Unmask your children, especially when outside around other kids. Research the impact those things have on kids learning social interactions skills.

For our 2 year old’s winter park birthday party (mid-morning time), we did cupcakes for everyone, plus coffee for the adults. All the kids always have sippy cups with their beverage of choice, so it didn’t occur to me to bring water bottles. That may have been a miss on my part. My daughter loves balloons so we got her a big balloon bouquet that the kids had fun passing around, and at the end each child got a balloon to take home. It didn’t occur to me to wonder whether we should have done more, maybe I am clueless!

Get some clementines and veggie straws or pirates booty, plus little bottles of water.

Don't get more food--I can't even tell you how much food I have thrown out after years of multiple birthdays. Cupcakes and water is fine for kids. Parents always love coffee. its not a meal time, its outside and its kinda cold. I think you're gonna be more than fine with cupcakes. I have been to many parties like this and its absolutely fine!

I did a playground party around noon and had pizza, chex mix, hot cider and cupcakes. This was in late autumn. I totally forgot about water so if I could go back in time I would have water bottles. Everyone stayed late so they must have been happy.
I went to a winter outdoor party recently and they just had smores. My kid was asking where the other food was so I had to shush him. Another party I went to had a veggie platter, cupcakes, and candy and I thought that was silly. Why bother with the veggie platter at all? Also it was at 5 pm, prime dinner hour. If you don't want to serve food do it around 3.

Did this for my 3 year old’s birthday. Got breakfast tacos and individually wrapped ice cream. Brought bottles of water and join boxes. It worked well, was fairly germless (no need to touch items). Parents and kids were happy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mini cupcakes, prepackaged bags of goldfish, cuties tangerines, Babybel cheeses.

Small water bottles, low sugar motts fruit punch boxes, box of coffee and cream for adults.

Empty lunch sacks for anyone wanting to do a grab and go snack, and napkins.

It's ONE hour. Do people really eat constantly like this, so much that a single hour requires multiple lines of snacks?

You need to provide snacks if you are hosting people for an event. Do you not know this? It’s kind of basic etiquette / common sense.

“Let me do a cheap-o party and grab $25 gifts from each of you”

I would consider cookies. Cupcakes are such a mess for little kids.

What time is the party?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mini cupcakes, prepackaged bags of goldfish, cuties tangerines, Babybel cheeses.

Small water bottles, low sugar motts fruit punch boxes, box of coffee and cream for adults.

Empty lunch sacks for anyone wanting to do a grab and go snack, and napkins.

It's ONE hour. Do people really eat constantly like this, so much that a single hour requires multiple lines of snacks?

You need to provide snacks if you are hosting people for an event. Do you not know this? It’s kind of basic etiquette / common sense.

Anonymous wrote:Mini cupcakes, prepackaged bags of goldfish, cuties tangerines, Babybel cheeses.

Small water bottles, low sugar motts fruit punch boxes, box of coffee and cream for adults.

Empty lunch sacks for anyone wanting to do a grab and go snack, and napkins.

It's ONE hour. Do people really eat constantly like this, so much that a single hour requires multiple lines of snacks?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. Thanks all. Regarding the time, I planned for it to be short in case it’s cold, but will stay longer if others want to keep playing. Probably going to go with cupcakes, water, coffee and cheese sticks or some other easy snack.

Seems kinda cheap to not have actual food but whatever.

The party is AN HOUR. Do you really need food for a party that is an hour and not during a meal time?!?

NP. Yes. Parties need food, or it’s not a party.

Mini cupcakes, prepackaged bags of goldfish, cuties tangerines, Babybel cheeses.

Small water bottles, low sugar motts fruit punch boxes, box of coffee and cream for adults.

Empty lunch sacks for anyone wanting to do a grab and go snack, and napkins.

Anonymous wrote:I’d make a to go bag with a cupcake and water bottle. That way kids can remain masked and parents can decide if they want their kids to have sugar.

The no sugar parents should stay home. It's a birthday party, and we're talking a single cupcake. Unless your child has diabetes, I am not going to pry a cupcake out of their hands. I've had a parent yell at me at a playground birthday party for handing their child a cupcake (after they politely requested one). If you see someone handing out cupcakes, it is on you to leave the party with your kid instead of creating a scene.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. Thanks all. Regarding the time, I planned for it to be short in case it’s cold, but will stay longer if others want to keep playing. Probably going to go with cupcakes, water, coffee and cheese sticks or some other easy snack.

Seems kinda cheap to not have actual food but whatever.

Not sure why parents on DCUM are so pressed about party food especially if it's during a snack time

People just like to be contrary. If she said she was serving pizza the responses would be 'OMG nobody needs PIZZA at a non-mealtime this is why Americans are fat AF."