Kids party no food

[Thebabewiththepowerof]

Quick one

Aibu to think the recent move towards not providing party food at kids parties is a bit odd?

Just picked up DS from yet another party where no food was provided (and no it’s not a cost thing, not in this case anyway) just a doughnut 🍩.

The kids don’t care I’m sure but I wasn’t planning on doing a “dinner” tonight so had to come home and produce something from nothing because he was hungry. If you aren’t providing food then at least tell us in advance so we know!

Anyway, am I?

ps for context he is 8, appreciate if he were 16 this would all be a bit weird 🤪

I suppose it does make sense, especially from a cost perspective. However when I hosted kids parties (way back yonder) the food part was respite from the chaos! Two hour party = 1.5hrs of small kids going bananas +0.5hr stuffing down the cocktail sausages and cake.

Dd1 loved a party buffet, would probably have been highly disappointed without one.

Ouch that sounds…dehydrating

Really wouldn't expect a party to provide dinner for my child. Hardly a big effort to do something quick when you got in was it ?

I properly laughed at the two doughnuts 🍩 🍩 . One in each hand

When we picked him up and he asked what was for dinner 🤪 which is fine obviously I made him dinner but it wasn’t known in advance

I think 2-4 at a house is more like a big play date. I’d be fine with some cake and a snack and not expect a bigger meal at that time. But, it’s always helpful to be upfront. I’d be more likely to pick a later slot for a party now so food makes sense but I wouldn’t begrudge someone with a smaller budget from doing something more low key out of meal times.

I’ve noticed a general trend of the food changing as they get older.

• pre-school- either party food or just some cake
• infants- sandwich party tea
• juniors - activity based and something like pizza, nuggets/chips older kids- better food either because doing a sleepover and something like a bbq or takeaway or kids wanting to do a meal out.

Parties felt so easy when we moved into the ‘book an activity and catering happens’ versus preparing food for 20-30 kids.

Your party at home sounds lovely and everyone catered for. Your mum did a great job of providing a nice party for you within her budget where everyone got fed. Good on her.

@Youcantellalotofthingsabouttheflowers

My point is (which you know) @CammoMammo could have been saving for this and this is what she could stretch to.

Hahahahhahah 😂

I've never come across this. We went to a 9 am party this weekend and even that had sandwiches and party food at about 10:30 am!

2-4 is after lunch - would expect kids to eat beforehand.

Food is really expensive at the moment. I recently spent £150 on food for a lunchtime party - even then there was a lot of beige, processed, buffet stuff, not ideal. I remember looking at the strawberries in the supermarket and thinking, bloody hell, can't afford strawberries for 20 kids!

Here's another way to look at it - lots of people where I live are not doing big kids parties due to cost and as an autistic child my DC is not getting many invites as she is always on the periphery of friendship groups... I'd rather she be invited to a large party with no food than keep missing out because parents keep numbers low to afford to feed attendees.

Or financial necessity. Should the child not have a party?

@Thebabewiththepowerof

They'd be on each middle finger. I'd be twirling them about my head.

🍩🖕🏻🖕🏻🍩

My point is there are many many other options to choose than to invite 40 kids to a party and not provide a snack.

Lucky she shared a celebratory birthday cake with her guests then.

I don’t need to do the maths because I’m not judging.

How strange, I've never been to a kids party without food and have always provided food at mine.
What kind of party was it? What time? Maybe if it was an afternoon party they thought too late for lunch but early for dinner so just do a drink and doughnut??!

@Youcantellalotofthingsabouttheflowers

My point is there are many many other options to choose than to invite 40 kids to a party and not provide a snack.

Why? What does it matter? So many people have said the same to you already. The kids had cake and juice.

In your eyes everything would be fine if she'd given them jam sandwiches and a packet of crisps each? Why?

There's no reason. You sound as bonkers as the posters on the park thread who were absolutely frothing that OP is daring to have a birthday party in her local park.

A house party with games etc

You have the front to call somebody else judgemental?

The problem is is that given that parties normally come with food, a parents may have deliberately given them a smaller/earlier lunch in anticipation.

I’m glad I came along at the right time for this in that case. Clearly it’s the day for party threads

My Dd has never ever been to a party where they didn’t get food, regardless of time. I find this really odd. Apart from anything else it gives them something to do for half an hour without having to entertain them constantly for 2 hours!

😂

I fed him. I think you are missing the point. I hadn’t planned ahead because I didn’t know and it’s the end of the week so I’d need to get some stuff out of the freezer for dinner (we don’t eat much cook from frozen stuff don’t shoot me) so I just cobbled together some things. Which is fine as far as he is concerned. I wasn’t asking whether I should have to feed my own kid, I was asking if this was just the done thing now?