children party timings - morning, lunch or tea

[lechatnoir]

I'm just trying to organise my DS's 4th birthday party and wondering whether it would be OK having it late morning ie 11-1:30 with lunch about 12/12:15 rather than the usual 'afternoon with tea' parties that we've always been to. I quite like the idea but DH thinks people will have club commitments in the morning (really, at 4??!!) or find it a PITA slap bang in the middle of the day especially a Saturday.

Oh, and how long is too long for 15 4 year olds to be running riot in a village hall? 2 hours? 3 hours?
Any thoughts?
LCN

Our favourite time is the 11-1 slot, actually - you don't have to get up too early, the children get to have lunch at a normal time and the adults don't have to wait too long for theirs if they grab something straight after.
Soft play parties are generally for 2 hours so I would go with that unless you have some very good ideas on how to entertain them!

re club commitments though - your dh may be right if the kids have older siblings in the family.

Definitely go for a 2 hour length. I think 11-1 is a good slot too but at 4 none will be still having a nap so i think any time is prob ok. Re club commitments- dont think that would be a problem for hte majority of people- even with older siblings you would expect to have to manage them in anotehr way anyway (with the other parent, mostly, i would assume).

I'm a kids entertainer (and have been for the last 14 years!) 11-1 is def the best imte for 4 year old. They'll eat yr party food as they will be hungry and they shouldn't have had time to fill up on junk before the party. If you have the party in the afternoon yr little one will be overexcited and overtired and you'll have to find something to do in the morning. If you have the party in the morning he can open his presents and play with them in the afternoon while you chill out with a glass of wine. 2 hours is the max you should have a party for at this age. 4 year olds shouldn't have commitments on weekend mornings. If the guests have older siblings who do, the parents will be used to juggling this.

When I fist started the afternoon always booked up first but now most parents prefer to do lunchtime parties. Just remember, you can't please everybody, no matter which time you choose!

Thanks very much - I've booked the hall for the lunchtime slot & will definitely limit the party to 2 hours.
Much appreciated
LCN