Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dislike most kids birthday parties so my ideal party (if you absolutely have to have one) is Saturday 10am to noon. Simple activity in an easy-to-get-to location (not something a 40 minute drive from where we all live). Party starts on time. Serve bagels and snacks but no need to serve a meal (it just prolongs everyone being there). Do cake 90 minutes into the party. If you have it at a park or playground then people can hang out if they want but once cake happens they can also leave.

I think most kids parties prior to drop off parties (which usually involve the kids' actual friends they made themselves as opposed to the whole class or whoever their parents think they should invite) are horrible and that this whole trend of making them extra elaborate is stupid.

It's a great example of parents shooting themselves in the foot by creating an expensive and time consuming parental obligation that literally no one enjoys (not even the kids -- your 6 yr old would actually be more than happy with a park party because they are too young to know better until you fill their head with fantasies of Sky Zone or whatever). Just stop.

10-12 is lunch time. You serve food.

Anonymous wrote:#1 - Weekdays in general are off limits. There's too much happening with work, school, etc to make it work well.
#2 - I prefer Saturday or Sunday mid/late morning or early afternoon. Best if the party is over by 2. Even better if it's over by noon.

Anonymous wrote:During school or sleeping hours are off limits.

Lunch: anything starting at 11am or lasting until 1. If the party started at 1, no lunch.
Dinner: the party has to end by 5:30 to avoid dinner.

Anonymous wrote:I dislike most kids birthday parties so my ideal party (if you absolutely have to have one) is Saturday 10am to noon. Simple activity in an easy-to-get-to location (not something a 40 minute drive from where we all live). Party starts on time. Serve bagels and snacks but no need to serve a meal (it just prolongs everyone being there). Do cake 90 minutes into the party. If you have it at a park or playground then people can hang out if they want but once cake happens they can also leave.

I think most kids parties prior to drop off parties (which usually involve the kids' actual friends they made themselves as opposed to the whole class or whoever their parents think they should invite) are horrible and that this whole trend of making them extra elaborate is stupid.

It's a great example of parents shooting themselves in the foot by creating an expensive and time consuming parental obligation that literally no one enjoys (not even the kids -- your 6 yr old would actually be more than happy with a park party because they are too young to know better until you fill their head with fantasies of Sky Zone or whatever). Just stop.

Anonymous wrote:Always serve food.

Anonymous wrote:Op here… more curious what’s an absolute no go for you… and what hours of any day would require food (considering sleepovers starting late evening)

Anonymous wrote:I dislike most kids birthday parties so my ideal party (if you absolutely have to have one) is Saturday 10am to noon. Simple activity in an easy-to-get-to location (not something a 40 minute drive from where we all live). Party starts on time. Serve bagels and snacks but no need to serve a meal (it just prolongs everyone being there). Do cake 90 minutes into the party. If you have it at a park or playground then people can hang out if they want but once cake happens they can also leave.

I think most kids parties prior to drop off parties (which usually involve the kids' actual friends they made themselves as opposed to the whole class or whoever their parents think they should invite) are horrible and that this whole trend of making them extra elaborate is stupid.

It's a great example of parents shooting themselves in the foot by creating an expensive and time consuming parental obligation that literally no one enjoys (not even the kids -- your 6 yr old would actually be more than happy with a park party because they are too young to know better until you fill their head with fantasies of Sky Zone or whatever). Just stop.