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Parties/celebrations

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Original poster

Would you say this is ‘too late’ for a kids party?

122 replies

Odinsdottir · 27/10/2025 21:55

I’ve just been scrolling on mn to find some great ideas for my son’s birthday party and ways to make it special and memorable for everyone.
I’ve come across a bit of information that has me a bit worried..so someone mentioned in another thread it might be ‘too late’ for some children to attend, I’d just like to gain some opinions.
The party is on a Saturday from 5pm- 7pm and it’s for 5-6yo year one children and a few out of school friends who are slightly older.
I wouldn’t mind if people left early- that’s completely their choice.
But I am worried this will put parents off bringing their children completely.
My question is, would you go? Or would the time not be appropriate? Thank you, from a very panicky mum!! Confused

OP posts:
YouMightLikeCats · 27/10/2025 23:25

No-one expects every child who has a party to invite an entire class. That's 28 parties, more than one a fortnight.

It's perfectly fine to have a party for 10 kids. The only thing you don't do is invite 75% of the class and leave a few out. Half or less, or all.

I've been to a 5-7pm exclusive-use party at a soft play - was for slightly older kids like age 8 plus siblings. I agree that 7pm might be a bit late for most y1s.

Original poster
Odinsdottir · 27/10/2025 23:37

I see your reasoning, you do have a valid point, I think I just like to be more inclusive when it comes to the children. As I remember school, it was a hard enough place as is, never mind the politics, bullies, need to be liked by your peers etc.
I just want them all to have a lovely memorable day to look back on.
Maybe I’m just expecting too much?
That’s fair enough, hindsight is 20/20.
I will learn a very valuable lesson from this and will not be making this mistake twice, trust me.
Smile

OP posts:
GreenMarigold · 27/10/2025 23:42

5-7 would have been fine for us. As it was, one of our reception parties ended at 10:30pm with everyone being driven home by tractor. The kids loved staying up!

MumChp · 27/10/2025 23:47

GreenMarigold · 27/10/2025 23:42

5-7 would have been fine for us. As it was, one of our reception parties ended at 10:30pm with everyone being driven home by tractor. The kids loved staying up!

Reception party ending at 10.30 pm? That's ridiculous, sorry.

JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch · 27/10/2025 23:52

Op, maybe make it 5-6.30pm? That way you don’t lose the booking and people who are on the fence feel it’s a more normal finish time. 70 minutes of playing, cake, party bags, done.

CypressGrove · 27/10/2025 23:54

We went to a party at that time at that age - i was a but surprised when we got the invite as most parties were in the morning and it was right up to the current bed time. But it was one of the best parties we attended in the end! They had the whole venue, plenty of pizzas for the kids and adults, and drinks too. DC crashed when we got home so no problems getting them to bed! Was a fun evening.

Original poster
Odinsdottir · 28/10/2025 00:03

That’s not a bad idea at all!
But I’ll still worry about the timing of getting the children back home, and cleaning/bedtime routine, if possible I’d like to avoid putting anyone out at all.
As we all most likely know, being a parent or caring for a child is tough at the best of times, I really don’t want to add to that plethora of problems.
It believe it may be for the best to cancel and try to get a non exclusive party at the same venue, and for us to shorten the list of invites.
Or for us to try to rebook an exclusive party at a new venue that’s willing to have a more reasonable time slot available for the children.
I’ve already saved a few numbers from venues offline, I’ll be calling them in the morning tomorrow.
Not that it’s going to be a very interesting outcome either way but I will keep people informed of the way it turns out, thank you all SO much for your opinion and guidance.
I do really appreciate you all taking the time to inform me of your preferences.
It really did help me making a decision best for everyone going forward. Halo

OP posts:
BeaLola · 28/10/2025 01:41

You won't be able to please everyone - I think an exclusive party sounds lovely and it's a Saturday night - if you made it clear on the invites why the timing I am sure the other parents would appreciate th thought you have put into it - also there nothing saying they have to stay until 7pm

I would have been happy to let my DS go and I would have willingly taken / dropped home other children whose parents may have younger children to look after

FlorenceAgainstTheMachine · 28/10/2025 02:15

I probably wouldn’t go, but I am quite strict about bedtimes. Sorry OP!

Blueberrymuffinsforthewin · 28/10/2025 02:36

Have you got a class WhatsApp group or somewhere you can sound out if people would come? As a one off treat I'd take my DC to something like this - how often do they get to run around in a big soft play with only their friends.

supersonicginandtonic · 28/10/2025 03:02

Love the sound of the party with the tractor ride. My 4 year old would love that. Although my little 2 (6 and 4) are night owls and stayed up to watch the headliners at camp bestival in the summer.

