Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

WIBU to have a 5 year old's birthday party 6pm-8pm on a Saturday night?

113 replies

emsyj · 07/04/2015 14:32

I think I already know the answer to this one but I'm clutching desperately at straws... there's a great venue that I could hire for DD1's birthday party but they will only offer exclusive use outside normal opening hours. this translates as either 5pm-7pm on weeknights (not Fridays) or 6pm-8pm weekends. I think that's too late but I really want the party there! It must be exclusive use as otherwise the numbers mean it would be more expensive to pay per head than the private hire charge, plus it's a popular place and DD1 is very shy and is unlikely to join in if there are crowds of other older kids there that she doesn't know. This place is popular with older kids as it has one of those huge high slides that you use a mat for and also a climbing wall.

So, how unpopular would I be in the school playground if I arrange a party at that hour...? if it helps, siblings would be welcome to come along although the sit-down party food can only cater for a limited number due to the size of the room so they wouldn't be able to have the party tea.

OP posts:

Dutch1e · 07/04/2015 17:53

Absolutely take it. It's Saturday night, the worst that can happen is a sleep in on Sunday. Offer to have a bit of food on hand for everyone so that no-one needs to cook dinner, then send them home exhausted. Sounds like fun

Kampeki · 07/04/2015 18:00

I'd actually quite like that time tbh. Leaves the rest of Saturday free to do other stuff. However, I suspect we'd be in a minority for feeling like this. We never did do the early bedtimes that I read about on here!

AwfulBeryl · 07/04/2015 18:05

I do early bed times, dts are 4 and are in bed by 7:30 even at the weekend, it's different on holiday (they were up till gone 11 last week ) or for parties. I would a bit if they were 2 or 3 but would be happy to go now.
Could you have some wine and beer on hand to pacify the parents ?

Totality22 · 07/04/2015 18:09

You have to factor in the party aspect. I wouldn't want my DS to be having cake and juice etc that late in the day!!!

Harbourgirl · 07/04/2015 18:19

I'd decline. Reception age DD isn't usually in bed until 7.30 & not asleep until 8pm but there is a difference between 6pm - 8pm wind down at home and her chasing around all over the place at soft play. She would love it until she fell over when the tiredness would lead to hysterics rather than just getting up again.
My DC don't just sleep in the next morning so our Sunday would be hard work too.

sparkysparkysparky · 07/04/2015 18:23

Sorry. That would probably be a no, too late. However if your DC was my DC's best friend and it was a really fab venue, I'd try and make it work. The fact I would be cursing you in my head would be my private business.

Osmiornica · 07/04/2015 18:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Unexpected · 07/04/2015 18:48

Would have been too late for me, I'm afraid. Saying that siblings are welcome is all fine and well but younger ones would be even more tired and stroppy by then and older ones would need proper feeding at some point between, say, 5.45 when they leave home and 8.15 when they return home so not being able to offer them food with the party children would be a pain. If it's a 2-4 p.m. party, you just bung them a banana, crisps and a carton of juice but that isn't suitable at a proper meal time.

AddUpToNothing · 07/04/2015 18:51

This is a very common time for a party round here. As most of the children want it at the local soft play centre and for exclusive use, it's 6-8 on Friday and Saturday evenings.

My daughter attended quite a few 5th birthday parties at this time. They were always busy.

Aridane · 07/04/2015 19:00

Too late!

Dieu · 07/04/2015 19:01

Completely fine for us. My 5 year old is the youngest of 3 and would have no problems with it. I am also fairly relaxed and non precious about bedtimes etc. Oh, I should say though that mine are late-ish sleepers, and it might be a bit much for those 5 year olds who've been up since 7am. I would ask the parents of her closest friends what they think, and go for it if they can come. It'll be an adventure they probably won't forget ... hopefully!

twinteresting · 07/04/2015 19:03

Too late Imho
It's not just the 5 y/o it's the logistics of the siblings therein - you may have to make older ones have to be driven about etc.
Also interrupting MY saturday night - 8pm on Sat is when we are likely to go out and about.

What's so amazing about this venue?

slimyhappypeople · 07/04/2015 19:08

I would decline unless a really close friend.

My DD would be fine but I work really hard all week and don't want to give up half of my Saturday night for some random kids party I get cheesed off enough at the parties that go on for 3 hours rather than 2

shakemysilliesout · 07/04/2015 19:19

Tough on younger siblings- no thanks.

littlejohnnydory · 07/04/2015 19:27

Sorry, I wouldn't take my five year old and I'd think twice about my seven year old.

Summeblaze · 07/04/2015 19:36

You probably wouldn't get many coming as some people are very precious about their DC's bedtime.

I don't mind the occasional late night for a special occasion. Dad's favourite thing is going to the theatre. Something we have done since she was 2. Always on a school night. Get home at 11.00. Just means an earlier night the next night. My kids would come.

LondonRocks · 07/04/2015 19:39

Too late

TheHappyCamper · 07/04/2015 19:47

If it was during term time - NO
In the middle of the school holidays- YES

balletgirlmum · 07/04/2015 19:51

It depends on the child.

It would have been way too late for dd. At 5 she was in bed by 7, we were lucky if we could get her to manage to stay up later at weekends or a wedding

For ds it wouldnt have been such a problem but I'd probably want to leave between 7-7.30 to get home by 8 so he could be in bed by 8.30.

Metalguru · 07/04/2015 19:58

Would not be a problem for my DC, would be a problem for my DN, just depends on the child so I would invite extra as some won't come for sure.

Pastaagain78 · 07/04/2015 20:00

Too late, maybe wait a couple of years for the venue? Is your chold desperate for their party to be there?

MonoNoAware · 07/04/2015 20:00

We did a Friday night 6:30pm - 8pm party for DS's 6th birthday party. Could have had the venue until 8:30pm but felt that was too late.

We invited his whole class plus siblings and a number of friends outside of school. Every child but one came, the one who didn't come declined on the basis that it clashed with another activity. DS is one of the oldest in his year, so a good number of the children were still 5. I did put an apology for the time on the invitation, but no one seemed to mind at least not to my face

addictedtosugar · 07/04/2015 20:08

Any chance of it being midweek, coinciding with school holidays or an inset day?

MonoNoAware · 07/04/2015 20:08

Just realised you didn't mention what time of year it will be. I think late spring/summer/early autumn when it's still light in the evenings is better than winter when it will feel a lot later, and I would also avoid it if it fell around end of term times, as the children are always extra grumpy then!

tassisssss · 07/04/2015 20:09

Too late IMO, I'd be OK with 5-7 or maybe even 5.30-7.30pm but my troops went to bed at 7pm aged 5.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5