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Original poster

Is a 9am birthday party too early?

119 replies

december2020 · 17/09/2024 11:12

It is DS's birthday in the next couple of months.
He has been really keen on a trampoline park birthday. The majority of guests would be between 3-5 years old (DS included).

The only time slot on a weekend they offer kids that age to have a trampoline birthday party is 9am. It lasts for one hour with 30 minutes for food after.

Which means they'd be having 'lunch' and cake at 10am and home at 1030.

Please give me some perspective - this sounds ridiculously early for a birthday, even for kids aged 3-5. Am I totally delusional and this is in fact the norm and a totally standard accepted birthday party time?

Would you book this?

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corkcrewsocks · 17/09/2024 11:42

Yes. Way too early for me unless it was to accommodate a small group for a specific activity that couldn't be done later in the day. But it would have to be a very different and exciting activity to warrant that time

We're still at the age where the entire class is invited to the party, so I would never have a party that early. 10am yes. 9am definitely not.

If it was for a smaller group of children (6 or less) and they were older than 10, then I'd consider it. By that age they should be responsible enough to get ready in the morning and pour a bowl of cereal for themselves before I dropped them off.

PigeonLady · 17/09/2024 11:42

oh gosh no.

Missflowerpots · 17/09/2024 11:43

I wouldnt be out of bed at 9am.

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ThorndonCream · 17/09/2024 11:43

I wouldn't attend.

Moveoverdarlin · 17/09/2024 11:44

Nope, I wouldn’t host a party that early. I wouldn’t be fussed on attending it either. Earliest I would do a party would be 12pm.

BeerForMyHorses · 17/09/2024 11:44

If I got that invite I would attended for the sake of the birthday child. It does seem very early though.

Henleylady · 17/09/2024 11:45

Lots of kids have Saturday morning paid in advance clubs. It's not worth spending all that money imo. Can't you have a bit after his birthday on a weekend afternoon?

Bumbers · 17/09/2024 11:45

Sounds great to me! Small children are at their best in the morning! It's the afternoon parties I hate!

ThorndonCream · 17/09/2024 11:45

There's a reason why that slot is vacant - nobody wants it.

DiscoBeat · 17/09/2024 11:46

I actually wouldn't mind that at all at the weekend. It leaves the rest of the day clear and you're up anyway with young children. My teens now wouldn't thank anyone for arranging something at 9 though!

MumonabikeE5 · 17/09/2024 11:47

Make it into a brunch rather than lunch .

Madameblanc · 17/09/2024 11:51

Too early but also I always decline party invitations to the trampoline park - especially so for such young kids. Sorry!

Wheelz46 · 17/09/2024 11:53

It is very early and not something I would choose for my own children's party.

However if my children received the invite, if we had nothing else arranged and they wanted to attend and then I would accept the invite but food at that time may go to waste unless all the jumping around gives them an appetite.

BarbaraHoward · 17/09/2024 11:55

Way too early, especially at that age when they're exhausted from school/preschool. By Wednesday afternoon we're counting down to a bit of extra sleep at the weekend.

StaunchMomma · 17/09/2024 11:56

I mean, we wouldn't have attended but then we had a good sleeper who both enjoyed and benefited from a bit of a lie in on the weekends. As with PPs, having him up and out early after a full week of nursery/school would likely result in him being a bit of a party grouch.

I do think think most young kids are up early, though. It might be worth putting the feelers out with parents?

It would be a shame to miss out if it turned out everyone was happy to attend at that time.

MumChp · 17/09/2024 11:56

Yes. 9 am a Saturday is way too early.

CordylineCapybara · 17/09/2024 11:57

Too early!

Cas112 · 17/09/2024 12:00

Nope but then again, I wouldnt let my child that age go to a trampoline park anyway

LostittoBostik · 17/09/2024 12:00

Nobody will come. 10am earliest

Mintgum · 17/09/2024 12:01

My partys dont start till 9pm.
But a kids party 9am is too early eating cake at 10am yuk.

rainfallpurevividcat · 17/09/2024 12:05

Do it on another day and get a better slot.

BarbaraHoward · 17/09/2024 12:08

rainfallpurevividcat · 17/09/2024 12:05

Do it on another day and get a better slot.

I think they only allow the little ones in first thing while it's quieter, so it's not a case of picking a different day.

Snoken · 17/09/2024 12:08

I would have definitely taken my child for 9am and they would have wanted to go. It's not ideal but rather do early in the day than mid-afternoon as then the rest of the day is free for other things.

Gillywoo1978 · 17/09/2024 12:14

Of course it's to early.

Original poster
december2020 · 17/09/2024 12:14

Just to clarify - there are no other slots. The only slot they offer on weekends for his age group (3-5s) is 9am. For any later slots all kids need to be 4+. However, he is only turning 4 and one of the oldest in his class so a lot of the guests will be under 4.

But thank you - clearly I am not delusional! I don't know who decided it was a good idea to only make 9ams available for younger kids' parties!

I may park this one for a couple of years till all guests "qualify" for the later slots and try think of something else.

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