Party timing - I need opinions

GinandTonic

I usually scoff at these posts (come on, can't anyone make a decision without asking the world?), but I really do need advice from people who have 3 and 4 year olds.

DD's birthday is 12/19.  My intent was to move her party WAAAAY back from Christmas to 12/3.  There's a local pizza place that has a "make your own pizza" party.  Of course, they're already booked for a party from 1-3 on the 3rd (seriously - I thought I was early).   And we can't do that Sunday - she has a dance recital smack in the middle of the afternoon.

 So, would you rather have your 3 or 4 year old at a party on 4pm on Saturday evening or 1pm Saturday afternoon - but really close to Christmas (it would have to be the 17th -we're out of town the weekend in between).  That's given that the 17th is open - I just emailed her back to ask about it.  I guess I could do the 18th as well...

More information - DD is the oldest in her class (that's weird, isn't it?  No fall birthdays), so most of the attendees will actually be 3 (aside from DS and one or two older friends).  So maybe those with nappers might appreciate the later time?  She hasn't been a consistent napper in months, so I always fail to take that into consideration.

I guess the other option is dinner during the week - but I know a lot of the kids have older siblings in activities and it would be hard - heck, that's hard for me.

Or, I give up on the pizza place and convince her to have a craft party at Michaels or something.

Opinions?

o2bme

My DD is 3 and I would prefer the 4pm instead of the 1pm.  DD still takes a nap and 1 would mean she would go without a nap.

ashleyaugust7

I would prefer the 4pm option.

EastCoastBride

When DS napped (I hate that this is starting to become past tense....), we would try to get him down by 12 ish, so a 1 start time would be difficult for us.  4 is much better.

BUT now that he seems to be questionable on his napping, 1 would almost be nice to just get it done.

Ultimately, though, I think I'd opt for 4.  If there are any nappers, they'll be up.  And then it serves as an early dinner time activity.  Sometimes in the late afternoon I'm looking for something to do to entertain DS!

j-w

4pm for sure.  That is when we have all of our family parties (until the kids' 5th birthday, we invite our friend's families and serve dinner).  Our parties usually go from like 4-6:30pm and then the kids go home and crash, but had time for a nap beforehand, lol.

buffalo_buckeye

We just had a fri night party 5:30-7:30, and it was great! There doesnt seem to be a lot of Friday activities and nobody had to give up a weekend day for the party. (it was a group bd party and that time worked for everyone).

joseysbride

4 pm, for sure.  That way you avoid nap time.

shouldbworkin

Can you do it from 11 am to 1 pm on Sat instead?

karen6784

4pm is the better choice IMO.  A pizza party sounds like a fun idea! 

peekaboo716

o2bme:

My DD is 3 and I would prefer the 4pm instead of the 1pm.  DD still takes a nap and 1 would mean she would go without a nap.

This.

ccm1203

4pm

Littlejen22

A lot of 3yos still nap so 1pm is hard for them.  That said, my kids' birthday is 12/12 and I was shocked how many Dad's brought the kids to the party last year, I think the Moms were psyched to get the kids out of the house, probably shopping or wrapping.

jettagurl

Definitely the 4 p.m.. on the 3rd. I think it would be odd to have a pizza party from 1-3p.m., actually - aren't they making pizza's to eat?  So  if you make the pizza at 4, then they cook, you'll be eating at 5ish....that is perfect. 

And many families have plans for the weekend before Christmas - that is ALWAYS our weekend with my dad's extended family.  So we wouldn't make that party at all.

 

jlw2505

I hate 1 pm parties for my 3 year old.  My DD still naps 75% of the time and has a quiet time on the other days and really needs that down time plus we do lunch at 11:30 or 12 as that is the time she eats during the week at preschool so by 1pm, she would be so hungry or would have already eaten.  I would prefer a later day party and to me 4pm works well - it would basically be her dinner but the party would still be over by 5:30 or 6 I assume so I could make that work and my DD would still get her down time and not get crabby.  I don't celebrate Christmas and have a Dec b-day (Dec 21st so I totally understand what you are going through) and I would go for the later Dec party time.  or the earlier date with the later time if you can swing it.  I would send out the invites a little sooner than normal due to the holiday and expect a smaller crowd.