Birthday party 1pm till 3pm - serve food?

[Anonymous]

My child’s bday party is coming up and I was wondering if I have to/should serve pizza, along with pop corn (small boxes), fruit and cupcakes or skip the pizza and just serve the other snacks given the time of the party.

Kids are 3 and 4y old (mostly 4). Party is at our home. We will have one character visit and one or two games. Plus a piñata with candy.

The character visit with games lasts 1 hour and I was also wondering what time should I have them arrive to do their part - 1:15pm? That would leave 45min for pizza (if serving it), cake/happy bday song and piñata.

Although the timeline is flexible since the party is at our home.

The other snacks (fruit, pop corn, juice and water) will be on the table for guests to eat/drink whenever they want.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Just do cake. No need for snacks. I promise folks will follow saying you should have pizza and all the snacks you suggested, but it’s so unnecessary. Kids will eat before coming. The time for a snack will come just as you’re serving cake which should be around 2:30pm.

[Anonymous]

I’d do pizza or some other substantive lunch item, to be safe. Sandwiches or chicken tenders etc would be fine.

[Anonymous]

I always serve a meal. I am shocked when parents don’t.

[Anonymous]

If you do pizza, do it first given the party's start time. And let the parents know with the invitation.

[Anonymous]

My kids get really confused when they’ve already eaten lunch & there’s another whole lunch, but if the activity is lots of running, jumping, swimming, they’d be happy with snacks in addition to cake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always serve a meal. I am shocked when parents don’t.

+1
And skip the popcorn

[Anonymous]

Skip the pizza, and have the character arrive at 1:30pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you do pizza, do it first given the party's start time. And let the parents know with the invitation.

+1

[Anonymous]

I do not expect a meal to be served at a party that starts at 1. Most kids will already have had lunch.

[Anonymous]

Popcorn, fruit, and cupcakes are fine. Most kids that young will have already eaten.

1-3 isn’t a great time for a party for 3/4 yos. Probably half of them are still napping.

[Anonymous]

I am also more concerned about nap time than what kind of food is served.

[Anonymous]

Popcorn is a choking hazard under 4 so i would skip the popcorn. Maybe have cheese and crackers and fruit and cake - a bit more substantive of a snack but not a full meal.

[Anonymous]

The PPs aren’t taking into account how chaotic it can be to get to the party - getting ready, driving, etc. because you are taking a chunk out of this family’s day and they made an effort to buy a gift and get there, please give them a meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids get really confused when they’ve already eaten lunch & there’s another whole lunch, but if the activity is lots of running, jumping, swimming, they’d be happy with snacks in addition to cake.

Your kids get "really confused" that at a lunch hour party there might be food and that possibly others have not eaten as they have? Yeah sure ok