D.K.
I think it is fine to have food just for the kids. It would be nice to have a pitcher of ice water for the adults (and kids as well, my son prefers water to other drinks).
We are having a birthday party at an inflatable jumper place for our daughter. The kids will get pizza, drink, and of course cake. My question is-Is it rude to not have food for the parents?
We are trying to keep cost low-which is hard to do. We have been to parties before and it was just for the kids and we are fine with that-just curious on everybody elses thoughts.
Thanks in advance
I think it is fine to have food just for the kids. It would be nice to have a pitcher of ice water for the adults (and kids as well, my son prefers water to other drinks).
I would not get food because parents might not even stay. If anything, maybe an adult snack, like a veggie tray.
2 years ago (age 6), I got food for parents and not a single parent stayed. I had SO MUCH food left over. I literally walked full, untouched pizzas to several neighbors, giving them away.
This past year (age 7), I didn't get food for parents, and all the parents stayed.
So, I've decided you can't predict what parents will do. But in any case, none of the parents complained about a lack of food this year. But I wished I had gotten at least a little something for them.
Rude, no not in my opinion. Is a bit nice, yes, absolutely.
I purchased 3 regular sandwiches from Vons/Safeway. I cut them into little finger food sizes. It just gave them something to nibble on, but not quite a meal.
Why are you having adults. Have them drop off kids. Problem of food solved.
Why are the adults at the kids party?
If the adults are family/friends that you've asked to stay and help you out, then yes you should provide food for them. They can have the pizza with the kids. Another thought would just to bring a snack, like a veggie tray.
If these are parents who are choosing to stay rather than drop off the kids, then you are under no obligation to offer them food. Although, it would be nice to offer them a beverage and maybe a small slice of cake.
Whenever I have been invited to these places they required a certain number of adults to stay and supervise the children. Usually that means that almost all parents end up staying. If this is the case for your party then yes, it would be rude not to offer them any snacks.
If it is a kid only party it's fine of course - but honestly, even at drop off parties I have some coffee and snack food that is appealing to adults standing by for the moms that stay a bit and chat.
You don't have to offer them a meal, but having some extra bottles of water/soda and an extra pizza and some chips surely won't break the bank.
Good luck.
I went to one for a family members child. I was surprised that most parents stayed. She made a pasta salad to accompany the pizza and also had chips. There were also other drink options (such as diet).
I don't think it's rude to not have food for the parents. I don't expect to be fed, and prefer not to.
I would stick with pizza. I also noticed cutting the slices smaller (or the pizza place can do it in square-ish pieces) will feed a lot more. I was tired of having a 2 year old take one bite and then that large piece was trashed.
I only ever eat something at the kids parties if the parents insistence and I see they went out of their way to buy the adults food. (I eat out of guilt😊). I do not expect food and honestly, I don't want it. The only thing I do like and take is a bottled water.
We don't invite the parents so we don't plan food for them.
buy one more pizza. If they want they can have pizza. I never eat at a kid's birthday party although I will hang out at the jumpy places. I just think it's nice to have extra eyes to watch the kids. I don't expect the parent to feed me too!
L.
At those kind of places we didn't invite the parents. So no food for the parents.
I would add in a salad and/or a pasta dish of some sort.... Both can be done pretty cheaply... Just in case.
Parents hardly ever stayed at our parties. Thank God because I had enough to deal with without trying to entertain a room full of adults whom I barely knew! I didn't even serve real food unless it was a meal time, otherwise it was just light snacks and cake/ice cream.
If you're doing pizza just get it for the kids. Serve only the kids and don't offer it to any straggling adults unless you have some left over. That's my advice!
How old is child? Age 5 and up, no one will stay unless they live far or are your close friends. I would put out chips and salsa and have a cooler of water.
Just get extra pizza and throw out lots of different chips.
That should be good enough and still cost effective.
Parents usually stay with little ones & when they don't know the parents/
family very well.
I think it's cultural. I'm black. Birthday parties are for rap extended family. We have kid food (pizza or hot dogs) and adult food (wings and potato salad).
Most parties I have gone to, kids parties, there was food which was for the kids. Because, it was a kid's birthday party.
And the parents, if it was a party in which parents could stay, just ate the food that was there. Since and/or if, the party included, parents.
I have never been to a kids party, in which the food specifically was customized for the kids, and then, the adults.
There was mostly all kinds of food. A variety. And it was fine, because it was food that kids AND adults could eat.
And if the party is a drop off party, sans parents, then that is even easier and on the budget.
Because then, you have less to provide in terms of foods and amounts.
I don't feed anyone. Maybe I'm just rude...I've actually never been to a party where food was served other than family birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese.
I just don't do stuff like that. I do venue and cake/ice cream. Nothing else.
It depends on the ages of the kids. If they are little and parents really are expected to stay to supervise, then add some veggies and dip.
If the kids are 5 or older and have been to parties before, then make it clear on the invitations when "drop off" and "pick up" are - that clues the parents that they aren't included in the guest list and they are free to enjoy the 2 hours to themselves doing something else. But make it clear that you have sufficient supervision either from designated friends or staff from the party place - you can combine that with a nudge to RSVP. Maybe something like "Please RSVP by (date) so we are sure to arrange enough supervision. Pick up is at 4 PM in the lobby."
If the party is at a place like that, the adults rarely expect food. As a matter of fact, I don't think the kids expect food if they're jumping around...might give them a belly ache.
I've never had more than a cake/icecream at bday parties. Nobody ever had a problem with it.