Birthday Party Question

[ZPT1022]

I am having a birthday party for DD's 6th Birthday next weekend. The party starts at 2:00 and while I didn't put an ending time because I don't really care how long it goes, I am guessing most people will leave around/by 5:00. The ones who will stay longer are the ones who we are pretty good friends with the whole family. Anyhow, I made the start time at 2:00 because I have to take DD for a uniform fitting that morning. When I was talking to my mom (the party is at her house since she has an awesome yard and a pool), she said "Oh, so no lunch then" I had been planning on doing the norm- pizzas, fruit tray, veggie tray, chips, dips, etc......... Do I not have to do lunch since it's 2:00?? Thinking about it, if we went to a party at 2:00 my kids would have eaten already. Should I just do chips, dips & snacks?? Just cake & juice? Full lunch? Snacky stuff and order pizzas later if we still have a crowd at dinnertime? What would you be thinking/expecting if your 6 year old went to a party at 2:00?

 

[bethifoody]

Well, if the party starts at 2, then I'd assume it was likely just snack foods & cake & ice cream. Unless the invite specifically stated something like, "Dinner at 530" or whatever, I'd assume said party would likely run until 430 or 5, being sure to pick my kid up before the dinner hour - and if I had any question, I'd ask!

So, if I were you, I'd just do snacky stuff, along w/ cake or whatever. If you're ok w/ family/close friends staying later, then let them know that & you can do a pizza or whatever later.

Beth in MI
CR, 8/18-23

 

[minnieandtink]

I am having DD party at 2:00 with swimming and just doing finger sandwiches and chips, cake and ice cream, drinks/juice. Kids often get hungary while swimming so there will be something if they do as well as the parents watching.

 

[ZPT1022]

Thanks guys!! I will plan on doing a big assortment of snacks but no grilling or pizzas or anything, unless people stay later and if they do, great! We will of course have cake as well. DD hasn't decided if she wants cake and ice cream or ice cream cake but that doesn't need to be decided til later. We are okay with whoever wants to stay later staying later. For the most part, parents tend to stay at the birthday parties still, so it's not a huge deal. Since we're having it at my mom's it's also not a big deal if siblings come too. Hopefully people RSVP, that's always the hard part with summer birthdays!

 

[MinnieGi]

We usually start the kids birthday parties at around 2:00 or 3:00 with also no end time. To us that means a full menu of food sort of like a late lunch. We also always have swimming parties and kids and adults are hungry with all the activity. Plus we do games etc.

Around here parties usually always mean at least a slice of pizza plus the cake and ice cream if not more.

 

[daisyduck123]

What would you be thinking/expecting if your 6 year old went to a party at 2:00?

I'd be thinking that my child would be fed cake & ice cream...but definitely not lunch.

 

[princesspiglet]

Maybe it's just my area, but most of the parties around here start around 2/3 and they have all had real food. We just went to one last weekend at 2pm and the kids got their own personal pizzas and there were big ones for the adults. There were also chips, cookies and cake and ice cream.

I am trying to decide on this also for my DD's 5th party in November.

 

[Becky2005]

I'd be thinking that my child would be fed cake & ice cream...but definitely not lunch.

That's how it works in my area. There are usually ending times listed though too. Parties tend to be 2 hours long, so if it started at 2, I would be thinking it ended at about 4ish. Basically, after lunch & before dinner.

When I don't want to serve a meal, that is exactly the time I plan my parties for.

I've started adding that to the invitations just so everyone knows if I'm serving pizza (since the boys are always out of the house parties, that usually involves pizza no matter what time the party). I try to never assume my kids will be getting any type of meal because you just never know around here. Mine know not to expect anything either & if we choose not to feed them on the guess there might be pizza or something & we are wrong, I will feed them afterwards. They already know that's our game plan.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

If the party was running into dinner time, then I'd assume there would be more than cake, but if you are having the kids leave before 5pm, then I wouldn't worry about supplying a meal. I'd still have some snacks and such...you may get a parent here or there who figures you are providing a late lunch. I always put on the invitations "Pizza and Ice Cream Cake" or whatever the food is, that way people know and there are no surprises (or hungry kids if I am not serving anything other than cake). Plus that gives the parents a heads up in case there are allergies-and I did have one child over the years who could not eat pizza...I think it was a gluten issue...so anyway, I was glad to know ahead of time and make the necessary accomodations.