kick about. If you host a party (and I assume are happy to take presents) then you should provide food and drink.

Good to know the first reply didn’t disappoint.

I agree, @Whinge . For children you really have to provide food and drink.

Or that kid might be embarrassed because all his mates were uncomfortable for the majority of the party because they were thirsty.

Please expand on what might happen to children who eat a normally sized piece of birthday cake.

It's too late for my children but might save some other poor souls

Absolutely should have had drinks and plenty of them in this weather. I've never known a party without food. Very poor show.

Right.

All I am saying is there is a recommended serving size for cake. The parents may have been sticking to this and that is why it is tiny. Because the recommended serving size is small because it is not good for kids to have lots of cake.

They had a bottle of water and most kids have water bottles

It’s only since I’ve been on Mumsnet that I realised people actually do this.

The idea of no catering is unfathomable to me.

It’s a sure way for people to feel unwelcome. I’d be really pissed off.

Yep, and unfortunately that's the lasting memory of the party. It doesn't matter how much fun they had, all those who attended are going to remember is how hungry and thirsty they were.

There are many many cheaper parties than holding one at an AstroTurf place. Ones where even adding food would still be cheaper.

I have never known a party with no food. Sounds crap.

Other than drinks if the kids were being physical in the heat, I really wouldn't give it a second thought. Party food is usually crap so if your kid missed out on a packet of crisps and a slice of cheap pizza don't sweat it. The quizzing about the size of the cake slice is a bit weird. Get over it!