Hi all!
My son LOVES the local pizza buffet place. It's about $6 per person including drinks. They have a tiny arcade there too. I'm planning on giving the kids a couple dollars in quarters for the arcade, instead of bothering with the gift bag.
Money is tight right now, so paying for parents would be a strain. And since the kids are all 2nd graders, I'm guessing they might get dropped off.
The party is only going to be at the pizza place - our house and yard aren't really doable for many kids. They do have desserts there, but I'm going to do cupcakes or a cake
My son was invited to a movie party and in this case, it was kids only - first time I dropped him off and just came back for cake. In this case, the hosts paid for the kids. I would have paid for myself to attend, but I don't know if others would assume they pay or assume that they're included.
Is it OK to just pay for the kids on this? If yes, what's the best way to word it in the invites?
Thanks!
THANKS! Whew. That really helps. Will definitely do the drop-off/pick-up and remind them about the arcade.
I'm thinking 1.5 hours max - it IS at CiCi's Pizza
Even at age 8 I would not drop my kiddos off. They are my responsibility and I would stay.
I would word it like this.
"The party for XXX is at OOO Pizza Place.
Drop off is at XXpm and pick up is XXpm.
If you'd like to stay and join us the buffet cost is $XX per adult and $X per additional child."
By first/second grade kids can stay one would assume it is a drop off party. I leave a sheet of paper and ask the parents to put their name and cell phone numbers so I can get ahold of them in an emergency.
this question comes up over and over and over.
i would be aghast if i had a party for kids and the adults expected to have their meals paid for too. but since this is apparently not a widespread attitude, just be clear on your invitations, which should include times for the kids to be picked up and dropped off.
if folks are too dim and need it even clearer you could add something like 'siblings and family members are welcome to stay but we'll just be picking up the tab for the invitees', which sounds too direct even for Very Direct Me<G>.
i mean, if the parents come in and assume that they and the rest of their brood are on your tab, you can always just address them sotte voce courteously with 'sorry, ms freeloader, money's tight and we're only paying for the kids in the party itself.'
after all, this is not something about which you should be embarrassed, the embarrassment is on them for being schmucks.
i'd keep it simple- start and end times on the invitations, and assume that the other families aren't asshats. if they are, deal with them sympathetically and directly then. if they get pissed off, screw 'em.
(but they won't.)
khairete
S.
We had a pizza party for one of mine at 8 and it was awesome. Great choice. It was by far the easiest party we ever did. Kids loved it.
I only said "drop off time ... pick up time ..." on ours. No adults stayed.
Personally, I don't think you have to say anything in this case. By school age, I think it's assumed that parents simply drop off, or if they want to stay it's at their expense.
Have fun :)
I would assume it was for the kids only, but I would be welcome to stay and purchase my own meal. That's me though, others might think differently.
I say this because last week my husband purchased the pizza's and drinks for EVERYONE at our son's basketball end of season party, my husband was the coach. There was almost a full pizza left and one of the parents helped themselves to pack it up and bring it all home.
So you need to be clear. I think putting a drop off and pickup time is clear enough.
I think 8 year olds can be supervised by the party hosts in a pizza place with a small arcade. It's contained, and they are used to being in school in large groups and without their parents.
I would just put a "drop off" and "Pick up" time on the invitation rather than an open window of "12-2 PM" or whatever the hours are. Greet the parents, and say welcome to the kid, then say to the parents "Thanks for bringing him, we'll see you at 2 PM. Kids will be in the arcade for part of the time, supervised by my husband and me, but the pick-up will be in the party room."
If you want to put on the invitation that the kids will be given $3 in quarters (or whatever the amount is) for the arcade and state you'll be serving cupcakes and to let you know if there are any dietary issues/allergies, it's clear what the party activity is.
Beyond that, any parent who stays will clearly pay for food for themselves if they choose to eat. I don't think you have to explain yourself beyond that.
I would not drop off my kids at that age--but I know some would. I would never expect the parents to pay for my meal.
It's fine to pay for kids only. It's second grade - most parents will assume it's kids only. I don't know if you need any special wording on the invite - but if you feel you need to you can write something like "For parents who prefer to stay buffet cost, if desired, is $6 per person."
yes 8 is certainly old enough for drop off. I would word it in your invite. drop off is "X" and pick up is "X" are you doing cici's or somewhere like that? I would plan for a short time if its just eat pizza and cake and a couple dollars in quarters per kid. sounds like my kind of party lol. and no you should not be paying for the parents. its a drop off party.
I'd put in the invite that due to space and venue constraints, only the child is invited (no siblings) and it is a drop off party. Parents are welcome to go have a date or something and come back at x time. At 8 yrs old, most kids are dropped off anyway. Don't assume or make people guess. State it. If a parent wants to come, you can say that your party pack only covers the kids but if they want to pay $X, they are welcome to stay.
Even at age 8 I would not drop my kiddos off. They are my responsibility and I would stay.
I would word it like this.
"The party for XXX is at OOO Pizza Place.
Drop off is at XXpm and pick up is XXpm.
If you'd like to stay and join us the buffet cost is $XX per adult and $X per additional child."
At 8 yo, I would assume everyone realizes it's a drop off party.
Yes, you just pay for the kids. If adults want to stay and eat, they pay for their own food.
Birthdays can be tricky. My daughter had her 9th bd party this past weekend. We invited about 10 kids. I only received 2 rsvps. Had the party at the park . We had 8 kids ,ordered 4 pizzas, I made the cake & brought drinks. One of my daughters friends whole family of Five came & helped themselves to everything!!! So Tacky!!!
If you only invite the children you only need to pay for the children. Be clear in the invite about the "drop off" and "pick up" times and the parents will get the idea that you are not paying for parents or siblings.
How many kids? Offering to pick up & take home eliminates any confusion.
Even if you have to use 2 cars.
Just a thought.
I would say something like, "Please plan to drop off your child at 1130 and pick them up by 100. If you decide to stay, please plan on buying your own meal." I think it depends on how far away they live. If it's a drive and they don't want to make a quick turnaround, then they have the option to stay but it's clear you are not paying. Hope this helps. Good luck.
