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Original poster

Child Invited To Birthday Party Parents Expected To Pay

187 replies

Warrior96 · 18/02/2025 17:34

Hi so I know a child who has been invited to a birthday party, the child is 5. All the kids invited to the birthday party are 5-6 years old so parents will be expected to stay. The invitation asks the parents to pay for themselves. Am I being unreasonable to think this is a bit cheeky?

OP posts:
titchy · 18/02/2025 17:42

Snorlaxo · 18/02/2025 17:39

If you don’t want to pay say no.
If you have another child who would enjoy the attraction eg soft play then I would pay for myself and the sibling.

So you'd let a younger uninvited sibling gate crash? You're the reason party kids parents have asked parents to pay for themselves!

crosskeysgreen · 18/02/2025 17:42

I've taken my 7 year old to umpteen softplay and trampoline parties over the last 3 years and have never had to pay to supervise.

I think the venue is being cheeky.

All the adults spend money in the cafe/bar anyway.

MuddyPawsIndoors · 18/02/2025 17:40

All the kids invited to the birthday party are 5-6 years old so parents will be expected to stay.

Why?

That's a perfectly normal age to drop and run (having left your phone number), especially when the event is staffed.

As a PP said, if any parents decide they want to stay with their child then of course they should pay to do so.

Snorlaxo · 18/02/2025 17:39

If you don’t want to pay say no.
If you have another child who would enjoy the attraction eg soft play then I would pay for myself and the sibling.

VivaVivaa · 18/02/2025 17:39

Have the parents paid for the DC attending?

If it’s a quid or 2 I’d suck it up.

If it’s full price entry I’d think it’s quite cheeky.

TaupeMember · 18/02/2025 17:38

I wish everyone did this

titchy · 18/02/2025 17:38

Why do you need to stay. Presume it's soft play or similar?

Hufflemuff · 18/02/2025 17:38

If you can drop and go (because the party is staffed) then its reasonable to expect helicopter parents to pay for themselves, because its unnecessary for them to stick around. If you can't leave them, then it's unreasonable.

How much do you have to pay? If it was under a tenner and we were free anyway, I'd make the effort so DC and the birthday girl/boy doesn't have no guests at their party.

Original poster
Warrior96 · 18/02/2025 17:37

Just to clarify the child gets in for free but the parent has to pay for themselves to get in to supervise their own child.

OP posts:
Pancakeflipper · 18/02/2025 17:37

How much ?

crosskeysgreen · 18/02/2025 17:37

Completely weird. That's not a party is it... she's just organising a play date...

Hercisback1 · 18/02/2025 17:36

Pay for the parents or the kids?

I'd drop and run!