not to have a clue how Reception birthday parties work?

[surreygirl1987]

My son starts Reception in September, and his birthday is end of September. We'd love to have a big birthday party for his whole class (30 kids) plus other friends and have found a really good trampoline park deal (food included) on a Saturday, but it's 4-5:45pm. Is that too late? It's almost twice the price any earlier in the day but I guess this is a less popular time so it's a good deal. What's a normal time for a 5 year old's birthday party? Also, do parents tend to stay? I'd be a bit worried about supervising all those kids on my own so would want backup!!

Parents always stay at this age, especially so early in the year when no one knows each other. The trampoline parties I have been to have needed a certain nr of adults to child ratio so you will probably need some parents to agree to bounce! The time sounds fine to me. Beware of people bringing siblings or turning up without rsvp-ing. Hope it goes well.

The time will be fine, I would have said. Not ideal, a few might turn it down, but it will be fine.

It would be normal for parents to stay, but good to be clear on the invite.

My youngest is starting reception in September too, and has already been to a couple of 16-1800 parties in the 2nd year of nursery, so I'm sure it'll be fine. :)

The time is fine. DC were rainbows and they are from age 5. The group met 5-6pm. That’s every week. Just to give you an example for comparison.

Time isn’t a problem. We had whole class parties and had 4 adults for 28 reception age children. Parents don’t normally stay at reception age, but you may get a couple who will want/offer to help. Does your DS know the children already from nursery as this obviously helps. If you want help you could put it on invite that if any parents can stay and help, you would be grateful, I’m sure you would get some parents that will help out.

Agree about parents staying. If it’s not a closed session, you should mention siblings can pay themselves and enter?

I think the parents will stay because it’s a September party. The kids are barely primary age. They will change slowly through reception year.

Brilliant thanks! No, he knows 3 of them from nursery but all others will be new - was hoping to use his party to meet the kids/parents actually, which is why I'm keen to invite the whole class! Will ask parents to stay if possible on invitation. Relieved to hear the time isn't bonkers!!

I think the time is fine and probably all the parents will stay.

It seems to be somewhat regional whether parents stay or go from mid reception or y1/2 but certainly early reception parents will want to stay. Party somewhat on the late side but finishing before 6 is fine. Ime you don't get a class list but I got names from Google classroom and the teacher put invites in bags.

Reception - I think most parents stayed with my DCs. I only remember one (CF) who didn't stay at DD2's when she was in reception.

As for the time, we did this time once as it was the only time available then realised it works well - typical late morning / early pm parties can be tricky with logistics of other activities (sport etc) plus if you are doing food, it's a natural time to eat.

Totally fine. It's a real ice breaker to have a September birthday. Most of our reception parents stayed.

Is there an adult to child ratio if lots of the kids are 4

Brilliant, thanks! Will check ratios but will ask parents to stay if possible. Really reassuring about the timings. Thank you!

Ignore the ones saying parents of 4 year olds don't stay, I've never seen anything like this at parties at venues. Almost everyone (probably everyone) will stay at this age abs up to much older age.
Nobody is a moron enough to assume you can run a party and look after 30 four year olds, ensuring they don't wonder off, take them to the toilet, ensure their safety, etc. And host at the same time, even if the venue does most of it.

Time absolutely fine and parents will stay.

I'd be really surprised if parents don't stay. We're nearly at the end of year one and still I'd say around 75% of parents stay or at the very least ask another parent (not the party hosts) to keep an eye on their child and help them if they need the toilet etc.
Time seems fine too. We've had some that finish at 7.30 which is on the late side but we've still done them as long as not on a school night.

DD started reception last September. That time would have been quite late for her, especially earlier in the academic year as she was younger. Parties have been 10-12, 12-2 or 3-5, no later than 5pm finish. But we'd have adjusted her routine to fit it, because parties are important especially in reception year.

Almost all parties have been whole class parties and parents staying, except one where the venue didn't allow that many parents so we had to drop off (I don't think it was a great choice for 5 up olds tbh but it was later in the year so parents knew the mum by then). Generally hall hire parties have been more successful than venues with a food package, as it's a bit more free flow, plus its easier to slot in younger siblings as you don't have to be so strict with numbers. There will be some parents in a situation where they have younger siblings to care for and no one else to look after them, so be mindful of that.

Time is fine and I agree most parents will stay. Maybe the ones who know each other already from nursery etc will tag team and watch two or three kids.

Is there a littlies section of the trampoline park they will all be kept in? I would be nervous about small ones running around in the main section of a trampoline park, they could be bulldozed by older kids or just get a bit lost. However DD went to a trampoline party at this age and they all stayed in the under 5s section (even though a few were technically just 5) which was safe and worked very well.

In my experience almost all parents stayed at reception and y1 parties. Y2 probably 75% stay and even Y5 at least 25% stay.

The time sounds fine to me. We did a 4-6 trampoline party in reception and everyone came.