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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to hold a 7th bday party at 6-8pm on a Friday?

92 replies

floridadreaming · 04/08/2017 14:18

As above really.

6-8pm on a Friday night in the autumn. Private hire of a swimming pool with a flume and an inflatable assault course for 1hr, get changed etc, followed by hot food, drink and cake. Children will be mostly 6, a few 7 yr olds.

Would you bring your child or would it be a logistical nightmare at that time / too late for that age group?

OP posts:
Beebee7 · 04/08/2017 14:38

It's a bit late for 7 year olds, but not too bad for a Friday to be fair.

I am pretty sure mine went to a few parties that started at 5 or 6pm on a Thursday or Friday.

caffeinestream · 04/08/2017 14:38

If parents don't have to get in, that's okay - you need to make that clear on the invites, though!

My only hesitation would be - are you going to have enough time to change a bunch of 6/7 year olds, give them time to swim, get them all showered, dried and changed, and feed them/cut the cake within two hours?

caffeinestream · 04/08/2017 14:39

X-post.

Shemozzle · 04/08/2017 14:40

The timing would have been fine for mine st that age but she couldn't swim.

Newtssuitcase · 04/08/2017 14:41

It would have been too late for both of mine at that age. Plus they'd need to eat much earlier than that.

Original poster
floridadreaming · 04/08/2017 14:42

Sounds like a bit of a non starter *sigh....

Really struggling to find something appropriate that doesn't cost a fortune....

OP posts:
Chickoletta · 04/08/2017 14:47

I've done a swimming pool party with an inflatable for my son and it was great fun. The timing would be tricky for us due to younger sibling's bedtime. I'm usually a stickler for 7.00 bedtime, but would let my son come to this if I could work out the logistics and it was a Friday night.

GreenerGrass1 · 04/08/2017 14:47

My DS had a swim party for his 6th bday back in April. It was a huge turnout. His was 4-6 on a Sunday evening.

Out of everyone we invited only 2 declined.

We had a few non swimmers and their parents just went in with them, I think the ratio was one adult per 3 DC.

Swim parties are really popular now and I'm pretty sure most 7yr olds can swim.

Chickoletta · 04/08/2017 14:51

It's DS's 7th birthday tomorrow and he's having his party at a Clip n Climb centre. They're doing an hour of climbing then food then an hour in the (quite grown up) soft play. Anything like this near you? It's costing £17.50 per head so he's just chosen 5 friends and it's costing far less than I've spent on village hall type parties in the past and much less hassle as they're sorting all the food, party bags etc.

Noofly · 04/08/2017 14:52

Our neighbours had a pool party with inflatables for their son (similar ages for son and other children) and it was very well attended. My DS(15) went along to help supervise in the water as he is a pool aid at the local swim school and they had a few other older teens helping out too so no parents had to go in the water unless they wanted to.

I would have been happy bringing my DC to a pool party at that age but if you know any older teens possibly see if any would be willing to come along to help in the pool?

Neutrogena · 04/08/2017 14:54

Go for it - all the squares (too late, not safe, etc) wouldn't come but they're no fun anyway.

TeenAndTween · 04/08/2017 14:58

I'm pretty sure most 7yr olds can swim

I think this is very location dependent.
I recently accompanied y3s to swimming lessons (mainly 8yos, some still 7), 2/3rds of them could not swim. (Despite there being a pool within walking distance of the school).

However the OP reckons that most will be able to swim as they live near the sea, so maybe it would be OK.
OP just be very clear on invitations how supervision is managed, whether you need parents to supervise non swimmers etc etc.

User843022 · 04/08/2017 15:03

I don't know an parent that didn't shudder a bit at swimming parties for under 10's. Older dc yes, drop them at the pool then collect, but no one wants to sit sweating by a pool or worse have to get in. That's without an 8pm finish for 6 years olds.

I'm not square or boring but honestly a bouncy castle in the afternoon at the local leisure centre is what most people tend to do for 6 year olds.

CryingShame · 04/08/2017 15:06

It's the adult / child ratio that would put me off this. You need 1 adult for every 2 children under 8 at our pool, plus extra for non-swimmers over 8. We gave up for DS' 8th birthday as there were too many adults needed.

If it was a school night we wouldn't do a party with an 8pm finish but don't see a problem per se at weekends.

TheDizzyRascal · 04/08/2017 15:07

Some very surprising responses on here! It sounds great fun! The kids will LOVE it! If the logistics are tricky for some people they'll have to decline, same as any other party! And where are all these 6 and 7 year olds that would "struggle to wash and dry themselves" - really? How do they cope after a bath, or PE at school? Lighten up folks and let them enjoy themselves, it's the weekend!

Newtothis2017 · 04/08/2017 15:12

I would decline. Too much effort. Too late after a long week and I have younger dc

MrsPorth · 04/08/2017 15:12

It sounds like fun and it's not too late for a weekend night, but given that they're under 8, the venue may insist on more adults than you can muster.

My slight concern also, is that children whose parents were unable to afford swimming lessons will be forced to decline.

Justdontknow4321 · 04/08/2017 15:14

timing would be ok for me personally as its a friday, but i do think a party finishing at 8pm is fairly late for 6 & 7 year olds.

but my dd cant swim properly & i would not be getting in the pool so it would be a no. Iv already turnt down one pool party in the past because of this. My DD is 6.

Ohyesiam · 04/08/2017 15:15

Would have been perfect for my two.

TalkinBoutNuthin · 04/08/2017 15:16

Do they allow the inflatables for that age group? The pools near us only allow them for 8+ year olds, and the kids are asked to prove they can swim to be allowed to use them. Really strict here.

Booboobooboo84 · 04/08/2017 15:18

I would go with the swim but nothing afterwards, so a goody bag to take home. It may be too late for some kids to eat and they may be better off having an early tea before their swim and then shower and off to bed

HiJenny35 · 04/08/2017 15:20

So surprised people are saying its too late. Certainly would be fine for my 4 year old and all of her friends as we've had class nursery disco that was a Friday night and it was fine. I also have a baby and it wouldn't be any issue with having a younger one. Surely people relax routines when it's a party.

GreenerGrass1 · 04/08/2017 15:27

'Surely people relax routines when it's a party'. You would be surprised. I have a few hitler parent friends and under NO circumstances do they change their bedtime routine.

It would be fine for my 6yr old as he doesn't go to bed until 9pm on a weekend.

Buxtonstill · 04/08/2017 15:56

What's the problem with having a movie night at home? Making fresh popcorn and hotdogs and giving them some sweetie cones. Re your other parties 'we're all pretty bored of them' .
Perhaps now us the time to explain to young kids that there are some children living in the same town/street to whom a movie night at home would be an absolute fantastic treat but there is not a lot of spare money so it is impossible. Not implying you haven't discussed stuff like this, but if kids are becoming 'bored' of treats then maybe they get too many?

Original poster
floridadreaming · 04/08/2017 16:02

Buxton - the getting bored comment was me rather than the kids. I just fancied organising something different for a change that's all.

No chance of having anything in our flat. You can't fit more than the 4 of us in our living room and we have no garden. That plus a late autumn/early winter birthday makes it difficult to organise parties as they can't be outside anywhere really and we can't have them inside at ours, so we need to book somewhere really.

OP posts:
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