Party etiquette

[Valacirca77]

I am a foreigner and I have only been to a few kids' parties so far, I could really use some advice on Scottish etiquette.

I have many questions so I would greatly appreciate even if you feel to give a feedback on just one _

For a 4y old party from 1-3pm (face paint and bouncy castle as entertainment). Separate room to eat food.

Q1 At what time should I serve snacks/cake?
2pm to make sure all guests are in? 1.30 cause kids would be hungry?
Would you give your kids lunch before heading to a 1 o'clock party?
2.30 to eat and finish the party after the cake?

Q2 Kids food is included in the hall but for adults I would need to make it, would be rude if I just provide soft drinks for adults?
Should I pay for their coffees/teas from the venue's cafeteria?

Q3 Where I lived we used to make a large cake that adults and kids could eat after the savoury buffet but here some parties gave the cake with the party bag. It was a mess to take away a slice of cake in the car....is there a good reason to not just eat it during the party?

Q4 Never seen party bags where I was before, just a gift for the birthday kid. Here at one party we got a lot of cheap toys (lost in 1 day), at another we got a posh felt basket with an expensive book and choc. How much is the average spending on these bags?
I was thinking to invite her whole pre-school class but cost is adding up :/

Thank you for reading! Cheers

Hiya my daughters have parties every year and i always put there cake in a party bag and i tend to have food open from finish to the end. Kids don't want to be sat around eating when there's to much fun going on around them. Also my eldest D invited her whole class..... Never again i had kids running of in different directions because they've had an argument with friends. One child even ran out of the building! My daughter enjoyed it but did regret inviting everyone. I personally wouldn't pay for adults teas/coffees would just leave normal drinks out and sandwiches ect. X

1-3pm is an awkward time for pre schoolers.. I would feed before attending so if you are serving food I would go for 2.15 time to eat do cake candles and then run off for a final play while you cut the cake. I would serve it both there and to take away. I would definitely provide tea and coffee for adults and give them cake.

Party bags can become a bit of a contentious issue as some parents can go over the top. For large all party classes I have preferred to do something else like a water bottle or ball or something from puns land that they can take as a lucky dip. Smaller parties I would do a proper bag and probably spend max £4 a child

Thanks for your replies! I'll brave the whole class for this year

Yes, I give my son a light lunch before a 1pm party and expect food to be served around 2pm or 2:15pm.

As for the cake, if you prefer to serve it at the party that’s fine. I see this done a lot (in fact, I’ve done it at two parties previously). But I would recommend putting something nice and sweet into the party bag for afterwards in that case. (Tip: Tunnocks caramel wafers look cool to preschoolers and can be bought pretty cheaply.) I find thst the value of party bags varies a lot, but if there are a lot of kids attending, no one expects you to spend a lot. Book collections can be bought very cheaply at The Book People or The Works if you’re thinking about that. At my son’s upcoming party the party bags will contain books priced at £4.99, but I’ve only spent £10 for 10 of them!

Tea/coffee-wise, I’d just offer the soft drinks to parents and direct them to the cafe if they want to buy their own cup of tea.

Thanks! I used the book people before but had not thought of it in this context, sounds nice instead of the pound shop knick-knacks. Tunnock bars FTW! I like them too so I should not buy them in advance or they won't make it to the bags LoL