thorny issue of a birthday party on a school night for 4-5 yos in Reception....

[Bigmouthstrikesagain]

Having built up a nice head of steam on the Child Benefit thread, I am now pondering my dd1's invite to a birthday party from one of her new classmates.

She is 4 1/2 goes to bed at 7pm (sleep by 8 at latest), she has only been in fulltime school for a few weeks still finds it tiring. So I am not very impressed that the birthday party she has been invited too is in another town (30+ mins drive), starts at 6.30pm till 8.30pm, and is on a school night (Thursday). Aside from the fact I would not want to be the teacher dealing with a bunch of overtired 4/5 yos the next day, I really think it is too late for such young children.

Am I being over anxious? The problem is that she will be sooo tired, it is one of those kidsworld places (soft play etc. I suppose) so lots of tired grumpy reception children hopped up on cake and sweets - sounds like a nightmare... really don't want her to miss out but why oh why did they have to choose an evening?

I think it's crazy to have a reception (or other KS1 for that matter) party on a school night and so late. WOuldn't be such a big deal if started straight from school i.e. 4pm until 6pm ish. In fact would save on cooking supper.

It sounds a bit of a daft time for a reception party (or even a party for Yr 1, 2 or 3 tbh). This would have been too much for my children on a school night and I would decline the invite.

The drive alone would put me off.

My DD (Yr2) has been invited to a party that will finiish at 8:30 on a school night and I'm having second thoughts about that. I will probably let her go and see how it pans out, but as I say my DD is much older.

I think the teacher needs to be warned!

My dd is in yr1 and wouldn't cope well with that - a year ago would have been a nightmare. I would politely decline the invitation on the grounds that it is too late. If lots of people say the same they may realise their mistake....

silly time for a party! My DD had a couple of invites in the week which began at 5 and ended at 7.00p, whih was annoying but we coped...I would not be happy either!

My dd is in year 1 and still goes to bed at 7pm! I would decline the invite...post 7.30pm is my time

I expect parties are cheaper then and the weekend slots must get booked up quickly.

Way too late though.

No way would my DD1 be in a pleasant enough mood to attend. She's still napping most afternoons (she's only doing half days)

I was a little when the school decided to do their school Christmas production at 6.30 on a Thursday in December - But then got over myself and realised I was being altogether too PFB!

Too late a finish for an infant school child. It is rater late even for many early junior age children too.

Glad I am not being precious about this - DH (who would have to do the ferrying) is quite certain that it should be no, and tbh I have just thought about it and seeing as he has a 3 hour commute and rarely gets home before 7 in the evening anyway - I have a marvellous excuse!

Madness. Just say no - the parents will soon learn that they have made a social faux pas!

Say no
ridiculous time for a party

beginning to feel (a tiny bit) sorry for the parents now - maybe everyone will say no!

Mid week its a little late
We had one last night which again was 8.30pm finish, and was a bit late for my Y1 & the other Y2s

They survived tho, but I dont think the Yrs would have done unless they had had a really long nap

no way. what a silly time to choose. my y2 DD couldn't cope with that, it will be 9pm earliest by the time you are home. i wouldn't even say yes if it was at the weekend.

I would decline with thanks. Six pm is the latest that it is OK to finish in my mind on a school night.

i don't think it's necessarily a social "faux pas" as such, maybe their children don't go to bed til late, or nap, and as they are still on half days and the next day is friday it is perfectly feasible for them.

but not for me.

are they English?

Gosh I was expecting to get to the end of the OP and tell you to lighten up, but that is a ridiculously late night for a school night! I dread to think what time the excitement and sugar would wear off.

DS is year 3 and it would be far too late for him to be getting in the door at 9pm on a school night.

The children are all on full days at this school we have one intake and it is ft all the way.

well i don't know what they were thinking then!!

Thank you for your input - maybe I should have posted in aibu - it might have had my first unanimous nyanbu!

seriously out of curiosity what nationality are they?
some of my dds friends from Italy etc do go to bed V V V V late and seem fine.

Well they left invite in dd book bag and all I know is child and mother's first name neither of which are exotic iykwim - most likely to be boringly english judgeing by the ethnic mix of school intake. Not been long enough for us to get to know all parents yet.

If we lived in Italy I would be happy to have a late b'day party but in cold and bloody miserable middle england...?

Is the venue 30 minutes drive for everyone? Because to me it's the drive that is the killer - an 8.30 finish as a one off is just about doable if the child can chill beforehand and fall into bed at the end, it's the addition of the drive that makes it beyond the pale.