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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

NewShoes · 06/09/2023 20:05

Definitely would be too late for my 4 year old! Stick to the weekend.

Stompythedinosaur · 06/09/2023 20:20

It's a bad plan. The dc will be tired, grumpy and poorly behaved. A weekend is a much better plan.

wutheringkites · 06/09/2023 20:25

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.

You can do whatever you want but accept that quite a few people will decline and there will likely be no shows too.

Even on a weekend, I probably wouldn't take my son to a party from 5-7pm.

IWasFunBeforeMum · 06/09/2023 20:36

I wouldn't go.

Glitterbaby17 · 06/09/2023 20:48

Remember if you are in England they are turning 5 most of the others will still be 4, and some only just 4. I’d consider it on a Friday if we didn’t have anything the next day but mightwell decline as would mean but home until 7.30. The couple of after school parties we’ve had have been cake in the park right after school - might that work if it’s soon while the weather is good?

Hufflemuff · 06/09/2023 21:17

Bit shocked at the amount of parents saying their kids wouldn't go at all just because they will be emotional and tired??? I'm sure their kids would really want to go and would feel sad about missing out - just because mum doesn't want a bit of weekday hassle? It's not as if the party is finishing at 9pm, its 7pm SEVEN!!

And yes my son was in bed by 6.30/7pm on school nights when he was 5!

ConstanceL · 06/09/2023 21:19

I honestly don't think many people would go due to a mixture of after school activities/people not wanting their kids to come home having eaten birthday cake close to 7pm/being knackered after work and not wanting to make small talk with other class parents. Why not just go to your DC's favourite restaurant on the actual birthday and have the party at the weekend like most people do - it's a tried and tested method!

mynameiscalypso · 06/09/2023 21:20

I'd be okay if it was a Friday but DS wouldn't be able to do any other day of the week due to childcare/work. I also wouldn't really want to spend my Friday evening in a soft play venue though...

wutheringkites · 06/09/2023 21:21

Hufflemuff · 06/09/2023 21:17

And yes my son was in bed by 6.30/7pm on school nights when he was 5!

Says a lot about you that you assume the mums have to sort out parties and haven't considered that maybe some have jobs and can't all finish at 4/4.30pm to get their kid to a midweek party.

Colourfulponderings · 06/09/2023 21:22

I’d decline that for my almost 6 year old, even at a weekend. It would be far too late for her, she’d be tired and vile at a party that late.

HappiDaze · 06/09/2023 21:23

No one but you OP not even your DS will care if the party is on his actual birthday

Weekday school night parties are a real PITA pain in the arse

Oysterbabe · 06/09/2023 21:27

Mine are in wraparound until 5:30 because of work.

Zanatdy · 06/09/2023 21:28

I did one party on a school night, 5-7pm too I think it was and lots came. So I guess you could, but some in childcare etc might not make it

SoftSheen · 06/09/2023 21:30

Not a good plan for all the reasons already mentioned.

In addition, consider that many of the invited children may have siblings. Even if a parent is available to take their child to a party at that time, there may not be a second parent who is also able to finish work early to take care of any brothers and sisters (particularly since 5-7pm is usually the dinner/bath/bed time slot for young children).

Gremlins101 · 06/09/2023 21:35

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.

I'm the same. I love an evening playdate. But I work part time so finished nice and early, trickier for others as mentioned.

BoohooWoohoo · 06/09/2023 21:44

I would have declined too.

Once my kids were at school, they were happy to have a party with family and a party with friends on different days as it meant 2 special days.

Curlyhairedbrummie · 06/09/2023 21:45

A lot of the whole class parties we've been to at that age have been after school at that time and they've always been very well attended. Some can't make it due to clubs and some do come a little later when they've been picked up from child care. But all the kids seem to have a great time. I say go for it!

GRex · 06/09/2023 21:50

Awful timing. I'd let him go on a Friday, but arriving a bit late after the after school club, but he'd be tired and possibly leave early. I wouldn't any other day, it's much too late.

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