Would you expect your DCs to be substantially fed?

[MoanaofMotunui]

If they attended a party at 2-4pm?

Oldest DC wants a party, which I'm happy to do, but I also have an

I would expect some kind of savoury ie. Pizza to make it easier?

No, I wouldn't.

I wouldn't. DD is going to a party at 2-4 tomorrow and all I'd expect is cake and maybe popcorn or something simple like that. I'd only expect something substantial if the party is at lunch time or tea time.

That said, I think it would be wise to offer some kind of savoury snack so they're not all sugared up - even just crackers/veggie sticks/crisps

I wouldn't but I wouldn't do jelly and ice cream- the mess!! And the sugar with sweets or cake at the end.

I'd do something savoury (pizza or sarnies) and a few bowls of fruit.

Make it clear on invites - “jelly & ice cream & cake” then everyone knows what’s what. I wouldn’t mind either way, tbh.

No. I'd cut up a few pizzas and do platters of mini rolls and biscuits. Cake and sweetie cones to take home.

I think as long as it’s clear on the invite so they have lunch first then it’s fine

Jelly and ice cream and squash are fine unless you live in MNland when you would have to serve hummus and olives for 4 year olds. Heaven forfend they should be given poison sugar.

No.

We are planning a 2-4 party for DD's 5th birthday and are having a hot dog "stand" (a table) with regular and vegetarian hot dogs in a slow cooker with pre-sliced rolls, ketchup, mustard, mayo and grated cheese so they can build it themselves with help from a grown up.

Jugs of squash on the table and cake for afters, one of my bugs is kids coming home with squished cake so I'd rather just serve it for pudding.

Ime, any party involves a party 'tea' whether or not the timing of the party actually makes sense, and the kids are actually hungry! For 2-4, no food is logical: although like others, I'd probably do something super simple/easily bought/relatively low mess) (crisps/breadsticks/ biscuits?) and make it clear to parents on the invite you'll serve snacks rather than full meal so they know.

I know you have said the problem is time/effort rather than money, but it still looks mean. And people do expect more than jelly and ice cream, which is like eating air. Just get stuff that can be put out without any prep. Like:

• breadsticks
• cocktail sausages
• sausage rolls / cheese and onion rolls
• crisps
• mini muffins
• bag of carrot batons, if you feel like you need something more virtuous

No hours of slaving needed. Job done.

Yes, parties always include a meal. Sandwiches or pizza is fine.

No. But if I was hosting I would have a selection of savoury bits. Pizza and mini sausage rolls etc.

Actually we usually have lunch around 2pm so if it was me throwing the party I’d have a little buffet out. People eat at different times though so I’d make it clear on invite as pp have suggested

My DDs 4th birthday party was 2-4 I had a buffet. It was scoffed down by kids and parents alike...
I'd expect some food to be honest

I would cater a quick tea. Pizza or sandwiches / crisps, drink, and then birthday cake. There’s no need for extra dessert when you have cake.

I am also planning a party 2-4pm and have a baby.
I would have no objection to jelly and ice-cream for a 2-4pm party but it does sound like a lot of mess and effort to me (needs to be served out for them, for example).
My plan for low-effort catering:

Order platters of sandwiches from local supermarket 'entertaining' range (I'd never heard of this until last year but if you give them a few days notice you can order all sorts of buffet stuff).

Have other food that can be eaten with fingers and they can help themselves to eg cocktail sausages.
I'm also planning to have as much individually wrapped stuff as poss (eg mini-rolls, multipacks of mini biscuits, haribo) because then I can overcater a bit so am not worried about running out but as they're wrapped I can use up the leftovers rather than having to throw them away.

Good luck!

PS do you really have to have 30?? Or can you do it jointly with another parent to share the hassle?

I think I would have to do food..

For my eldests party I made prepacked sandwich boxes, one ham and one cheese sandwich, little carton of drink, apple, frube and a cake pop I brought at the local cafe.

You could order pizzas in or order Pre made sandwich platters also.

If you tell them on the invite that will help. I'm having a party tomorrow with no tea until 5.30 so I've mentioned it in case parents want to give them a snack before they come.

Sausage rolls and mini sausages etc don't take any effort so I'd add things like that

Sorry but my dc have never been to a party where there was no party tea no matter what the time. Not saying that's the way it should be, just that I think that's the way it is.

I would always expect a party tea of some description tbh. Slices of pizza and bowls of crisps along with the jelly and cake etc.

Standard here to have a ‘party tea’ whatever the actual timings. I did once take dd to a party that was at 9.30am and there were some nice pastries instead.

I would do smaller numbers and non-sugary snacks and cake. Crisps, crackers, usual party foods and a bit of fresh fruit (do clementines or something similar you don't have to prep) and then cake. I wouldn't do jelly and ice cream, too messy and extra work for you if you're also doing cake. I personally would skip the sweets as we don't give these to our dc anyway and it sounds like you already have plenty on offer.

Sorry, but I would expect food yes.