We have decided to have Micayla's bday party at the park. We're renting a Ramada there and also getting a jumping castle. My question is... how long do we have the party for?

I was originally thinking 2 hours. But I don't think we'd have enough time for everything. Then I thought 3. But today Micayla got a bday invite from a classmate that is doing the exact same thing (party at the park w/jumping castle) for this weekend and it's over 4 hours long. Isn't that a bit much for 4 year olds? Or would that be ideal? We're thinking 11-2... we'll be cooking burgers/hotdogs and of course doing cake, ice cream & presents.

4 hours?! :faint: Too long for the parents! I think 3 hours is plenty. We just had K's 2nd birthday, and it was set for 2 hrs., but everyone stayed for 3 anyway (it was mostly Emma's friends.)

I think 4 hrs. is a bit much for a 4 yr. old bday party. Anyway, I say 3 hrs. I think that'll be fine...especially since you have all that fun stuff that the kids will be entertained for a while. :)

That sounds like fun! Wish I can have one of my girls' party at a park....let alone anywhere outside. *insert jealous smilie here*

I agree w/ Stef. :nod:

I think 2 hours is plenty. I could see 3, but 4 is definitely too long.

We just went to a 4 year olds birthday party in an indoor amusment/playground place a few weeks ago. It was 3 hours and that was plenty of time. The kids played for 2 hours and then they had food/cake and presents and there was still a little time to play at the end.

That's what I thought. :nod: Okay, 3 hours it is then. :aok:

I think 2 is too short - that everything will seem rushed. 3 is good. Although we did 3 for Colin's 3rd birthday a few weeks ago and it was easily 3 1/2 and some people stayed longer. But people sort of arrived within the first hour and we didn't rush things along. It wasn't lots of his little friends, though - mostly family friends/family. I think that makes a difference on the tone/schedule of the party.

Maybe it's a regional thing. Almost all the parties Joe and Frances are invited to have been scheduled for 2 hours, and the ones that were scheduled for 3 were pretty much over after 2.

Same as Dennis... every party my kids have gone to has been 2 hours, including all the same stuff... games, food, cake, presents. But I think 3 would work too. The kids will enjoy more time in the jumping castle.

You could see how it goes at the party this weekend and then decide. 4 hours is way too long but you might be able to tell whether 2, 2 1/2, or 3 would work better.

Maybe it's a regional thing. Almost all the parties Joe and Frances are invited to have been scheduled for 2 hours, and the ones that were scheduled for 3 were pretty much over after 2.Perhaps another difference (at least for me) is that most parties my kids have gone to are not really yet just kids parties. Meaning, it's mostly our family friends/neighbors and there are lots of family members of the birthday child there...not a group of that child's friends from school, etc. We've only gone to one of those parties, and now that I think about it, that one was just 2 hours.

Perhaps another difference (at least for me) is that most parties my kids have gone to are not really yet just kids parties. Meaning, it's mostly our family friends/neighbors and there are lots of family members of the birthday child there...not a group of that child's friends from school, etc. We've only gone to one of those parties, and now that I think about it, that one was just 2 hours.

Yeah, that makes a difference. Family-type parties definitely go longer.

I think 2 to 2 1/2 hours is plenty.

I'm sure you've already decided, but...

I think 3 hours is a long time, but it depends on if you have structured activities. Since you're having the bounce house, etc. I think it will be fine.

Matthew & Sara's party is 1 1/2 hours, but then open train rides, etc. after that so it could potentially go for the whole afternoon (when I'm not there :lol: ).