To think you cater for kids at a kids party?

[FairfaxAikman]

Was at a party for one of DS's nursery friends.
Parents are well off so I don't think it was a money issue.
Party in a leisure centre hall with a bouncy castle and proper paid entertainment for the kids - but no food! (Unless you count a single packet of crisps).
DS had only had a very light lunch as he'd fallen asleep for an hour before we went and I was expecting him to fill up on party food anyway.
All the kids were bombing about and clearly a lot of other parents had thought there would be food as their kids were obviously hungry.
No place near that we could have snuck out for a supermarket sandwich for them.
AIBU to think you feed the kids at a birthday party?

parents obviously didnt think it was necessary/forgot!

I once threw a party without food, due to the time (deliberately booked) and nature/location of the party, but I did warn attendees that this would be the case.

what are you going to do? complain [shock

bit of a non thread tbh

Yeah at that time - lunchtime - unless I was told I’d expect food so wouldn’t feed my child in advance. Did they tell the party child’s mum they were hungry? If so, lesson learned!

If a party started at 1 I would have had lunch first otherwise it's too long since breakfast and too near tea to have a meal at around 2.30.

Not so odd now you've said the time imo

Bit of a non thread Eleanor? For you maybe, but clearly not to OP or others posting. If it doesn’t interest you don’t bloody read or post!! What a silly comment.

You can’t have a kids party without food. Dc usually have an entertainer for 2 hours and then food and cake straight after.

but there is no resolution, it is done!

It doesn’t matter what time the party is; party food isn’t intended to replace the meal they’d have been having anyway - it’s party food!
I’ve never heard of this, ever. Tight sods.

She's just asking whether it is normal, not asking for a resolution!!

Were there party bags?

Very weird. I've been to countless children's parties in almost a decade of parenting small children, and regardless of start time there has always been food. Whether the party started at 10am, 2pm, 6pm - sometimes we'd have to have a big snack/light lunch beforehand but there's always been loads of food.

@coconuttelegraph DS would have had a more substantial lunch normally but we had to leave home at 12.30 to get there and he'd been asleep since 11.
He'd had a massive snack just before he fell asleep so I just kinda thought "no big deal, he'll probably fill up there". He certainly hadn't been starved but was a little hungry. And he got raisins from my bag while there and a proper sandwich as soon as we could get to a supermarket after the party.
Not ideal I know, which is why I'm asking if IABU in expecting that there should have been food at the party.

At that age I would always provide food - it provides a break where they can stop and have a breather. I have been to and held parties where I haven’t provided food but this was made clear on the invite and it wasn’t held at a mealtime. It was also for older children who really aren’t that bothered about food so long as they aren’t hungry.

The convention is that food is provided so that if you aren’t providing any you should make it clear on the invite.

You always need to provide food even if it's an odd time to eat. Small active and excited children will want food, and it gives them a chance to calm down before they go home. They were being right.

I meant tight not right.

Leisure Centre parties near us won't let you provide your own food. It is either no food or you pay X amount per head and have it catered.

I've worked as a kids party entertainer for all sorts of parties at all sorts of times of day... Never ever been to one with no food, that's bizarre!

YANBU. You provide food even at a mid-afternoon party.

My dc are 5 and 7 so I've been to dozens of parties at different times of day.

There is ALWAYS food. Sandwiches crisps and so on. I've never been to one that didn't provide a meal. There should have been food!

Can afford to hire a room and entertainment and have no food ?.
Thats the most stupid idea ever. Thats what kids look forward to,they can eat what they don`t have on a daily basis.
TIGHT FISTED GITS

DD1, 11 has just looked at me like at the notion of no food at a party. She has about 8 years of party experience under her belt and has never not been fed! I'm amazed that some people wouldn't provide party food.

Always food and cake

Around us the leisure centre parties with the bouncy castle also include a room upstairs, where you cater for yourself. It's all included in the party price, it's up to the parents how much food - never not had any, and the swimming parties (where there's no room just a fun swim session), party giving parent has always provided snack bags and cake for after the swim.

No food at all is a bit...mean. It's not really a party!

I've often found that you get to the end of the party and hardly any of the food's been touched, but that's no reason not to supply it. There's always one or two who'll be hungry.