Child Invited To Birthday Party Parents Expected To Pay

Is it Play Factore OP? If so, can totally understand why you won't leave your child. I wouldn't leave mine and they are 12, 9 and 8! It is huge, really high, and no way to keep any sort of eye on the kids at the party. Party hosts wouldn't stand a chance. I do think it's incredibly cheeky charging parents to stay given how large the place is anyway. I wonder if this would be enforced for birthday parties though. I suspect maybe it wouldn't... have you called and asked?

Could you check if there's a viewing area? You probably just have to pay to actually enter the softplay. Otherwise, if you're worried I would just pay and count it as fun bonding time with your dd.

This isn't at all what you were making out in your OP.

The children are paid for. There is no need for parents to stay. If they choose to stay, that's on them and they should pay for themselves.

That’s odd, usually for parties 1 child gets a free adult. I wonder if she’s paying for a session but not an actual party.

Not everyone can afford to be a generous host. I think rather than moralising it as "cheeky", I'd just show a bit of grace, approach it with a generosity of spirit and assume that this is the only way they can afford to give their small child the birthday that they want. You aren't forced to attend and can choose not to go and pay if you can't afford to or don't want to.

Our local big soft play allows 1 child to stay per adult if they are under 8 at parties. Once they’re over 8 they only give 5 free adult passes (inc birthday child’s parents) for the whole party group (up to 18 kids) and each additional adult after that is £2. That said the charge is paid by the party organiser at the end of the session, parents aren’t charged to come in.

Sometimes it’s simply a numbers thing. Each venue will have a maximum safety limit of people they can have in the building due to fire regulations. Every adult that comes in prevents a paying child, so I can understand why they’d want to charge a token amount to try and cover their costs.

Does the invite specify the parents have to stay? If not, drop and run. 5-6 is a perfectly acceptable age to do this, and charging parents is probably the hosts roundabout way of saying "please, just go and leave us to it"

This is a parent problem not a party problem

If that's the case then fair enough.

But it is the parent's choice/problem and not something the host should have to pay to solve.

We have one of these large soft play places near us that insists on charging for adults. Officially they allow 2 adults free with party packages ( I only found this out when I booked one), but never stopped me or anyone else just walking in with their child. And for DD's party they definitely only charged me for the kids even though about half the parents stayed.

I would drop and leave my child. I am not sure parents are expected to stay.

I’ve never known a soft play party include parents as part of the total number!

Me neither, but this one clearly does, so that's all that's relevant.

Sounds like they are trying to save the cost of a party package by doing a kind of DIY party, otherwise the adults would be included.

At that age I know a couple of parents who would drop and run but most would stay and supervise as they’re still young enough to want their parent if they hurt themselves or need a hand finding where the toilets are etc.

This is a marketing ploy that the birthday kids parent has either fallen for and not thought through, doesn't care, or is actually earning on by getting in for free or a voucher if X turn up

See also overly-overpriced pay bars in "free" bookable venues

Is it optional to stay? If it’s optional to stay then YABU. You prefer to stay so you should pay. I would stay and wouldn’t care about paying.

Think about it - it’s probably around £300 just for the kids. Would you want to add another couple of £100 on? But what’s an extra £10 to you if you prefer to stay.

How do you know they are "expected to stay" - what does in invite actually say?

We went to one we had to pay for adults. If it’s anything like the one we went to. They did sleepovers and adults only nights. Honestly I would pay it they had these massive drop slides the adults had as much fun as the kids.😂😂😂Was like being back in Blackpool funhouse.

5/6 is to young to be dropping off can't believe how many people are suggested it.

I’ve never known a soft play party include parents as part of the total number!

Round my way, it's normal to drop and run at 5. Some did it at 3. Others at 7. But 5 would be the average.

From the hosts point of view. Say it's £10 per head adult or child. They have a budget of £100 (for ease of maths) So their birthday child can either invite 9 of his actual friends or 4 of his friends and a parent each. I'm sure the child would far rather his friends use his budget rather than their parents.

I dont see the issue. I would go back and say I won’t be staying but xx child is coming and will be left with them

Or if I wanted to stay I would be happy to pay

If t isn't obligatory then it is up to you/the parent if they choose to stay.

Venue likely to be cheekier than the party hosts

My children are adults now, but when they were little we had plenty of parties. Never once expected parents to stay, even from 3 year olds. Had plenty of family members to help out if it were a pool party, for instance.

Times have clearly changed so now you have to pay to attend someone’s birthday party.

I work in a soft play. Adults are allowed in free and must supervise their children. We allow over 100 children in and never have more than 3 staff so it would be impossible for us to supervise children.

Can't believe how many people would leave a 5 year old with random people!