If you're wondering how long a kids party should be, the honest answer for most ages is shorter than you'd think. Children run out of steam, parents run out of patience, and a party that ends while everyone's still having fun is always remembered more fondly than one that drags.
Below are the timings we'd suggest by age, then a sample running order for a two hour party that you can copy or tweak.
Timings by age
These are rough guides. A very social five year old might cope happily with longer, and a sleepy two year old might be done after an hour. You know your child.
Think about the time of day as well as the length. Late morning or straight after lunch suits younger children, while older ones are happy with a later afternoon start that runs into tea.
- Ages 1 to 2: around 1 to 1.5 hours, fitted around naps
- Ages 3 to 4: around 1.5 hours
- Ages 5 to 8: around 2 hours, the classic party length
- Ages 9 to 12: 2 to 3 hours, or longer for activity and sleepover parties
Why toddler parties should be short
Under fours have short attention spans and tire quickly. A crowded room, sugar and excitement can tip them over the edge fast. Keep it brief and gentle, and schedule it for after a nap. Late morning or early afternoon tends to work well.
For this age, entertainment should be short and interactive too. A toddler party entertainer will know to keep things moving with songs, bubbles and simple games rather than a long sit down show.
Why two hours suits most children
For children from about five to eight, two hours is the sweet spot. It's long enough for a show, games and food without anyone getting restless, and it fits neatly into a weekend afternoon.
It also suits halls, which are often hired in slots, and it's the length most entertainers plan their parties around. So it's an easy place to start.
Sample running order for a 2 hour party
Here's a plan for a typical two hour party for five to eight year olds with an entertainer. It assumes a 2pm start, but just shift the times to suit.
- 2:00 Guests arrive, coats off, name labels on. Music playing and a simple activity like colouring or bubbles
- 2:15 Party games to warm everyone up
- 2:35 Magic show, with plenty of volunteers and a special moment for the birthday child
- 3:10 Food break: everyone to the table
- 3:35 More games and a disco, with prizes
- 3:50 Cake and Happy Birthday
- 3:55 Calm finish, often balloon modelling or a goodbye game
- 4:00 Party bags at the door and home time
Tips for keeping to time
Put the food break in the middle, not at the end. Hungry children struggle to concentrate, and it gives everyone a breather before round two.
Do the cake near the end, not with the food. Fed children are calmer for Happy Birthday, and you can cut it up and pop it in party bags rather than serving it on the spot.
And tell the entertainer your timings when you book. Most of our entertainers will happily work around your food break and cake moment, and they'll keep an eye on the clock so you don't have to.
Timings for older children
Nine to twelve year olds can handle longer parties, especially if there's an activity to focus on. A bowling party, cinema trip, sleepover or a games night can run for three hours or more without anyone flagging.
Shows for this age often run a little longer and lean on comedy and mind reading. There's more on what works in our page about a party entertainer for 9 to 12 year olds.
How long should the entertainment be?
For most two hour parties, entertainers cover the whole party, with a short show in the middle and games either side. Some parents prefer just a show, around 45 minutes to an hour, and run the rest themselves.
Both are fine. It depends on how much you want to be hands on. Prices depend on length as well as the date and location, so have a look at our price guide to get an idea.