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Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

Original poster

Why do children's parties happen mid afternoon so your child ends up having a meal at about 4 pm?

59 replies

Fooey · 28/02/2007 21:39

Can someone explain?

If you give them lunch they are not really hungry for the party food. If you don't give them lunch they are entering a coma with the donkey's tail in their hand by about 2.30.

What is the point of it? Why can't we have parties at a time when children would naturally be eating anyway?

OP posts:
MordecaiAliVanAllenOShea · 28/02/2007 21:39

Because they don't eat much anyway at parties?

MamaGee · 28/02/2007 21:39

you should just be thankful that somebody wnats to feed your child

Original poster
Fooey · 28/02/2007 21:40

Should I, Mama? Why are you cross, exactly?

OP posts:
JodieG1 · 28/02/2007 21:41

I imagine all children have dinner at different times anyway so you'd never be able to please everyone.

Original poster
Fooey · 28/02/2007 21:41

and Mordecai I beg to differ

OP posts:
Moomin · 28/02/2007 21:41

Because it's not a 4 course dinner party? Because venues get booked up and you just get the slot you can?
Because the kids rarely eat anything significant anyway?

Original poster
Fooey · 28/02/2007 21:41

Jodie, fair enough, but no-one eats at 4, do they?

OP posts:
MamaGee · 28/02/2007 21:42

oh sorry sorry I meant to put a on post after!!!

Whenever I dare to moan about kids parties, I always WITHOUT FAIL get that reply of some bugger

DeviousDaffodil · 28/02/2007 21:42

I don't think the food is the main focus of a child's party TBH. They go for the fun of it. I usually still give them their normal meals, and let them graze a t the party.
Not one of my major worries really.

ThisValenTime · 28/02/2007 21:42

What age group are you talking about as I feed my ds (16 months) his tea at 4pm. As child we had our tead at 4pm and then some supper at 7.30 before bed....

Original poster
Fooey · 28/02/2007 21:43

I'm not thinking about venues. Parties in peoples houses as well. It just seems like, everybody knows that is the time you have parties, so let's go on doing it. But I am not sure it works out for the best.

OP posts:
DeviousDaffodil · 28/02/2007 21:43

My ds's eat their teat at 4 -4.30 cos they are always starving!

Ceolas · 28/02/2007 21:43

Well I have just done a 4-6pm party this afternoon. They had their tea just after 5. I expect their parents were all very grateful

MamaGee · 28/02/2007 21:44

I do agree though

Original poster
Fooey · 28/02/2007 21:44

Blimey Mama I really thought you were hacked off

so read all the following posts as narky too

thought I had touched some weird sensitive nerve in people that I wasn't aware of

Erm I am talking about children, not babies. Do 16 m olds go to a lot of parties?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fooey · 28/02/2007 21:46

Ceolas I would have been grateful.

I mean I am grateful to be asked to a party at whatever time and it doesn't make me cross or anything. But it does seem a little bit of an odd tradition. And I usually end up giving ds another meal once back home as he is hungry again.

Ok I am starting to realise the problem is just that ds is a gannet

OP posts:
franca70 · 28/02/2007 21:46

fooey, thanks for starting this thread, as in general I'm having several problems to understand the whole pary etiquette... wouldn't it be allright at four o' clock to just eat the birthday cake? why on earht the cake isn't eaten during the party???

JodieG1 · 28/02/2007 21:46

My dd and ds1 now eat arond 4-4.30 every day as they're starving after school and pre-school They have a snack of fruit or something healthy later on if needed.

DeviousDaffodil · 28/02/2007 21:47

Thing is a party from 5-7 is quite late for most lo's especially if you have to drag younger siblings along.
I like morning parties 10-12pm, get them out of the way.

Moomin · 28/02/2007 21:47

Start a campaign and boycott parties that don't adhere to the new rulings about time and meals.
()

I think basically people don't just stick to this because it's a 'traditional' time - it probably gives them more time in the day to get the place and the food ready. It doesn;t always fit in with proper mealtimes but what the hey? Dd1 would sit at a table with party food on it and hoover up the contents then still ask for food when she gets home. I don't even count party food as a meal.

ThisValenTime · 28/02/2007 21:48

Oh yes....its a hectic life being 16 months!!

Original poster
Fooey · 28/02/2007 21:48

Ah I can see there is a far wider variation in meal times than I had previously realised

Franca I don't get anything about parties so don't ask me

DD yes 5 - 7 is too late, but surely 2 till 4 or something is bananas?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fooey · 28/02/2007 21:49

Moomin do you know I think I just might....

TVT

OP posts:
franca70 · 28/02/2007 21:51

I was hoping for some answers... ds is begging me to organize a party for his birthday, but I'm scared of breaking all the rules....

Moomin · 28/02/2007 21:51

TBh when you're hosted a couple of these parties - I time parties we host to coincide with it not being indecent to open a bottle of wine before/during/after