What time would you leave a family BBQ with primary-aged children?

[Jetsun3456]

You’re invited to a family BBQ on Saturday. You’ve been told to arrive 3-4pm and food is being served at 5pm, around kids’ tea time.

Both you and the host have primary school aged DC.

What time is the latest you leave?

It depends a bit on how far away it is but I’d probably be looking to leave by 8pm or so. If DS and the other kids were having fun, I’d be a bit more relaxed about it and stay later though.

Maybe 7/8? Depends on how long the journey is.

10pm probably.

Until the end of the BBQ if everyone is enjoying themselves?

Could be 8pm, could be 11pm. Surely depends on the event.

When the kids are starting to seem tired and cranky.
Or the hosts seem to be winding down.

Depends, possibly 9pm if close by and relaxed and the kids have something to occupy themselves (eg watching a film whilst the adults chat). Possibly 7pm if younger primary age, the only children present and they are getting bored.

Depends surely on distance to travel home, the temperament of dc (are they grouchy tired), if you have plans the next day and if you are having a good time. No set time for sure, but mid evening

It’s local.

it’s just your family and the other family, not a big event

Could be any time really! Depends on many variables: if it’s winding up, if everyone is still having fun, etc. We wouldn’t really care about bedtimes or anything for an event like this.

What time is it going on til?

Are you wondering how long to stay or how to get rid of your guests?

7pm so in bed for 8pm?

Probably by 8

What time is it going on til

That’s the whole point - it ends when the guests leave

Interesting everyone has referred to their own journey, what they have on the next day. No one seems to have said “I’d leave by X time to allow the hosts to clear up and get their kids to bed”

Do people just think of themselves and not consider the host?

Weekend and summer hols I would be more relaxed with bedtime. Depends on the age of the kids. There is a big difference between 5 and 11 year old.

Probably about 9pm.

I would assume if the host wanted the BBQ to end at a certain time, they would let us know. And if they're home they can get their kids to bed whenever they want.

Personally - 8ish probably, maybe up to 9ish if everyone was having fun and no grumpiness.

@Jetsun3456 are you the host?
If yes and you want people gone by a certain time just tell them that.

When my kids were young primary so like 5/7 years old and we’d hang out with another similar aged family we tended to leave around 8 to get them to bed. Once it was later primary it was more like 9/10 on a weekend.

unless of course the host started talking about bedtime or an early morning or cleaning up around us!

Oh is this a situation where you had an end time in mind as the host but didn't communicate it to your guests?

Depends how the kids are behaving. If they are okay I'd stay until they started being pains.

I’d take PJs and toothbrushes and get my kids changed before we left with the aim that they would fall asleep in the car on the way home. Assuming the host kids are a similar age, bed time would be about the same that way. Tidying up at the hosts can be done post bedtime / next day, but I would offer to help whilst I was there.

I wouldn’t have a set time if local. It would be when things naturally wind down. It’s the summer holidays, so doesn’t matter if there’s an odd late night, especially in this very hot weather, and I’d presume the kids would all play together.

If I was hosting and it was a weekend night I wouldn't care what time people left. I'd probably get the wine out and make a night of it.

As late as the kids were behaving well, enjoying themselves and not showing signs of overtiredness. And by 'kids', I mean all the collective kids, not just my own. I'd also take the hint if the hosts put their children to bed.