How Long Do You Make Your Kids' Birthday Parties?

We usually did a Chuck E Cheese party - 2 hrs was about right.
BUT if people wanted to stay longer after the party was over - they could certainly stay and play the games.with their families.
The party table was cleared out at a certain time and we never did gift opening at the party so 2 hrs was perfect.

Every first grade party I went to this year was two hours, my friends and I agree that two hours is the perfect length of time. I'd rather end up feeling short on time with everyone in a good mood then having too much time. When my son was in K, 2 hours felt rushed but by 1st grade they go through any planned activities really quickly.

2, 2.5 hours at most. That's MY limit lol!

any more than three, I think would be too long.. UNLESS you are having a pool party (in that case, many kids will swim all day if allowed) I know I would when younger..
but anything longer...it's just too long and painful... especially if parents attend and they don't really know each other very well... In that case, it gets boring..... My son, although never much into "friend" birthday parties, had one for his 6th bday and three hours was long enough to welcome guests (including late ones) .... play... cake and gifts.... play... then send them home.. perfect..
anymore than three hours feels less like fun and play and becomes babysitting work....
go for three..

I usually planned for 2 hours.
If it went a while longer because everyone was having fun, not a problem for us.

Why plan things for them to do and have them hanging around bored when that's not something they're interested in? Have cake, have ice cream, open presents, let the kids run around and play and have fun. Kids go home after an hour. Best party ever.

3 hours.

Gives enough time for crafts, games, food, cake & presents.

1.5 to 2 hours. I did do a 3 hour parry for my 7 year old party at my house. I asked parents to drop off. If I was expected to attend a 3 hour party with my child, my child would not go ;)
BTW - just my experience but I thought 3 hours ended up being too long for me. But I didn't have any helpers.

Usually 2 hours if we are at a venue, but sometimes 3 hours.

Usually 2 hours; sometimes 2.5. My kids are 8 and 4.

1 1/2 to 2 hours max at that age. while kids may like crafts when you have a bunch of kids they move a lot faster. there will always be that one kid who could stay on crafts all day long but the rest will be zoomed through and then your having to figure out what to do with the rest of the time. I think 2 is max for us. unless it was at a park and kids could just play.

Depends on age 2 hours for toddler, longer for older.

I think we have always done 1-1/2 hours. (My kids will be 6 and 8 this summer). The only time we did a longer one I think it was maybe 2 hours. That year we had won a party package that included a party at a great little party space where the owner planned games (15 min), dancing (10 min), and a craft (15 min). We ate cake and opened gifts (probably about an hour total there) and then went a couple of doors down to our small children's museum for 30-45 minutes. The kids favorite part was definitely the free play time at the museum.

Last year for my daughter's 7th birthday we were at a local park. We had a couple of crafts planned (painting wooden dragons and dragon eggs). The kids only stuck with that for about 20 minutes. They played in the park for about 1/2 hour. We ate cake then opened gifts. A 1/2 hour was plenty of time for that. Opening gifts only took about 10 minutes. It was a small party and she only opened the gifts from her friends.

Even at party venues (like the bowling alley or bounce house) I don't think my kids have ever attended a party that was more than 2 hours. As the party hostess, I don't think I could handle a party over 2 hours! We are doing parties at an archery place and a gymnastics gym this year. Both venues have an hour and a half block for us. For us, I think it is plenty of time.

I think a crafts-theme birthday party sounds really fun! I just facilitated a group of 10-11 year olds for a few weeks in a pre-college program, & they attended a class each day for 2 hours.

2.5 - 3 hours would be a good length of time for what you are envisioning. Everyone gets there & has 15-20 minutes of greetings, games, etc. before they settle down to see the craft.

Depending on the ages of the kids, either have 1 more complex craft, or a few smaller, simpler crafts. Or even, multiple craft stations to move around.

Crafting takes place for an hour or so, a bit longer if they are really into it. Then, group photos with all their crafts on display! (email them off your camera phone, or if you have a printer, download them & print them out before they leave).

Another 15 - 20 minutes of silliness, then serve the cake/ice cream & open presents.

Have fun! T.

Depends on the activity, but 2-3 hours is normal. Unless it's a sleepover of course.

I didn't do crafts. They played a few games, maybe bashed a pinata, opened presents, ate cake and ice cream, and went home. Two hours, tops.

I always do 3 hours.

Ours are 2 hours. At places we've rented out they gave us 2 hours time slots, so it was just decided for us. For my home parties, I do 2 hours because that's about all I can handle :) Kids are still happy and excited and we manage to fit everything in. I do very laid back parties though - we'll just drop games or activities (or even opening gifts) if kids are busy having fun on their own (which usually happens).

For older kids, if we do something like go to movie, pool place, or out for supper, etc. then it's longer.

2 is the norm around here for smaller kids, but we've been to 3 hours ones also.

Good luck :)