Child’s birthday party - food for parents too?!

[Dowhyy]

Having my dds first proper birthday party and have confirmed 15 children. Doing it at home, so will have approx 40 people here 😬

for the kids I planned to do a boxed lunch each as it’s easy to keep track of. But what about the parents?!

do I provide sandwiches/snacks etc, is that the norm?

my plan is to bake a big batch of scones, have jam and clotted cream plus fresh strawberries for them. A table of iced tea/coffee etc and soft drinks. Do I provide alcohol? What else could I have on offer?! Crisps??

im so panicked! Have never had to cater for many people and really want to give my lovely dd a wonderful day.

Boxing up lunches sounds unnecessarily complex. Just do a load of sandwiches, cocktail sausages, chips, fruit and biscuits. Kids eat first, grown-ups get all the pickings, of which there will be loads.

Cream tea sounds lovely but you really don't need to faff about specifically catering for the adults.

That sounds lovely - I would cater for the parents. I usually make a few trays of sandwiches in advance and cover them - they are always eaten and people can help themselves. I do some chips and dips usually. You will have tea and cake for the adults too so will have plenty. Hope you have a lovely day celebrating.

How old is your dd? Will all of the parents stay? In my experience you don't need to cater for the parents beyond tea and coffee, unless they're friends and therefore guests too.

How old is your DD, and are you expecting all parents to stay? Do most of the parents live locally?

In my daughter's cohort snax and Prosecco and beer are the usual for parents. Plus soft drinks for the drivers.

I recently held a party with similar numbers for my daughter's birthday. Just did a buffet with options for the kids and adults. Prosecco, beers and soft drinks on the side for adults to help themselves. Fruit shoots and bottled water for the kids to avoid spillages 😀

Prosecco, beer and soft drinks for the adults with some crisps to nibble on. IME when more adult food is offer no one eats it but drinks are always taken up. London thought so it’s rare someone’s driving!

Should have said dd will be four! So defo parents hanging around. Also we have family friends coming w who we would normally cater for, so it feels a bit odd to cater for them and then not the parents if that makes sense? But really don’t want a ton of wasted food! Party is also from 1400-1600 so after lunch before dinner.

Wishing I’d planned it for the morning now! Croissants and pastries are much easier to cater with 😁

Don’t cater for the parents. I don’t think it’s expected (I’ve never taken my kids to a party and expected to be fed).

Normal deal here is that the kids get the run of the buffet table and then the adults can pick at what’s left. Might not work with box meals though!

For 2-4 don’t bother with sandwiches, they’ll all get left anyway. Best 2-4 party we’ve been to served ice cream half way through, one scoop in a bowl and then sprinkles and syrups to add yourself!

I'd not think there would be alcohol at a kids party! And I always turn up with something too if it's being hosted at someone's house.

Parties I've been to lately have done;
• loads of pizzas for everyone
• proper sausage rolls galore
• a big pot of pesto pasta with choice of extras

We are hosting next week and shall be doing the lunchboxes like you. For the adults I intend to ensure they're included with sausage rolls (really went down well at my sister's), snacks and desserts

I missed it's 2 - 4! Definitely don't be worrying about providing food beyond some snacks !

Would add, most of the parties have been at soft play etc so definitely no booze. But I would find it a little weird to be offered booze at a 4yo’s birthday party (unless it was a smaller party with parents I knew well).

I wouldn’t be expecting food as an adult supervising if it’s just for 2 hours. Maybe a few large bowls of crisps to pick at.

Definitely provide snacks for parents - and bucksfizz. Makes it a wonderul experience and lasting relationships between both children and parents.

Best game ever is rounders. Everyone can play. Hurts for days after!

Gosh OP you are very brave - I take my hat off to you with the home party thing with that many. I guess it helps that it's summer. I can only imagine for us - Winter birthday + small garden + ornaments + terrorised cat 😂

If the party is 2-4pm I probably wouldn't bother with lunch boxes for the kids personally. A lot of them will have already had their lunch but not be ready for dinner.
I think in that situation a buffet is the best choice, the kids can take as much or little as they want depending how hungry they are and the parents can pick at what's left, don't make things too stressful. Things like sandwiches, sausage rolls, cakes, crisps and dips etc.

For drinks, I personally wouldn't expect alcohol at a kids party although if you wanted to you could have beer/wine in. I'd just put out fruit shoots and water for the kids then a mix of cans of juice and water for the adults personally

I would definitely have something for the adults and your idea is lovely.

As long as parents are offered a drink and some crisps, they'll be fine! You'll find they will probably finish up the kids party food as well!

I wouldn't have put on sandwiches for the adults, but perhaps some cupcakes. Definitely no alcohol.

I would just get some crisps or something. Easy.

By drink, I mean tea, coffee, soft drinks. I think alcohol is a bit odd at a child's party, especially if they have to drive their children home!
As it's 2-4, agree that you don't need sandwiches. A snack, maybe cakes/biscuits and fruit kebabs? TBH, children don't always eat a lot at a party anyway, and pick the sweet stuff over crisps and sarnies.

I have never ever been to a kids party and expected to be fed and nor would I want to be!!! It’s all about the kids for a couple of hours, not the adults!

I'd be very happy with a cup of tea and a biscuit