Anonymous
03/14/2023 11:22
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the snowflakes on this forum. We had backyard parties all the time for our summer birthday kids. The standard 2 hour party. Parents had access to the house if it was too young for a drop-off, but they were really fun. No one complained.
Also attended lots of outdoor birthday parties since our kids had friends the same ages. I even remember a park party when the host and I were both 9 months pregnant.
It was not a big deal. What does everyone do all summer if you can't be outside for 2 hours?
Snowflake here— we go to the pool in the afternoon, the playground super early in the morning (usually 7:45-9:30) and in the 10:00-2:00 peak solar time we play in the shade of the screened in porch in the water table/with bubbles/paint with water. My kids still nap midday so my “snowflake” window is about two hours long.
Meanwhile we’re out all day in the winter when other DC folks stay in, and I somehow don’t feel the need to call names about it.
+1. My kids are older now but everyone should avoid 10-2 in the direct sun for skin cancer reasons.
Anonymous
03/14/2023 08:16
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Community centers have party rooms you can rent with bounce houses or foam playrooms. If you can spend a little more, there’s little gym etc.
Anonymous
03/14/2023 08:13
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Oh hell no, a field at a public park with no shade or water? Just no. Find a different park, if you must inflict this on people.
Anonymous
03/14/2023 08:08
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Do it early in the morning or late late in the afternoon. You can’t do a midday party in the sun with no shade in July but early morning is fine. Or late in the day when the sun is going down. Will be fun!
Anonymous
03/12/2023 15:42
Subject: Re:How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Anonymous wrote:You all are such babies. Normal bday party length (anywhere between 1.5-3 hrs) is fine for a park party. I do think for a July party you should have some water element (sprinkler they can run through, kiddie pools and water tables, water balloons, something) and you should offer lots of cold beverages, popsicles/ice creams and have some shade (tables w umbrellas) set up for adults plus a place ppl can duck inside for a few minutes if they get really hot. But it’s fine! I grew up somewhere even hotter than DC (the Deep South) and I have a July bday and had outdoor parties almost every year! Always w sprinklers and hoses, sometimes at the pool.
Op said there is NO shade and NO water element.
That is why everyone is saying that the blazing Julu sun, oppressive humidity, and relentless mosquitoes (especially in a large field at a park where the proposed venue will be) is a horrible idea.
And no, bringing a cooler of Popsicles isn't going to cut it.
Anonymous
03/12/2023 15:23
Subject: Re:How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
You all are such babies. Normal bday party length (anywhere between 1.5-3 hrs) is fine for a park party. I do think for a July party you should have some water element (sprinkler they can run through, kiddie pools and water tables, water balloons, something) and you should offer lots of cold beverages, popsicles/ice creams and have some shade (tables w umbrellas) set up for adults plus a place ppl can duck inside for a few minutes if they get really hot. But it’s fine! I grew up somewhere even hotter than DC (the Deep South) and I have a July bday and had outdoor parties almost every year! Always w sprinklers and hoses, sometimes at the pool.
Anonymous
03/12/2023 15:11
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Anonymous wrote:Thanks PPs. The lawn is a public park lawn without pavilion though benches are available. No hose.
For those that do a pool party, how do you ensure the children are not drowning? I had a near drowning as a child so I have some anxiety about having a pool party. Any tips should I go that route? I would use a Rec center.
OK I was originally in the camp that you can have an outside party in July, but a lawn in a public park with no pavilion (or shade?) sounds pretty miserable. I think you may need to find a different venue with more shade or maybe have the party a little earlier in June before lots of people leave town. If you incorporated water games - you can bring those suitcases of water from the grocery store to have enough water to use - it might work but it does sound challenging.
Anonymous
03/12/2023 14:10
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
I also wouldn’t want to be responsible (even though I know it’d be on each individual parent) for a bunch of kids in a pool. My stomach just turned talking about it.
Op, can you crowd source a bunch of those pop up tents? Shade, lots of popsicles/fruit/cold drinks, and some misters should be a good bet.
Op, can you crowd source a bunch of those pop up tents? Shade, lots of popsicles/fruit/cold drinks, and some misters should be a good bet.
Anonymous
03/12/2023 12:13
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Thanks PPs. The lawn is a public park lawn without pavilion though benches are available. No hose.
For those that do a pool party, how do you ensure the children are not drowning? I had a near drowning as a child so I have some anxiety about having a pool party. Any tips should I go that route? I would use a Rec center.
For those that do a pool party, how do you ensure the children are not drowning? I had a near drowning as a child so I have some anxiety about having a pool party. Any tips should I go that route? I would use a Rec center.
Anonymous
03/12/2023 00:04
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Anonymous wrote:Huh? We stay outside all day in the summer!
Oh look, it's "huh" lady again!
Anonymous
03/12/2023 00:02
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Totally fine, especially if you can rent a shelter/covered pavilion. My DD has a June birthday and we had her 5th b-day at a park. It was in the mid-90s and everyone that RSVPed yes came and stayed for a long time. We rented a shelter and had two coolers full of water, juice, and gatorade available.
Anonymous
03/11/2023 20:17
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Anonymous wrote:I can't believe the snowflakes on this forum. We had backyard parties all the time for our summer birthday kids. The standard 2 hour party. Parents had access to the house if it was too young for a drop-off, but they were really fun. No one complained.
Also attended lots of outdoor birthday parties since our kids had friends the same ages. I even remember a park party when the host and I were both 9 months pregnant.
It was not a big deal. What does everyone do all summer if you can't be outside for 2 hours?
Snowflake here— we go to the pool in the afternoon, the playground super early in the morning (usually 7:45-9:30) and in the 10:00-2:00 peak solar time we play in the shade of the screened in porch in the water table/with bubbles/paint with water. My kids still nap midday so my “snowflake” window is about two hours long.
Meanwhile we’re out all day in the winter when other DC folks stay in, and I somehow don’t feel the need to call names about it.
Anonymous
03/11/2023 16:15
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
My kids are summer bdays. We’ve had pool parties for a few years. Pizza by pool is always fun. Other times, we’ve done bowling, indoor rock climbing, movies, and other indoor events. I would never do an outdoor park in July. Also, the summer thunderstorms are intense.
We’ve had 4th of July and Memorial Day backyard cookouts with family/friends, and we have tents for that, but more importantly start time is usually after 4/5 when it starts to cool
And no, I’m not a heat snowflake. I’m from Texas. Things are hot where I’m from. And I can appreciate how heat physically affects people. If you’re not heat savvy, it is very dangerous
We’ve had 4th of July and Memorial Day backyard cookouts with family/friends, and we have tents for that, but more importantly start time is usually after 4/5 when it starts to cool
And no, I’m not a heat snowflake. I’m from Texas. Things are hot where I’m from. And I can appreciate how heat physically affects people. If you’re not heat savvy, it is very dangerous
Anonymous
03/11/2023 16:08
Subject: How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Anonymous wrote:Op here. Kids are 5. No water involved (No hose, but I could perhaps get water balloons) but playground equipment and a large lawn.
Is your large lawn shaded?
Will you open up the house for bathroom and cooling off?
Anonymous
03/11/2023 16:07
Subject: Re:How long is reasonable to stay outside (DMV area) for a July birthday party?
Anonymous wrote:I would hate to go to a park in July. Pool party? Sure.
The only party I have ever cancelled last minute was a summer park party. We had no real excuse except that I just didn’t want to go to the park on a hot July day.
If it was a good friend, I would suffer through it.
+1
Heat, humidity, mosquitoes.