Planning 3rd birthday party - faux pas to avoid?

[Anonymous]

Too long for preschool friends
Totally okay to have an earlier end time for school friends and a later end for close friends and family

[Anonymous]

I may sound like a Grinch but a birthday party for mostly two year olds with a bounce castle would stress me out. Kids are bumping heads, crying, getting scared. I'd have to watch my kid like a hawk. Maybe if it's only a couple of kids, but not 10+ toddlers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3:30 to 7pm is way too long a party for that age group. I'd say 4-6:30.

I agree it is too long and 7 is late for a 3 year old to be at a party.

[Anonymous]

Specify no gifts if you don’t want them! Whatever Miss Manners says, failing to specify “no gifts” will result in people bringing you gifts. And in my experience, people really go all out on gifts these days—maybe it’s Instagram?—large packages, fancy wrapping, etc. in my circles, no gifts was the norm until around 4 or 5.

[Anonymous]

OP I agree with others - 2 hours is max for kids birthday parties. 3:30 - 5:30 and mention that you'll have "snacks and cake" or something like that - it's helpful to know what food will be served. If it was me, I would honestly do 4-6 pm and serve a dinner at 5 so people aren't rushing home to get their kids dinner at the end of the party. For most 3 year old party invites it says "no gifts please" but I know there are mixed feelings on this. Personally I like this for 3 year olds, and don't mind at all buying gifts for my 5 year olds friends because he actually know their preferences and has fun picking out for them. So I've liked the 3 year old no gift parties, but either way is fine. If you say nothing, you will get a lot of gifts.

And definitely no magnets. I've never seen anything beyond an email or an evite. And absolutely don't give a different end to one set of folks. Your close friends will stay if they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I may sound like a Grinch but a birthday party for mostly two year olds with a bounce castle would stress me out. Kids are bumping heads, crying, getting scared. I'd have to watch my kid like a hawk. Maybe if it's only a couple of kids, but not 10+ toddlers.

I do think you sound like a grinch, sorry. A bounce house is a really normal thing for 3 year olds. I actually find them more stressful with bigger kids mixed in with little kids, that's when it gets nuts. A bunch of 3 year olds just bounce for a few minutes, fall over, bounce again, then get out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I agree with others - 2 hours is max for kids birthday parties. 3:30 - 5:30 and mention that you'll have "snacks and cake" or something like that - it's helpful to know what food will be served. If it was me, I would honestly do 4-6 pm and serve a dinner at 5 so people aren't rushing home to get their kids dinner at the end of the party. For most 3 year old party invites it says "no gifts please" but I know there are mixed feelings on this. Personally I like this for 3 year olds, and don't mind at all buying gifts for my 5 year olds friends because he actually know their preferences and has fun picking out for them. So I've liked the 3 year old no gift parties, but either way is fine. If you say nothing, you will get a lot of gifts.

And definitely no magnets. I've never seen anything beyond an email or an evite. And absolutely don't give a different end to one set of folks. Your close friends will stay if they want.

Oh and even if you plan for your friends to stay later, make sure to sing happy birthday and cut the cake about 1.5 hours in so that preschool friends can comfortably leave!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I may sound like a Grinch but a birthday party for mostly two year olds with a bounce castle would stress me out. Kids are bumping heads, crying, getting scared. I'd have to watch my kid like a hawk. Maybe if it's only a couple of kids, but not 10+ toddlers.

I do think you sound like a grinch, sorry. A bounce house is a really normal thing for 3 year olds. I actually find them more stressful with bigger kids mixed in with little kids, that's when it gets nuts. A bunch of 3 year olds just bounce for a few minutes, fall over, bounce again, then get out.

I agree with this. A bounce house is very normal but I would be careful of mixed age groups. You can have a parent keep an eye on things. I’ve been to a ton of birthdays for my three kids and no one has ever been injured in a bounce house.

Timing: 90 minutes to 2 hours. Party should end by 6 pm (I prefer 5:30) because these children are 3 and need to get home, bathe, and go to bed.

Invite: One invite for everyone. Invite should say foods being served: “Serving pizza and cupcakes.”

I always do cupcakes with a lot of kids. No cake to cut and less messy.

[Anonymous]

I guess I disagree with others about the length. To me a two hour party is barely worth it, esp because these are parents of small kids and half of them will be late. Three hours is the sweet spot but also - I don’t know anyone with a three year old who wouldn’t just leave when it was time for bedtime/dinner/whatever. So do whatever you want. It’s a kid’s party, I don’t think folks take the start and end times as inflexible demands for their time.
Def have dinner to serve if you’re ending at 6 or later, and have a plan for the bounce house or else you’ll end up having to chaperone it the entire time (“take off your shoes!” “Wait one moment, we already have 8 kids in there” “stop bouncing on your brother’s head, Larla” etc)

[Anonymous]

Time should be 90 minutes to 2 hours
Magnet invites are ridiculous, do an electronic one (plus a handout for school if required)
Have enough food for everyone
If you don't want gifts for whatever reason, say no gifts on the invitation, otherwise people will bring gifts (people here get all worked up about this, but this is just how it is)
Specify if siblings are welcome
Have a rain plan