Natsku · 28/10/2025 03:08

That's a pretty common timeframe for parties where I am so I wouldn't care but perhaps it would be better to go for a different time. Or perhaps ask a few of the parents of the children you'll be inviting what they think?

Rosygoldapple · 28/10/2025 05:31

I’d want the party to finish at 5, not start at 5.

StrongLikeMamma · 28/10/2025 06:03

Odinsdottir · 27/10/2025 22:25

Thank you for specifying in relation to the timing, that really helps.
I will be on the phone to the venue tomorrow morning asap to see what they can do.
I do feel slightly better knowing I’m going to be doing the right thing for other people and I’m not just being unreasonably anxious. I most definitely don’t want anyone being put out because of me making a silly mistake.

Don’t beat yourself up op.
It’s not a big deal. Just change the time and move on. Enjoy the party 🎉

Bitzee · 28/10/2025 06:31

One option could be to limit the party to 1.5 hours and make it 5-6.30 which does sound a lot better than a 7pm finish. Just because you have it doesn’t necessarily need to use the whole slot. 5-6pm of play, sit down to food at 6, cut the cake and everyone done by 6.30.

I’m not particularly strict about bedtimes but I wouldn’t love you for making my Saturday night a right off to hang around soft play until 7pm… Think I’d only accept if it was a v good friend.

Vegalyra · 28/10/2025 06:56

My child is younger than yours and a soft play party at that time wouldn’t bother me, but I seem to be in the minority here.

The only thing I’d say is don’t give the children cake at that time. Put a slice in each party bag so they can have it the next day.

landlordhell · 28/10/2025 06:57

Yeah too late for that age group. Would not be fun! The reception chn I teach are shattered by 3.15!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/10/2025 07:00

Could you do it so you eat early on, run around for a while, and end with some sitting down games to slow everyone down a bit, culminating in Sleeping Lions? You could even make the dress code PJs?

arcticpandas · 28/10/2025 07:00

That's fine OP! It's a Saturday and the kids will be fed!

landlordhell · 28/10/2025 07:09

Can you host a party at home? Then you can have it whatever time you like! Make a treasure hunt, kids still love traditional games like pass the parcel or keep the balloon up. It’s tiring but way cheaper.

HouseWithASeaView · 28/10/2025 07:09

I’d probably decline. Your son is obviously one of the older ones in the year but some of them will have only turned 5 a couple of months ago. It won’t just be that the child might be too tired but I would have had to manage them being over excited all day in anticipation of the party and then them being over tired at the party so any of the usual bumps or disagreements which would usually have been brushed off would have ended in tears. I would have also had to give them tea at 4/4.30 (depending on how close we lived to the venue) as there is no way they would last until party tea time and so our entire afternoon would have revolved around ensuring we were back from whatever we were doing to get tea ready. In my situation, I could have left toddler DS at home with DH but plenty of other families will have younger siblings who will be even more tired and would have to be dragged along. Finally, it may well have interfered with my own social plans. If I was out from 7.30 or 8pm, it just wouldn’t be enough turn around time for me to get home from a party, get my child calmed down and into bed and get out myself and I’m not sure I’d feel fair leaving them with a babysitter in that state.
DD did go to a party in Yr3 which was one of the “late” sessions at the local trampoline park and it was a great success as it was at this time of year and it did have an atmosphere of being exciting and different to be out after dark.

828Pax · 28/10/2025 07:50

We have had a few at this time recently, because it's a private hire at local Soft play. First one was in the summer holidays and the other 2 on a weekend. It was past my child's bedtime (same age as your dc) but she was absolutely fine and so many of the children were excited about being allowed to stay up late! I think it's fine for a holiday or weekend, as did most parents

828Pax · 28/10/2025 07:55

Also to add, I much prefer it when it's exclusive use of soft play, soft play parties in the middle of the day at weekends are much more annoying to me than a late party! (Because it's too busy and I'm anti social haha)

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 28/10/2025 07:55

I don't see the issue with that time on a Saturday night, means you still have the whole of Saturday free to do something else. They get fed, burn all their energy, straight home and to bed, and adults get their evening. I personally hate parties that are 11-1 or 12-2, slap bang over the middle of the day means the party basically takes up the whole day.

WhatNoRaisins · 28/10/2025 08:01

I think the odd late Saturday is fine and they aren't toddlers. I'd go ahead, some people can always leave early if their kids aren't coping towards the end.