4 is also a bit of a turning point. My DD attended a bunch of 4 year old birthdays, but not until the last few did she really catch on to what a birthday party was. Now the 5 year old parties, she was JAZZED about. I don't know how far out of my way I would have gone to attend a 4 year old party unless I also really wanted to go. Maybe 30-40 minutes of driving? My kid still napped, so that was always a consideration (yes even at 4 years old). She was a bit flexible on exactly when, but generally between 1-3pm. So if the party was 45 minutes away and was scheduled for 11-1pm, I'd probably turn it down. If it was for 10am-noon, I would have probably come.

Anonymous wrote:If your four year is attending a public school preschool then you are committing residency fraud. The attorney general files lawsuits against families doing that.

This is one of the best overreactions I've ever seen on DCUM, and that is saying a lot. You DO know that most kids in this area attend private pre-school, right?

OP, I would just talk to a few parents at dropoff and pickup to get a sense of what they would do.

Anonymous wrote:Are you talking about jumping joeys? If most people live in Bethesda or nw, then that will be a pretty far drive. IME, Bethesda people typically find VA to be less than desirable. Can you do a party closer to everyone? Or do it at the Clarendon jumping joeys?

Jumping Joeys in Clarendon isn’t open.

Are you talking about jumping joeys? If most people live in Bethesda or nw, then that will be a pretty far drive. IME, Bethesda people typically find VA to be less than desirable. Can you do a party closer to everyone? Or do it at the Clarendon jumping joeys?

Anonymous wrote:If your four year is attending a public school preschool then you are committing residency fraud. The attorney general files lawsuits against families doing that.

If it was on a weekend without much traffic i would come. If its at 5pm on a Friday I would not.

Anonymous wrote:If your four year is attending a public school preschool then you are committing residency fraud. The attorney general files lawsuits against families doing that.

You do realize there are private preschools in dc...? Since kids in the class are from Bethesda as well that is almost certainly the case. Try being kind.

If your four year is attending a public school preschool then you are committing residency fraud. The attorney general files lawsuits against families doing that.

For a close friend 45 minutes.
For preschool classmate 30 max but I live in the suburbs decently out there - people closer in and so not used to driving as much may say less.

Our preschool is in NW DC. We’ve definitely been invited to parties at Nook in Falls Church and Badlands in Rockville, etc. They were well attended. Our preschool does have a birthday party culture and the day whole class gets invited.

Two hours away.

A close friend, yes, we'd travel that far, but not for a preschool friend that we don't socialize outside of. I'd do something in DC, not VA or even near Bethesda in less you have family/friends who'll come.

For me it's less about distance and more about commute time. I have a nine year old. There were parties within DC that took 45 minutes to get to due to road closures and events going on. I'd much rather go to something 30 minutes away on the highway than deal with all the lights as I pass through downtown. Thirty minutes is my limit though.

We live in Virginia but my soon to be 4 year old goes to preschool in DC. Most of the kids he goes to
with live in either DC or Bethesda. I’m trying to book a party location but am not sure if people would make the drive to Falls Church for the party. Would it be better to book it somewhere closer to where his friends live? There is a place near us that I know he’d love, but I would feel awful if no one showed up.