No drop & run at party: how to word it?

[LilyPlantLove]

Would love some help wording invite for DDs 4th birthday party.

It's going to be at a local park (open space, exits etc). She's our first and I don't know any parents personally who would for a 4-5 year old but we're inviting the whole class (so at the moment no idea of turnout, could be 5 could be 30!), I don't know most of the parents so I just want to make sure it's very clear that parents are to stay with their kids the whole time.

How do I word it kindly but explicitly?

Also, what might be a reasonable amount of time, 1 hr or 2? (We are inviting family etc so will be at the park longer than that but I wanted to give the school kids a specific window to be there so we can do the cake then)

Thank you!

Thank you to all the helpful posters, I really appreciated your input 💖

I'll be off now. I have a dangerous, antisocial, planet-killing, dog-antagonising event that gets my kid as many expensive presents as possible to plan so must get some rest. 😂

Happy weekend everyone!

It’s true though. If you’re catering lunch/afternoon tea for the more the merrier then cool. But if you’re inviting people to a party that is essentially nothing more than a play date in a free location and calling it a party that you know people will bring presents to then that is tight.

It sounds like you’re going the former though which is fine.

In answer to your original question, I would write “ please stay and enjoy the afternoon with us”.

@Iwant2beJessicaFletcher

mine get pretty bored in the park within about 10 minutes

Your primary aged children get bored in parks after ten minutes? When they're with friends of a similar age? They need adults to entertain them?

Something's gone wrong along the way if this is the case.

Reading this thread makes me so grateful for my friendship group. Parties in the park are the norm for summer birthdays and everyone loves them. Wish mine had a summer birthday!

@Iwant2beJessicaFletcher @Iwantamarshmallowman it's an invite not a summons! If people don't like the sound of it they are free to decline. It's not that complicated 🙄

But yes I will make sure it's clear so that people can easily opt out if it's not their thing. Simple!

@BananaSpanner I see what you're saying and yeah will definately be providing food and drink. In my culture it's unheard of to invite anyone to anything if you're not serving food. Wouldn't even consider it.

We did loads of park parties over the years and they were always a huge success. Present grab! Thats hilarious.
And for all those who say that no one would drop and go at this age, I think it was my DD3's 5th birthday (in a hall) where we were happy for parents to stay or go - but one grandparent also dropped the 3 year old sibling of the classmate, who neither of us had even met before. We said she couldn't leave her but she did anyway. I was too busy with party games/bags to deal with the parent properly on collection but I was furious.
Re park parties, we once had one in a playground with a large pirate ship, so we gave them all pirate scarf/headgear on arrival. Was a helpful way of keeping tabs!

@Snerl Have only just seen you post and that's exactly the vibe! Great rain back up plan too. We've also got a gazebo just in case and will call off the class if the weather doesn't play. Thanks for commenting, I'm glad we're not the only ones!

What you are describing is a family and close friends meet up in the park for a birthday. It's not a party for a load of yR kids. We've had park parties and my kids have been to them but not until 7+ when they're slightly easier to herd than cats.

Some of the replies you are getting are mad! I think it sounds great, very common round here too (in a city so small gardens etc… maybe that makes a difference)

Fuck me, have I woken up in some sort of alternative universe today?

Lots of children have their birthday parties in the park. It will be lovely, OP.

I would do 2 hours because ime with a park party, people will be relaxed about turning up a bit later/leaving early. So a 2 hour "we will be here" timeslot will work well.

If you have a class WhatsApp group, use that to issue the invitation and then creates a smaller group - "Sadie's party" or whatever - for everyone who is coming. You need to know numbers attending (including siblings/parents) for catering and party bags. If you're not doing party bags - great, that's the eco-friendly option, kids have too much tat these days and all that (virtue-signalling) jazz, but be aware, some kids will moan.

Bring folding tables/a small gazebo if you can for food/cake/presents just in case of sudden rain.

A few groundsheets/tarps are useful if the ground is damp though families may bring their own picnic rugs.

Make sure there is enough for the kids to do. You don't need lots of stuff, but a few people to organise games/activities is a must. We were at a party a few weeks again with giant inflatable footballs - those were a hit. Treasure hunts also good.

If the forecast is pouring/thunderstorms, you send apologies and cancel the day before. Everyone will be relieved to avoid 2 hours of slowly getting soaked and pretending to have a good time. Then you organise something else for your child at a later date.

No one who wants to see their children again will drop and run in an open public space. That is the least of your worries.

Park Keeper? A chuffing park keeper?! On site? Loooooooooooooool.

I'm sure they are delighted to be contacted by families hosting a private event in a public place. I also feel sorry for any other park users there at the same time; I doubt they will feel comfortable nearby the festivities.

@Iwantamarshmallowman so just bring a card of don't come. Easy.

I never knew there were so many members of the public uncomfortable around other members of the public in public spaces. Genuinely what would be your issue with another group enjoying the park?
@RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway

There are lots of groups who use our local park.. Kids' parties aren't particularly annoying in comparison with the loud keep fit people with the sound system.

How about calling it a ‘stay and play’ party. Add asterisk after that phrase and say at the bottom of the invite/email something like - *the park is a large public space, parents need to stay

Parents must stay with their children in bold. Party In a park is a bit rubbish

I’m surprised so many people think this is weird. It probably depends where you live. These types of parties are common where I live, @SeaToSki suggestion is perfect

What strange responses on this thread 😂😂

OP, it sounds great. PPs have suggested good wording. I used to make sure invites were crystal clear about what was involved, so, for example, I'd say if siblings were welcome or not. I'd also say roughly what I was doing with food so people could plan.

One thing I'd suggest for a park party is specify a rough time when the food will be served and when they will be any organized games. Otherwise people might be really laid back about the timings.

Luckily for you you don't have to go.

Where do you live where there’s a park keeper to connect with???

It’s not just ‘another group’, it’s potentially a group of 70/80+ individuals in the same area where other much smaller units of people are. I don’t think the small units would get a look in.

Jesus Christ. The OP is looking for how to word the invite not comments on the location. I think it's a lovely idea, much better than inside (fingers crossed for the weather). I agree that most parents would expect to stay in these circumstances. Any of the wordings suggested by pp already will suffice.

I’ve never heard of this being a thing! I shall ask my younger mum friends at work on Monday if it’s now a thing.

We attend a party in the park for a 5 year old and no one ever thought of leaving. I doubt this would be an issue.

IME this kind of a party is now “a thing” in areas like Brighton and Bristol where the trendy thing is to hire party stuff rather than use disposable plates, give books or seeds as party bag favours, and the kids turn up in hand-me-down Boden and wellies with tutus. It’s a certain vibe for a certain crowd. Hence why some people are saying it’s completely normal and others think it’s batshit. Round here (traditionally working class area) people would be pretty 🙄 at the suggestion but where I grew up it’s definitely A Thing but it’s full of MC creative types.

Also while I’m sure many kids do enjoy these types of parties there is sometimes a certain “oh no we’d never do soft play parties, Otto and Juno prefer to play organically with natural materials in the wild” kind of vibe from the parents 😒