will parents expect to stay at a 4y old's party in my house?

[RedWineSmile]

We don't have that big a house, and the invitations have pretty much all been accepted (I had factored in a fair few no's but that has not materialised)... It now looks like 10 4y olds plus my own 2. I could actually vomit thinking about it.

I really hope that parents just expect to drop their kids off and go away for 2h. That's what I thought was done, but the last party we were at in someone's home, quite a few parents stayed. And they had been catered for... I don't know if I will actually have room for potentially 10+ adults too. And I don't think I could get my head around catering for them as well. I'll be too busy leading on Head-Shoulders-Knees and Toes to be opening bottles of San Miguel and passing round cheese straws.

Thoughts?!

My husband thinks I'm mental that I'm so worried about it, but it is the first party we have had for our DS1 that has not just been a big family buffet at home with cousins to play the party games.

I have gone from being someone fairly hospitable who enjoys having folk round the house to nervous wreck. arghghghg!!!!

I've had both happen @ age 5. One time the whole class (only 12) got dropped off, only one parent stayed. I kind of expected them to stay since they didn't know me and I was new to (small) town......it was mayhem TBH.
When the parents stayed I had a cooler in the back garden with drinks. Set up an area in the kitchen for hot drinks. When they arrived I gave them a very clear "help yourself," I'll be entertaining the kids. Layed out a couple of bowls of crisps/tortilla chips and dips.
As they got older the parents actually stayed more often to hang out and have a beer and a chat. Maybe I shouldn't have supplied so much booze😂 It just encouraged them.

I had 12 5 year olds round for my DS birthday last week. All parents stayed. I pointed at the kettle and opened a couple of bottles of v cheap bucks fizz and it was great! The parents stood around chatting and seemed to naturally take it in turns to join in and play/help. The kids were happy having their mums and dads nearby and the grown ups helped making sure there wasn't a load of leftover food but I didn't specifically cater for them....they ate the sarnies and crisps the kids were troughing after the children had had their fill.

Depends on the parents and your relationship with them I guess

i'm currently planning a 3 year olds party, most kids 3/4 some 2 but i'm expecting parents to stay, i'd be pretty peeved if they didn't as inwouldnt leave my 3 y/o at a party

i've got catering to do an 'adults' buffet for them but that's my choice too, we've hired a hall and all that jazz

i wouldn't expect that, i'd be happy with a brew 😁

I've done a part at home before, albeit for eight six year olds. Most of the mums dropped and went but I provided cake and coffee for those that stayed... the kids had party food that I'd prepped beforehand. It was fine, I'd consider doing it again.

Get in an extra dozen fairy cakes, and offer them with a cuppa....you don't need to do any more!

We've managed it in a fairly small
house. Most parents stayed at that was at age 5. It will be fine. You only need to make cups of tea, have a few packs of biscuits. Make sure there's space around the kitchen table and on the sofas. We had some bean bags as well. It was mad but we managed it. It was what my daughter wanted.

I had a party for my 4yr old, virtually all the parents left after about half an hour, which was a relief as we seriously over invited! I can't see why not.

Ok so I've been to a ton of parties for 4/5 year olds over the past few years and parents always stay!

Most I went to simply offered coffee/tea and biscuits for the parents!

Even then we were directed to the kettle and told to help ourselves!

Acceptable party food for adults is leftover pizza crust, any party rings they can steal and all the fruit and veg you have lovingly prepared but the children will not touch. Coffee is a bonus.

Well this had changed since mine were little! (Now 20, 21 & 23). I was trying to remember so had to look at photos from parties, and I had about 8 children from playgroup at my house with only my husband for help and then once they were at school it was similar or we were at a sports centre type party - still no parents except my best friend

Just remember... 2 hours will literally fly by!

Two hours dragged by at DD's party!

We always stayed until they were 5 - 6 (depends on how well the friend/parents knew DC).
At DD's 5th party 80% of the parents stayed, was quite surprised to see some parents leaving their kids alone, esp kids with SN, DH had to wipe more than one poop bum ... All good though, parents who stayed behind all helped out. We were in a local community hall and did cold beer/wine, tea/coffe + cheese & crackers & biscuits for parents.

I have a good friend who invited just the children and very nicely asked us to drop DD off, because they didn't have space for the adults. Quite a small party, I trust that friend very much and she had a couple of adult helpers so that was no problem.

But if it's random kids from nursery and you don't know the parents well, I don't think you could ask that.

Inviting fewer would be the obvious answer but easier said than done, I know.

P.S: Have previously done parties at home, never again ... (DCs both have winter b'days)

We usually have house parties - had 17 guests (age 5-8) last time, and about half a dozen parents lingered in the kitchen although to be fair no one was a stranger and most of the children had been here before. Just make the kettle and a box of biscuits available or delegate - my MIL loves to look aftergrill for gossip the adults. They really won't expect anything else, although it's always good to offer party food after the dcs have finished.

We catered with a mini chocolate fountain - the dcs loved it but the clean up was something else!

At a pre- school turning 4 party me and one other mum were the only ones to stay out of 15 kids. I felt like a right numpty but dd would my let me leave. She's now in reception and she has a first 5th party this weekend - I will see what the other parents do and follow suit.

Just get a bigger birthday cake.

I stay at every party although I would love to just drops dc off and have 2 hours doing something else. Thing is I need to be there to step in if dc does something that needs mums attention.

50/50 at age 4 I reckon. Though these things seem to vary by area. My SIL said that no one ever left their DC at a party until at least Year 2 where she was!

At 4 I'd have happily left my ds but if I did stay wouldn't expect to be catered for

Do you have two reception rooms? I would set one up for the kids stuff then I would set one up (or clear a kitchen side) with tea & coffee stuff and a big box of celebrations, quality street or chocolate biscuits. Parents will be happy with that.
As a parent attending it is lovely to be offered a drink and a nibble but more than a tea and biscuit is overkill.
It's pretty helpful to have a few parents around. Don't panic about it. It's a great way to get to know other parents too.

We stayed when DD wanted us to stay. That was normally at soft play or in the first months of Reception until she knew the parents a bit.

During nursery it was the norm to stay.

Come 5th birthday parties and we were firmly shown the door. Saying that I often offered to stay and help the mum if I knew her better.

I normally don't expect catering but a cup of tea is always appreciated. Most parents put coffee/tea/milk and biscuits next to the kettle and just said "help yourself"

Blimey, I left mine from reception age onwards, as did almost everyone else!

You could just put out some bottles of lemonade and some bowls of crisps and tell parents to help themselves if you think you'll be too harassed to be bothering with making hot drinks x