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!

I hope you have a lovely party OP.

Some people on here would consider it "entitled" (grossly overused word) even to have a party in your own garden as it might disturb the neighbours or lead to more traffic. In the real world, of course we all have to give and take a little and most people aren't going to grudge you some park space for an event that only takes place once a year anyway.

Don't feel bad about late year birthdays @saraclara . Just look at all the grief you've saved yourselves over the years! 😂

Have an amazing time OP. Praying for ☀️ 🙏🏻 for you and your daughter

Not a class of children who know each other very well. If you were 1 other child using the park with a big group of children playing together, it would not feel very nice!

Thank you @Yourethebeerthief , so kind 💕
And thank you to all the lovely replies and wishes if I didn't get to reply individually. The kindness is appreciated 💜

Parks aren’t. Parties in parks, are 😉

Clearly I'm in the minority here but using a public space for a private gathering of up to 30 families feels entitled and rude. Youve said before it's because you don't know how many will come - that's what rsvps are for. If they don't respond - ask them politely in the playground if they can come. It's really not that difficult. Other park-goers with families and dogs may feel awkward and crowded out. It's a really selfish way to run a party.

Enjoy the gooseberry and cinnamon yoghurts, guys.

@Chaosx3x

Christ, I know. God forbid there are kids in second hand boden wellies and tutus at the party according to a PP. Who notices shit like this?

She also wants a spot between the toilets and playground.

I just think that it is nice for a handful of friends, or a family, but it is not a suitable location for a whole class party.

Oh God! The chancers from DS class would at that age definitely just park on the street, shove the invited child and all siblings into the park and bolt. They would not return on time hell no and we would end up driving the little wretches home
I'm looking at you Quinn's mum!

Heaven forbid a dog feels awkward!

@LilyPlantLove quick, cancel the party (which is obviously not a party, it's a sneaky present grab from your barricade around the toilets), Fido isn't keen!

Judging from this thread half the class won't come anyway so nothing to worry about

I have never heard of a party in a park nor ever been invited to one for any of my kids. Always been a house party or some hired place. I can’t see the harm in fairness but it’s a cheap option with having a playground there I suppose and nobody’s house gets trashed.
It does sound more like a meetup than a birthday party though especially that no presents are expected which is fair enough. Good money saving idea.

One of the best parties I ever went to with my kids was a Harry Potter themed event in our local park, with magic spells, broom racing and as accurate a game of quidditch I could imagine involving fishing rods and hula hoop goals.

Parks are public spaces that exist to enhance the lives and the leisure of the community. Your birthday party in the park sounds marvellous OP. I hope you all have a wonderful time

@NDmumoftwo If you read my OP, I was asking for help wording an invite. An invite is the standard precursor to an RSVP. So no, at this stage I don't know how many will be attending as I haven't sent the invite out yet. That's what I asked for help with 🙄

What happens if you rock up at the park, folding tables, marquee and park keeper in tow and some other entitled pricks are already encamped in the spot between the toilets and the playground with their folding tables and marquee, plus a sound system?!

Oh, and their school is a three-form entry and they do lots of extra curriculars and have a massive family of cousins with blended families all attending?

I can only hope this type of comment is a reflection of most people's actual opinions. Because if most people think like batshit Mumsnetters, I despair!

@RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway it's happened at times before (perhaps not all of that but there have been people in the spot we've fancied before, people with music and a very large gathering already there). Funnily enough we just found another spot and got on with it because it's a pubilc space that they are free to enjoy too.

I didn't think it was possible to feel it more but this thread is definitely increasing my gratitude for my community! 😂

-edited for typo

@LilyPlantLove have a lovely time.

This thread is MN lunacy at its best.

That level of chaos and last minute changing of plans wouldn’t work for a whole class party!

I'll help you out.

Drop pin to WhatsApp group.

Done.

This happened at the park party we went to - the two parties weren’t as big as the OP’s gathering is potentially going to be, but it was a bit awkward albeit we didn’t have marquees or gazebos! I suppose it depends on the type of park - a big country park with lots of different areas would be fine, but a smaller town or city park with lots of people trying to use it and not much spare room once a gathering of 70/80 people have bagsied their space isn’t great.

OP, good luck to you - esp on the weather front!

Now I await my invitation. My granddaughters are 4 and 2, and love parks and love birthdays. We'll be no trouble!