Would You Expect Food?

I don't expect food beyond cake and ice cream at a kid's birthday party unless it is specified in the invite "X will be served."

What's expected for a birthday is cake - and cupcakes are fine.
Some people would provide food - but not everyone - and it's ok not to.
Now if you're doing this at Chuck E Cheese - having pizza is just so convenient and easy that most people will do it.

I think cupcakes are fine to serve but I would serve it at 2:00 when the kids get there not at 4:30 when they are almost ready to be picked up and it is close to dinner time.

If it was a party for adults from 2:00-4:45 you would probably provide snacks, right - a cheese platter or some vegetables etc. Not a meal, but something. I think the "boy" version of that would be a slice of pizza or something similar. Growing children love to eat!

ETA: I think cake is fine - but your wording says "as a favor at the end". I think the issue is just that there should be something to eat *at* the party.

I would not consider any type of party at any time and not offering food to my guests.

It does not have to be fancy and lavish but I feel very appropriate to serve food... pizza, sandwich platter, chik filet, etc.

You have BOYS almost 3 hours and not considering food and refreshments?

Forego the goodie bag and feed them.

If you can't afford this party, then don't do it and have a simple get together at home... with food!!

We once did not provide 'food' - I had some light snacks and cake - for my son's 3rd grade birthday party - same as you, in the middle of afternoon - and one boy said loudly - "What?! No food?". He was starving. The parents had not fed him lunch because they assumed that we'd be feeding them a meal.

Since then - I have just made it easier on myself and provided pizza. Even if kids were well fed before, after playing together at the party, all kids eat it.

So - if it were me, I would. If you don't want to do pizza, you can provide subs (cut in half) that kind of thing with a variety of fillings (keep it simple), and fruit tray, cheese tray, etc. Doesn't have to be hot food.

ETA: Ok sorry - missed the part about just a few friends (now I remember your other question). Hmm. Well, I think they would enjoy it. I don't think it is necessary - but it would go over well. I would, if easy to do.

I try not to expect, but I would be very surprised if I picked up my child after the party and found out the only food offered was a cupcake.

We've always included pizza at our parties, as well as cake.

I've always provided some sort of 'hungry food' snacks: pretzels, apple slices, string cheese, a few pbjs cut into quarters and easy to serve, fizzy water and juice boxes. I take them all in containers, open them Voila! Done. Some kids really wolf down, others don't. I know that some kids need some protein to balance out the sugar in the cupcakes, others don't. Hungry kids leaving a party can be hard for the other parents, and frankly, I get hungry between lunch and dinner and usually have a light snack around 3. I usually serve the cupcakes at least an hour before pickup, so that the sugar buzz is wearing off, and then offer the other foods for the remainder of the time.

Don't worry about party favors. The activity IS the favor!

I would feed them, but that's just me. Boys are always ready to eat.

No I would not expect a meal. Cake and ice cream, yes. Meal? No.

at 2PM? No. I would expect cake and ice cream - MAYBE some snacks - but not a meal.

I wouldn't necessarily expect it because of the party time. But I know how active kids are at that age, and I know how hungry they can become that time of the day, so I'd be surprised if they weren't given something to eat. I think what you want to avoid is having parents pick up kids who are so famished that they have to be fed immediately. So I'd either give them cake in the middle of the party, or give them a few slices of pizza.

Yeah... and Patty is so right! Boys love to eat!!

At that time frame, I'd expect only cake or cupcakes to be served to the kids. I wouldn't expect anything else. We're doing a birthday party at our house from 1-4 this weekend and we will have cake, ice cream and drinks for the kids.

Since it is not at mealtime I would put out some snack foods...mini pizza bites, pretzels, cheese and crackers, juice and water. Then if anyone is hungry they can come grab a snack before you serve the cake/cupcakes. If I were a parent dropping my kid off at your party I honestly would not worry about it and wouldn't give it a thought. I would serve my kid lunch at lunchtime. If you had snacks, great! If you didn't I probably would not even notice. ADDED - Actually since it is easy I would probably just order pizza. The kids snarf down the cheese pizza anytime we have a kid birthday party.

I would never NOT serve at least a little food at a party, but that's just me.

At that time of day I don't think a meal is necessary. But this is a party with boys doing physical activities. They're going to at least need a few snacks and some hydration. Some fruit, cheese and crackers, veggies and dip. Nothing fancy, but I think you need to do a little something.

I think it's a silly idea for people to serve food at a kid's birthday party. We eat food before we go so that they aren't eating cake and stuff on an empty stomach. So we aren't hungry when we go. Food is a waste on those of us that feed our kids before they go to a party where sweets are the primary expectation.

Nope I wouldn't expect food. Snacks and juice or water yes but food no.

I think it's reasonable for kids in a 2.5+ hour activity to expect water/juice/etc. and a snack. If it's ice cream & cake, fine. If it's not, then a snack bar and some water, with a cupcake to take home would be fine. I don't think it should be assumed that there is pizza or a meal. As you say, the hours of the party make it clear that there's no meal. I think parents will, frankly, be happy that kids will be hungry for a regular dinner.

I would not expect food. Birthday cake (or cupcakes) and *maybe* ice-cream... and something to drink (preferably cold bottled water, not soda or juice) would be all that should be expected. Your timing is outside of meal hours, is not 3 hours or more and if you *did* feed them more, might interfere with there dinner plans after.

If it's at some sort of play place, if they offer popcorn or something, that *might* be something to look at (but not necessarily and I wouldn't think less of anyone who didn't)... but actual food food, like pizza or something? No. I'd just time the cupcakes midway through the playing, so they have a snack during their time there...
---
I would not give the cupcakes as a party favor. Cupcakes/cake for a birthday party should be served AT the party to be consumed AT the party. "Favors" are for taking home to remember the party later...trinkets, balloons, pictures, whatever.... if you feel the need to do those. I personally think whoever started that trend ruined it for everyone. :/

Water and/or other beverages since they will be running around and your choice to have a cake/cupcakes/etc. That would be all I would expect.

For a party that ends basically at 5PM, yes actually I would expect that there is going to be food. I don't think you HAVE to provide food, but I would give parents a heads-up. Plus, giving kids cake but not dinner that late is awkward timing, because it could ruin their dinner.

Since it's just a few kids, I think you can easily mention it to the parents. Personally, I would frame it as "hey, I was planning to give out cupcakes at the end of the party. Would you prefer that I send it home with Jacob so that it doesn't ruin his dinner?"

At that time frame, I would assume cake/cupcake and a beverage, but not a meal.

Added: We typically don't eat dinner until 6pm or later. My kids usually have a snack at home after school, around 3:15-3:45. I would not send home a cupcake at the end of the party, I would serve them midway through the party.

I had many birthday parties over the years and I always purposefully had them after the lunch hour 1:30 or 2:00 like yours. We usually didn't even have time to have a meal. We always had cake, ice cream and beverage which was plenty.
I can't believe anyone would expect food at that time. I always had little party bags with little pieces of candy and little trinkets. We would tie blow up balloons around the bags with ribbon and use them for party decorations and give them to the kids at the end.

I would not expect food other than cake and drinks. However, that's an almost 3 hour party where kids are going to be hot and active so if it were me, I would at least provide a small snack like popcorn, french fries, or nachos. I would just get a big thing and the boys can share. Maybe even just have a few things on the table that they can come by and grab on their way to the next activity. Although, if you do cake and drinks in the middle of the time, that will probably tide them over too.

for a birthday shindig at any time all i expect is cake. (or something similar) anything else is a bonus.