Too late for five- and six-year olds?

[DisneyLovingMama]

DD was invited to a party that will be on a Friday at 8:00 p.m. The party is about a 1/2 hour from home and will last 1.5 hours. So, we wouldn't be home until at least 10:00. I RSVPd that we wouldn't be able to go. We have a function early the next morning, and DD's usual bedtime is around 8:00 (give or take 15 minutes).

The Mom seemed suprised that so many people were not going to be able to attend the party (she had received all Nos). I nicely suggested that maybe it was too late for Kindergarteners to be at a party, and she was shocked, since her DS doesn't go to bed until 10:00 or 10:30.

And here I am stressing that having DD's part at 5:00 on a Saturday will be too late.

 

[In a hurry]

There now...I get to agree with you on this one! I wouldn't have, nor allow my daughter to attend a kid party that late in the evening. Most small children are not at their best at those late hours...and neither am I!

 

[Bob Slydell]

It would be too late for my 5 year old as well (he also usually goes to bed around 8pm), especially if he had something the next morning. If there wasn't anything else going on the next day, he'd probably be ok, but would definitely be dragging (and grumpy) the next morning.

 

[Rachie0507]

I would have declined also, I think that is too late for a 5 year old. My DD5 goes to bed at 7:30 most nights. We do keep her up late on the weekends if there is something special going on or if she happened to fall asleep during the day. And at that, she is usually asking to go to bed on her own by 8:30. I know everyone is different with bedtimes and that is their right, but I would never plan a party to end after 10 for this age range.

My DD's kindergarten teacher stressed to all the parents on the first day about how important it is for the kids to get a good night sleep and that they really should be in bed every night before 8.

 

[MAKmom]

Thats way to late for the under 10 crowd to be going out. It late for me!

 

[Annette_VA]

Wow, I can't believe her DS doesn't go to bed until 10 or 10:30. He's got to be dragging through school every day.

My oldest is 4. We'll go to college basketball games that keep us out until about 10pm, but we only go on non-school nights and when we've got nothing planned the next day. Otherwise, he's asleep by 8pm each night.

 

[princesspumpkin]

Well, I guess this is where you see how different people are. You can't imagine a child that young staying up that late. She can't imagine why it's such a big deal for other people's children to stay up this late. From what I can remember about DD-9, at the age of 4, she was still taking two hour naps, so she did stay up later in the evening. She wasn't cranky getting up at all, because in essence, she had received enough sleep. You never know how someone else run's their household until these types of things happen.

 

[mickeyboat]

Definitely too late. My 5 and 6 year olds have an 8PM bedtime. They are usually so tired most nights they fall asleep even before that. We would probably decline the invite.

Denae

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Seems late to me. Both my kids -- age 7 and 10 go to bed at around 9pm most nights. For special events they might stay up later, but at age 5 my kids would have been begging to go to bed by then.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Kindergarteners and First Graders are in School during the day.
99.99999999999999% are not getting two hour naps.



I am sitting here remembering rolling my eyes at the one recent post where it was like 10:00p.m., and she was wanting to do whatever it was that she was wanting to do as an adult, and she was on the DIS, actually COMPLAINING because her little child that age 'wouldn't leave her alone'...

Ummmmm, Yeah Right!!!!

Just because there happen to be a few parents without common sense, that doesn't mean that my 5y.o. would be out partying till nearly 10:00 at night.

 

[luvdzne]

Was there a reason she was having it so late? I would have to say DD would not be attending something that late. I would think she would have a bunch of cranky 5 and 6 year olds running around. Not my idea of a fun evening

 

[pearlieq]

I suppose it does sound a little late, but in her defense it's not a school night. I don't think the Earth would crash into the sun if a 5 year old stayed up until 10:00pm if he could sleep in a little the next day.

Is she a single mom? That was my first thought. Maybe this is when she can schedule the party around work.

 

[princesspumpkin]

Kindergarteners and First Graders are in School during the day.
99.99999999999999% are not getting two hour naps.

Wow, I had no idea that you knew 99.999999999999999% of the children in the world. Good for you! That being said, there are many, many kindergarteners that only attend school HALF A DAY! And, if memory serves, I was one of those that came home at noon and took a nap - after kindergarten. Go figure! Like I said, things are done differently in different households. And unless you personally know them all, then you can't be sure what they are ALL doing. And what's with the rolling eyes - it's not that deep.

 

[VSL]

I used to go to bed the same time as my parents when I was little too - in fact, my BF's little cousin (7yrs) doesn't go to bed much sooner than her parents either (don't know if she's up until they go to bed too, though).

And, like pearlieq said, 'in her defense it's not a school night'.

Different familes, different routines, I guess.

 

[Hannathy]

Not everyone likes to get up at 6 AM. I don't think it is nice to say someone doesn't have common sense if they keep a different schedule. My 1rst grader is up to 10 on school nights. we live very close to school and he get 9.5 - 10 hrs a night and is not dragging. I think it is late for a party to start but I also am wondering if she had a reason for it starting so late. I would let my child attend.
I feel bad for the birthday child they won't understand why no one is coming to their party. When we are at Disney I am glad I have night owls.

 

[jbdreamer]

I would think she would have a bunch of cranky 5 and 6 year olds running around. Not my idea of a fun evening

That was exactly what I was thinking.
Honesly I can't imagine having a B-day party and eating cake and ice cream 1 hour before bed time - no matter what your age!

 

[PixiePop]

It would be too late for my DS-6 to attend.

 

[FreshTressa]

My kids don't go to bed until 9:30-10, but they don't have to be up until 7:45. They wake up at 6:30 if I put them to bed any earlier, and I just can't have that!

But, I digress.....I think it is stupid to plan a party for a kindergartner that late at night. I don't get it at all...was it supposed to be a pajama party or something???

 

[mchames]

Is there a specific theme of the party that might lend itself to being held at night? I have a DD8 and DD6 who go to bed at 7:30, but last year for their 7th and 5th birthdays they were both DYING to have sleepover parties. I, on the other hand did not relish the thought of being responsible for 10-12 little girls for a sleepover.... so we compromised. They each had a Not-So-Sleepy Pajama Party instead.

Here's what we did:

DD's 7th birthday- Princess Diaries Not-So-Sleepy Pajama Party They arrived at 6pm in their pajamas and left at 9:30pm. During the first 1.5 hrs we did crafts, danced, had pizza, cake and ice cream. For the last 2 hrs. we layed out blankets, sleeping bags and pillows and the girls watched Princess diaries and ate popcorn. No one was picked up early.

DD's 5th birthday- Strawberry Shortcake Not-So-Sleepy Pajama Party
Again, the girls arrived in their pajamas at 6pm. We did the same things as at big sister's party two months earlier. The only thing I did differently this time was show a shorter movie. The SS video was only 45 min. long so the party ended at 8:30 which was still past the bedtime of most of the 4 and 5 year olds attending.

We had 12 girls at both parties. I received great reviews from parents at both parties who thought it was a great compromise to the whole sleepover idea.

This being said, I probably wouldn't let my DD's go to a party that late at night if there wasn't a good reason for it that made sense.

Mary

 

[Aidensmom]

I would be declining the party invitation. We do let DS4 stay up later on the weekends, but what we do is he has to be in his bed by about 8:30 (he goes to bed between 7:30 and 8 on weekdays), and then he is allowed to watch TV or read books in bed until he falls asleep. A party that doesn't even start till 8 would have him "wound up" way too late.