Kids party etiquette

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Hi all. I'm just organising my child's 4th bday party where there will be about 12 adults and 8 kids. What time would you usually do for a party for a 4yo?

I'd like to have food on offer (platters etc) but wondering if starting at 2/3pm for a couple of hours is an odd time to feed this age group? Kids range from 3-9.

11 til 1.

An hour and a bit of the activity, rest of the time for food.

Done!

I always assume a 2-4 party is the host saying they aren't doing a meal and it'd just be snacks. I think it's odd as my kids are always quite excited about the party food. We've been to a few this year and it's generally just been crisps, cupcakes, fruit and cookies out on the side and the kids just help themselves

Every single party I ever went to involved a party tea for the kids, regardless what time of day it was. And the kids ate as much as they would at a regular mealtime.

Unless the parents are your friends or family I wouldn’t provide any food for adults, although I usually would make extra cupcakes to hand round at the party tea and let them eat up spare sandwiches and crisps etc.

Adults are usually grateful to be offered a tea or coffee but most say no, and if you are supervising the kids entertainment then I wouldn’t bother even with that.

Okay will probably bring it forward a bit (1ish, start with food and leave it out for duration?) although I think a couple of the kids still day nap. Adults are all friends and family so will be feeding them too.

Definitely want to put out a spread for everyone! We haven't been to many kids parties yet so wasn't sure what the usual protocol is but this is really helpful. Thanks for comments!

It sounds as if this is more "inviting family round to celebrate the birthday" rather than a little one starting school and it is their "classmates party" ?

In which case in our family when we get together, it tends to be from about 3.30 / 4 and then we eat at about 5.

When you get on to "kids' parties" then I'd go for 90mins. About an hour to play games / entertain them........5 or 10 mins at start to make sure you have information from parents and for dc to hand over their present, put their coat down etc..... 20 mins ish for food. ALWAYS have food at a party, regardless of the time of day.

The friends are mainly (local) people we have become friendly with through our child and whose kids get on very well with mine. We moved in lockdowns so have been building some nice friendships but still a way to go!

I was born in 1963,so I attended quite a few parties throughout the late 60s - mid 70s. I can vaguely remember this being a 'thing' at a few of the parties I went to, although I have no recollection of it happening at my own parties. Thank yous were always verbal,not written. Even my own DM ,who was very strict when it came to manners,didn't insist on me writing thank you letters for my gifts.