Hi, Moms!
We are having our 5 YO"s b'day party at a local park. Her little sis still naps in the afternoon, but most of her friends' b'day parties have been in the afternoon. We'll have a better chance of warmer weather in the afternoon, too. So I'm torn between having the party 10 - 12 or 1 - 3. (I don't want to serve lunch because I don't want to have to try to bring an entire lunch for everyone to the park - just snacks and cake!) Which time do you think is better? Thanks!!
i prefere morning so it doesnt eat teh day..
Also the birthday kid will be so excited asking when is the party till it actually starts..
Per parties or even just play dates, I have ALWAYS timed it per my kids' naps. NOT according to what time others had their parties.
What time exactly does your youngest nap?
And how long, does she nap?
For me personally, I have always made my kids parties, in the MORNING.
10:00 - 12:00 kind of thing. Even 9:30am once.
And it has always, been fine.
In fact, many parents told me they LIKE the party in the morning, because then their child is not nagging them ALL day about how excited they are about the party and "how much longer...." till they can go. And also, with a morning party, it then leaves the rest of the day, open for the parents, AND for their kids naps. AND with a morning party, it also, tires out the kids... so that later, they do nap well.
And yes, snacks and cake is fine.
Just cutely say it on the invitation "snacks and cake will be served" so parents know it is not a "lunch" party.
Just buy bulk amounts of snacks, from like Costco or something.
Easier that way and to transport.
Think the 10-12 slot is awesome. I consider those"peak energy" hours for kid and a park would work out the sillies!
We just had a 10 a.m.-12 p.m. party for our 3 year old and it worked out just fine.
I like morning ones--my son is better behaved in the morning, and my youngest naps from about 12-3.
10-12 would be great, in my book.
We've been to quite a few 10-12 parties recently (for four, five and six year old) and it's such a great time. I love how it doesn't disrupt the entire day, the kids have lots of energy, etc.
I think either time is fine. The park might be busier with other children from 1-3 and less busy from 10-12, especially if it might be a bit chillier. I've had parties at 10 am and it didn't seem to phase anyone and we still had a big crowd. Personally, I like the idea of getting it over with early so you can recover the rest of the day! ;)
1-3. 10am is way too early. People like to veg out on weekends.
I usually do my parties from 1:00 to 3:00pm, so I don't have to serve lunch, but the kids are ready for an afternoon snack towards the end of the party. If you do 10:00am to 12:00 then snacks and cake will interfere with lunch. Unless you are inviting younger siblins naps shouldn't be an issue for a 5 year olds party.
My son is also five, about to turn six. His friends' parties are almost always from 10 - 12. That's the time slot we usually use too.
Whichever time you choose, you should put on the invitation "light snacks and cake will be served." Since both times are close to lunch, you want it very clear to your guests that they will still need to feed their own kids. I've used that wording in years past and it works well - parents know what to expect so no one is upset or hungry.
I personally would do 1-3 but either one would work. What is the little ones bed time? I would schedule it around that that way you don't have to worry about a cranky little one!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like 10-12 or 3-5. Both work great for nap times for younger kids.
If I came to the 10-12 party though, I would kind of expect pizza or something :) after playing hard from 10 to 11:30 the kids are hungry! IMO, 3-5 is better for just snacks because it does not occur during a normal meal time.
10-12 is best for little ones but if the bulk of the kids will be 5 or older, I would go with 1-3 because the snacks and cake can be their afternoon snack (after having lunch earlier) whereas the earlier time would spoil their lunch.
It really just depends. When I throw a party I do what works for our schedule first and foremost, while taking everyone else's into consideration. I also like to keep the times flexible so that people can come/go when they need to. I'd be irritated if we went to a party from 10-12 and we were promptly kicked out at noon without any lunch, personally.
Personally, we have always been flexible when it came to special occasions, nap-wise, and now. A day of being off schedule once in a while just wasn't a big deal to us.
You're not going to be able to please everyone, so do what's good for the majority.
Since you're in Virginia I know the weather might be pretty unpredictable so having an afternoon party is very tempting. So I'd tweak it a bit further than you are thinking. If you do from 2-4 or 3-5 and just plan on letting the little one stay up, she'll be busy playing and will fall asleep as soon as you get in the car and start moving.
Then snacks are the perfect addition to the party, I would only do the cake and perhaps ice cream but that's just me. I'd have them eat first then open gifts then let them run amok and wear it off.
I'd go with 10-noon and keep the afternoon free for her nap. Nowhere in the book of party-giving does it recommend being impractical to your detriment ;) Your son and his friends will love a morning party.
Ending at noon would tell me you weren't serving lunch, starting at 10 would reinforce that, that's still morning. But if you haven't sent invites yet (which I'm guessing you haven't because you are still deciding the time) you can note "snacks and cake will be served."
