Anonymous wrote:OP again. Thanks for the responses.
Sorry for the rudeness; it is not mine. The COVID specific thing is less of an issue for my prospective group of invitees, since I see them in other contexts and know their risk level in advance, but I wouldn't disavow or disinvite someone who's uncomfortable. We can respect each other's choices even if we disagree.

Do it! Took my preschooler to their first indoor party in two years a couple weeks ago and it was great. These kids have missed so much! I would y worry too much about the younger siblings part, when my kids were younger we just worked it out- either both parents and kids came (if invited) or I’d just take the older one and leave the younger home with DH.

OP again. Thanks for the responses.
Sorry for the rudeness; it is not mine. The COVID specific thing is less of an issue for my prospective group of invitees, since I see them in other contexts and know their risk level in advance, but I wouldn't disavow or disinvite someone who's uncomfortable. We can respect each other's choices even if we disagree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask the parents. No way for us.

Your loss.

Not with covid... preschoolers aren't vaccinated nor masked now. Hard no for us.

Lol I'd call this a win-win.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask the parents. No way for us.

Your loss.

Not with covid... preschoolers aren't vaccinated nor masked now. Hard no for us.

You would never be invited, so no worries. People like you have long been dropped from the party lists.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask the parents. No way for us.

Your loss.

Not with covid... preschoolers aren't vaccinated nor masked now. Hard no for us.

Anonymous wrote:You don’t necessarily need to invite younger siblings. It’s not at all expected.

OP here. In my case it is. We are all SAHMs and hang out at playgrounds with our kids together in groups; it's not that the kids only know one sibling from a pr we school class.

And it's not just one family with the under-2s.

The point about both parents being there is a good one actually! Then it's not as awful because they can split up kid duty.

You don’t necessarily need to invite younger siblings. It’s not at all expected.

Anonymous wrote:Ask the parents. No way for us.

Your loss.

Ask the parents. No way for us.

If both parents come they will probably divide and conquer and take turns watching kids/chatting. Just plan the party you want.

Indoor party. Don’t worry about parents looking after younger kids - that’s not your concern.

Indoor party is fine. The parents will likely have to follow the younger siblings, but your kid and their older will have a blast. It'll be ok.

Do the indoor party. I've been with little kids and it's no big deal. If people don't want to bring them they won't. Let these kids have a childhood!

I have a soon to be 5 year old who would like a birthday party at one of these indoor play/trampoline places. For the sake of discussion let's lay aside the issue of COVID.

I also have a 3 y.o. who loves these sorts of places and navigates them well.
We have a number of friends we want to invite ages 4-6, but the issue is younger siblings. I don't want to create a situation for the parents where, instead of hanging out and chatting while watching their kids from the sideline, they have to follow their curious under-2 into every attraction to keep them from hurting themselves.

I'd host at home but our yard is a huge mess right now not fit for public viewing, much less children playing, and the guest list is a little bigger than "my three friends who see the mess every week anyway", and it's not ideal inside either.

So....what do? Do the indoor party anyway, host at home with no access to yard, do a playground party (which we did last year, to pretty good effect, but it was fewer people)? I'm out of ideas!