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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask the ideal children's party time?

79 replies

Onthedowns · 15/01/2017 09:37

Looking at doing class party either a sat or sun 2 hours, been to a few at different times but can never decide which is the best time I know over tea good or lunch? 3-5? Throwing it open as always conscious of people's weekend lives!

OP posts:
Original poster
Onthedowns · 15/01/2017 10:35

Some division lol Grin I guess anytime isn't going to suit everyone

OP posts:
HorseyHorseyTwat · 15/01/2017 10:41

I hate morning parties. We spend all week running around in the mornings trying to get out of the house by a certain time, I don't want to do at the weekends too. 2-4pm for us, gives us time to get home and do tea/bath/bed without a rush or too much "dead time" to fill.

CommunionHelp · 15/01/2017 10:47

Agreed that parties at 10 am at the weekend are bloody annoying. We spend all week dashing around and to do it on a Saturday/Sunday (unless it's for dancing/swimming/whatever) is somewhat annoying.

It's nearly always afternoon parties among our friends. 2 - 4 is definitely the most usual, for the reasons Horsey says.

Never had any problems with behaviour either (it is only the afternoon, after all).

But true, OP. There is literally no time that suits everyone Grin

Mindtrope · 15/01/2017 10:49

Depends how much catering you want to do.

11-1 or 5-7 I would expect a meal at a party, 2-4 then just snacks.

MrGrumpy01 · 15/01/2017 10:49

I'm doing one in a few weeks.(5) The place has slots 10-12, 12-30-2.30 and 3-5. We've hone for the middle one but none of them are great really.

Ds next week (9) is 3-5.30. People still can't come. Clashes with the football.

AndNowItsSeven · 15/01/2017 10:51

Would hate 11-1 far too early and rushed to get there. 1-3 or 12-2 is much better. If one of my dc is invited to a party am happy for that day to revolve around them.

PolarBearGoingSomewhere · 15/01/2017 10:57

3-5pm works well especially if it's a winter party. Leaves effectively the whole day to go out and do something as a family and the " party tea" for the kids means DH & I can have a take away Grin

Changednamesorry · 15/01/2017 10:59

In Spain.....but here the general consensus is that 11am start for a party on the weekend is sociopathic as it interferes with restful mornings! 3-5 is my suggestion.

Dieu · 15/01/2017 10:59

11 - 1, as then lunch is covered.

SimplyNigella · 15/01/2017 11:01

I would go 3-5pm and give them tea. It's less likely to clash with activities, swimming lessons etc that would be earlier in the day and you are tiring the children out then feeding them ready for bath and bed after the party.

MrGrumpy01 · 15/01/2017 11:15

There will never be a time that everyone is happy with. Someone's perfect time is another's worse. If peoplecan come they will but you will never please everyone.

Thingvellir · 15/01/2017 11:16

We went to a 3-5 one yesterday - perfect timing I think as you have most of the day to get stuff done and then get home in good time for relaxation and bedtime.

Did have to do a tea when we got home though unexpectedly - there was very little food at the party!

Pengweng · 15/01/2017 11:41

I would prefer 2-4 on a weekend as the DTs have various lessons in the mornings and if they didn't it still gives us time to do the shopping etc

Artandco · 15/01/2017 11:58

Also any time between 3-7pm is better at small ages also. Between 0-4years mine napped every day after lunch so would have been miserable at 11-1,12-2pm party if missed nap. After 4 years they are tired from
School so mornings good to lie in, read, relax at home

OhMrBadger · 15/01/2017 12:05

I prefer a later slot so I can get food/stuff ready in the morning without rushing.

DS has his party next month. It's an outdoor activity one which he's been wanting to do for ages and is finally old enough. But, it's going to be February and cold and muddy. So I picked an earlier slot to ensure enough daylight and time afterwards to warm up again!

tinyterrors · 15/01/2017 12:07

I'm another that hates 10-12 parties. For us it's too early on a weekend to be getting the kids up fed and ready. I'm not a fan of 1-3, never know whether to give lunch or not, and 2-4 if they have a meal rather than snacks my ds always want something to eat again by 6.

The best time for us is 3-5/4-6 or thereabouts as it covers tea time so I can give the dcs that aren't invited their tea and not have to worry about the party child watching everyone eat and then wanting something later.

As pp said you'll never get a clear consensus on the ideal party time because there's always going to be some that first day 10/11 too early and 4/5 too late.

Wishforsnow · 15/01/2017 12:10

I think 3-5. I would hate a morning party. Also at weekends most kids have clubs in the morning.

Nishky · 15/01/2017 12:23

What time do people's children get up if 11 is too early? When mine were little there were no weekend lie-in

glares at children

morningafterglow · 15/01/2017 12:31

11-1 is perfect IMO. Long lie for parents if needed or time to get organised and they can have lunch. Sunday better so as less chance of clashing with activities. I am quite shocked by the UK parents who think that's too early (Spain I understand). My small kids are early risers and any later than 2-4 ends up with potential for overtiredness and tears.

edwinbear · 15/01/2017 12:38

I loathe 11-1 as it clashes with sports activities. I like late afternoon, anything after 3pm as they have tea, home for a bit of TV to calm down, then bed. Although the best I ever had was a 6pm-8pm swimming party. DH and I dropped off and went to the local pub for dinner, ds was knackered when we picked him up and fell asleep in the car home - that was for an 8yr old though.

Changednamesorry · 15/01/2017 12:44

We have Friday night dinner at 9pm after swimming and my son goes to bed at 11 on a Friday and saturday night because we eat later as it is the weekend and play games after dinner etc - or sometimes we all go out with friends for dinner or to someone's house.

He sleeps 10-11 hours from whenever I put him to bed so if he goes o bed at 8 he gets up at 7, if he goes to bed at 1 he gets up at 11.

He's ace! Has always been like that too since he was about 2 years old. Having another one soon and desperately hoping for the same pattern......fingers crossed!

MLGs · 15/01/2017 12:46

11-1, 12-2, 2-4 all good.

1 - 3 a bit tricky as it suggests lunch isn't provided but it can be a rush to eat first.

anything ending later than 4 is not ideal imo, especially on a Sunday.

Plockplock · 15/01/2017 15:52

My preference is for a later party, especially if I'm doing it myself at home because it's much less stressful. If I was doing a soft play or similar, I'd be more flexible and perhaps go for the morning.

Lazyafternoon · 15/01/2017 16:57

I have a 3year old so not much help, but will reply anyway as I'm here ;-)

We go and visit relatives and friends, and stay over a lot of weekends. We don't just stay at home about the house at weekends, almost always out and about and like to spend it together as a family.

Sunday - an afternoon is good. 3-5? Something to fill up the rest of the day. We could be home in time.

Saturday is annoying as if not away we'd probably go out for the day. But 10 -12, to get it over with if necessary. A Saturday afternoon it'd be very unlikely we'd go unless a very close friend or relative as would have to arrange our weekend around it. Ditto for a Sunday morning.

11-1 is a bit late for us as still have half a morning to kill. Then after the craziness of a sugar filled exciting softplay/ bouncy castle/ running about being super heros... party and the rest of the day is a right off with him going a bit bonkers then crashing out!

Original poster
Onthedowns · 15/01/2017 20:25

So hard I think we may go for 3-5 or 330 till 530!! As we can come home and put straight to bed!! Nearly ! 😁

OP posts:
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