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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To book a kid's party on a school night?

43 replies

jswn · 06/09/2023 18:39

DS (5th) birthday falls on a weekday this year.

I plan to hire a soft play centre for two hours, it also has an animal experience for 20 mins prior to going into the play area.

I'd love to have it on his actual birthday, they only allow exclusive hire for 5-7pm whether it's a weekend or not.

Should I just do it on the Saturday or is it ok to do it on a weekday?

OP posts:
turtle8919 · 06/09/2023 18:51

Be prepared that a lot of children might not be able to make a week day. I for one couldn't as I would still be working at that time (son goes to wraparound) how old are the children? Maybe a Friday night? I'm not sure how I would feel about a Wednesday for example and having a tired son as he's too wound up for his usual bed time of half 7 x

turtle8919 · 06/09/2023 18:52

Oh sorry, you said they are 5 x

TakeMe2Insanity · 06/09/2023 18:52

Don’t do it, they’ll be overtired and many won’t make it due to childcare during the week.

keepingsanity · 06/09/2023 18:53

Yes depending on the day mine would be in wraparound so couldn't make it. A Friday is better

DinnaeFashYersel · 06/09/2023 18:55

The issues with this are:

  • working parents may struggle to make that time slot
  • clashes with extra curricular activities
  • 7pm is quite late for 5 year olds on a school night
Honestly I would stick with the weekend
moleeye · 06/09/2023 18:56

Agree with pp, I work F/T both kids in wraparound.

My 4 YO would be vile the next day with a 7pm finish so even if I could make it work I would decline the invite

LlynTegid · 06/09/2023 18:59

The weekend after the birthday.

Noicant · 06/09/2023 19:00

For us it would clash with extra-curriculars (would be flexible on that) but 7pm DD is usually in the bath and it would be awful the next day.

YouHoooo · 06/09/2023 19:01

Sorry, too late for my little one. She’d be an emotional mess if the excitement of cake and candles happened at (basically) bedtime.

Plus all the obvious issues with school nights.

gogomoto · 06/09/2023 19:03

We always did parties on weekdays but they would be at 4pm straight after school - those with working parents would come straight after school. They were in houses not venues

neverbeenskiing · 06/09/2023 19:14

My 5 year old wouldn't be going as he'd be an overtired mess the next day. Also lots of working parents wouldn't be able to make that work.

scrivette · 06/09/2023 19:29

Spends on the weekday, Thursday or Friday would be fine for a late night for my 5 year old (although they wouldn't be able to attend as they are in After School Club).

TheChosenTwo · 06/09/2023 19:31

Probably best to avoid for all the reasons given above but mine were absolutely never ever tired out by school! They weren’t in bed at 7pm - I felt robbed, people told me by 6pm they’d fall asleep in their dinner. Not my brood of energetic animals 😂 they would have been fine with this and I also wouldn’t have been at work either however this might be awkward for too many to attend.

geminiflanagan · 06/09/2023 19:33

I would have declined an invite tbh. At that age, she was knackered by 6 and asleep by 7, so the prospect of over excited, over sugared and over tired with school the following day would not fill me with joy!!

Tailfeather · 06/09/2023 19:41

Mine's never tired too. Plus if it's an invite-the-whole class type thing but actually only having half turn up would be a good thing I'd go for it! I'd check with any patents of best friends first to see if they could make it.

Leeds2 · 06/09/2023 19:53

I think a lot of 4 year olds can struggle with adjusting to Reception, and full school days, so I would choose the weekend day.

WeWereInParis · 06/09/2023 19:55

I'd love to have it on his actual birthday

Why though?

We wouldn't go to this, I have work and a younger child to pick up.

MissPettigrewIsWFH · 06/09/2023 19:56

I'd decline. My nearly 5 year old is in bed for 1830 and would be a total shit at an after school party that finished at 7. Factor in travel times and that might mean a 2000 bedtime with school the next day. No chance.

billy1966 · 06/09/2023 19:56

Many parents will decline particularly if they have other children and work to juggle.

Morning parties were always hugely appreciated at the weekend 11am onwards. Maybe even 10am atva push.

Womblegreen · 06/09/2023 19:57

I understand your reasons but it’s too late in the week for a 5 year old’s party, unless it’s a Friday - but even then it would have been a no from me when mine were that age.

Randomness12 · 06/09/2023 19:58

Agree with the majority, this is a bad idea id decline on the basis they'll be too tired/excited to go to bed and will make the next day awful. They are too young for late nights especially with starting back at school.

I'd also have rouble getting there from work. Just do the Friday or Saturday. It won't matter, keep the day itself as the family celebration.

Itslosenotloose · 06/09/2023 19:58

I wouldn’t take my child.

LeafHunter · 06/09/2023 19:59

When I was a nanny the youngest turned 5 on a Thursday. We and her parents told her the Saturday was her birthday and celebrated then. Whereas her sister would have coped with birtjday and party on different days some kids can’t so we just lied. She’s 20 now and knows this

Crunchymum · 06/09/2023 20:02

Early week or late week?

I'd have to refuse as I work but I'm another one who seems to have given birth to Duracell bunnies (none of them have ever gone to bed at 7pm on a school night!!)

Choccyoclocky · 06/09/2023 20:04

My son's 5th birthday was a Thursday 5-7 soft play. His birthday is in February and every child came!