How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?

[Anonymous]

I can't believe the snowflakes on this forum. We had backyard parties all the time for our summer birthday kids. The standard 2 hour party. Parents had access to the house if it was too young for a drop-off, but they were really fun. No one complained.

Also attended lots of outdoor birthday parties since our kids had friends the same ages. I even remember a park party when the host and I were both 9 months pregnant.

It was not a big deal. What does everyone do all summer if you can't be outside for 2 hours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Kids are 5. No water involved (No hose, but I could perhaps get water balloons) but playground equipment and a large lawn.

What are the kids going to do at the party?

Planning ahead but essentially the same types of games I remember enjoying at my friend’s parties as a kid. We did wheelbarrow races, potato sack (I’ll need to find actual ones if they still exist), little relays across the field, and general running and playing freely, etc..

That's a lot of running around in the heat. Maybe throw in a craft or something with water or ice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the snowflakes on this forum. We had backyard parties all the time for our summer birthday kids. The standard 2 hour party. Parents had access to the house if it was too young for a drop-off, but they were really fun. No one complained.

Also attended lots of outdoor birthday parties since our kids had friends the same ages. I even remember a park party when the host and I were both 9 months pregnant.

It was not a big deal. What does everyone do all summer if you can't be outside for 2 hours?

I'm one of the snowflakes you're trying to shame and make feel bad. I'm the one who overheats and passes out if I'm in the sun/heat too long (20 minutes). What do I do all summer? I work at my (air-conditioned) office. I go for a walk after work when the sun starts setting. On weekends, when I volunteer outdoors, I am in shade. I simply don't spend time outside. Home to car/bus, car/bus to work or store, and that's it. Do YOU want to be the person stepping over my body that's passed out on the sidewalk in front of your house? No, I didn' think so. So I do what I need to in order to avoid that happening.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would put up shade, large tent or umbrellas unless there is natural shade, fans if possible. I would also add water features: run through sprinklers, kiddie pool, misters. Iced water and lemonade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the snowflakes on this forum. We had backyard parties all the time for our summer birthday kids. The standard 2 hour party. Parents had access to the house if it was too young for a drop-off, but they were really fun. No one complained.

Also attended lots of outdoor birthday parties since our kids had friends the same ages. I even remember a park party when the host and I were both 9 months pregnant.

It was not a big deal. What does everyone do all summer if you can't be outside for 2 hours?

I'm one of the snowflakes you're trying to shame and make feel bad. I'm the one who overheats and passes out if I'm in the sun/heat too long (20 minutes). What do I do all summer? I work at my (air-conditioned) office. I go for a walk after work when the sun starts setting. On weekends, when I volunteer outdoors, I am in shade. I simply don't spend time outside. Home to car/bus, car/bus to work or store, and that's it. Do YOU want to be the person stepping over my body that's passed out on the sidewalk in front of your house? No, I didn' think so. So I do what I need to in order to avoid that happening.

Well good thing it's a party for kids and not grown up drama queens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the snowflakes on this forum. We had backyard parties all the time for our summer birthday kids. The standard 2 hour party. Parents had access to the house if it was too young for a drop-off, but they were really fun. No one complained.

Also attended lots of outdoor birthday parties since our kids had friends the same ages. I even remember a park party when the host and I were both 9 months pregnant.

It was not a big deal. What does everyone do all summer if you can't be outside for 2 hours?

Backyard party is okay, kids can dash inside to cool off and use restroom.

A park party after 11am is misery. It’s much hotter here in July than it was 10 years ago.

Go to a play place like any sane parent.

[Anonymous]

I would hate to go to a park in July. Pool party? Sure.

The only party I have ever cancelled last minute was a summer park party. We had no real excuse except that I just didn’t want to go to the park on a hot July day.

If it was a good friend, I would suffer through it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the snowflakes on this forum. We had backyard parties all the time for our summer birthday kids. The standard 2 hour party. Parents had access to the house if it was too young for a drop-off, but they were really fun. No one complained.

Also attended lots of outdoor birthday parties since our kids had friends the same ages. I even remember a park party when the host and I were both 9 months pregnant.

It was not a big deal. What does everyone do all summer if you can't be outside for 2 hours?

I think all the summer parties we have been invited to are inside or involve some sort of water - sprinklers, spray park, pool, etc.

I once had a July 4th party and had water balloons and then we did fireworks and sparklers when it got dark. The party was inside and outside though.

[Anonymous]

Our close friends suffered through a backyard sprinkler late July birthday party. I’ve avoided hosting anything by going on vacation since. Think we’re going to do a small pool party for her 8th. Our pool has some shade and limited guest passes though. I feel bad not having a party for her but also so many kids are away that week it’s always seemed risky for a low turn out.

[Anonymous]

If there’s no water, I think you need to do this either very early (finishing before 11) or late in the afternoon (4-6) otherwise that’s just too much sun exposure for 5 y/os who are not going to want to stop and reapply spf.

[Anonymous]

My kid goes to all day outside camp and did at 5. As long as there is some shade and lots of beverages, I wouldn’t be deterred

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the snowflakes on this forum. We had backyard parties all the time for our summer birthday kids. The standard 2 hour party. Parents had access to the house if it was too young for a drop-off, but they were really fun. No one complained.

Also attended lots of outdoor birthday parties since our kids had friends the same ages. I even remember a park party when the host and I were both 9 months pregnant.

It was not a big deal. What does everyone do all summer if you can't be outside for 2 hours?

I'm one of the snowflakes you're trying to shame and make feel bad. I'm the one who overheats and passes out if I'm in the sun/heat too long (20 minutes). What do I do all summer? I work at my (air-conditioned) office. I go for a walk after work when the sun starts setting. On weekends, when I volunteer outdoors, I am in shade. I simply don't spend time outside. Home to car/bus, car/bus to work or store, and that's it. Do YOU want to be the person stepping over my body that's passed out on the sidewalk in front of your house? No, I didn' think so. So I do what I need to in order to avoid that happening.

Well good thing it's a party for kids and not grown up drama queens.

You think my kids didn't inherit my overheating gene?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Kids are 5. No water involved (No hose, but I could perhaps get water balloons) but playground equipment and a large lawn.

What are the kids going to do at the party?

Planning ahead but essentially the same types of games I remember enjoying at my friend’s parties as a kid. We did wheelbarrow races, potato sack (I’ll need to find actual ones if they still exist), little relays across the field, and general running and playing freely, etc..

Ugh, with the heat and him8fity of typical July in DC ? ^^^

Maybe if its from 10am-12pm. Or early evenin (or dinner). You'll also have to contend with pop-up late afternoon thunderstorms that ate also very typical here.

[Anonymous]

Don’t plan July parties in early March. Gosh DCUM moms are so extra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the snowflakes on this forum. We had backyard parties all the time for our summer birthday kids. The standard 2 hour party. Parents had access to the house if it was too young for a drop-off, but they were really fun. No one complained.

Also attended lots of outdoor birthday parties since our kids had friends the same ages. I even remember a park party when the host and I were both 9 months pregnant.

It was not a big deal. What does everyone do all summer if you can't be outside for 2 hours?

People complained, just not in front of you.