Age-By-Age Party Guidelines
Not sure what kind of parties this year to throw for your 1-, 4-, and 7-year-old children? Check out these ideas!
The Question:
I have three kids -- all different ages -- and I still
don't have the party thing down. Do you have any
recommendations about how long parties should last for the
different age groups? And how many kids is it appropriate to
invite?
The Party Planner Answers:
The when and whom of a party can be difficult to decide.
The following guidelines may help in deciding how many children
to invite and how long the party should be.
Age 1:
1/2 to 1 hour
Since the child really has no concept of the parties, schedules
and formal games are not necessary. The occasion itself is
significant, and should consist of mainly close family
members.
Age 2:
1 to 1-1/2 hours
Children still are not quite able to grasp the concept of a
party by the age of two. Few activities will be enough for the
party time. There should be a parent for each child, so about
four to five children should be appropriate.
Age 3:
1 to 2 hours
A couple of hours is plenty for 3-year-olds. They are a
little more used to social situations and are more active.
About five to eight children is a good number of guests,
depending on whether or not you will have enough help at the
party.
Age 4:
1-1/2 to 2 hours
The key with 4-year-olds is to keep the party moving. The
number of guests can range from 8 to 12 kids, if you
have good help.
Age 5:
Up to 2 hours
In this age group, the children can handle a couple of hours of
activities. The guest list should not be too overwhelming,
especially if you decide to take the party outside the home. Up
to 15 children can be invited for an in-home party and 10
for an outside venue.
Age 6 and Up:
2 to 2-1/2 hours (do not exceed 3 hours)
As the children get older, they usually determine how the party
will play out. The planned schedule may change, so the time
frame will allow for changes like that. The children are
usually easier to handle and don't require an adult for each
child, so the number of invited children can range from 12
to 18.
The time of your party should also be determined by whether or not you will be serving a meal (not including cake and ice cream). Morning parties should end by 11:30 am, afternoon parties should begin about 1 pm, and evening parties should end around 5:30 pm. Nothing could distract a partygoer more than a growling tummy!
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