Siblings at soft play party

[yellowgecko]

First world problems and all that...
DS turns 5 shortly and is having a soft play birthday party. About 20 kids have been invited.

At least 4 parents have responded with, 'great! xx would love to come. BTW, we need to bring xx sibling, they will only play, we'll get their food'.

The party booking form clearly states siblings must be paid for. It's £12 per head. Final numbers given the day before.

I'm probably completely overthinking it - but the siblings are pretty much all younger so the parents won't leave them to just play and eat in their own.
They will end up being part of the party and frankly I don't see why I should pay for them!

Do I tell the parents they need to give me £12 in advance of the party?
Do I let them sort it on the day and not tell the venue in advance?
What have you done in a similar position?

Yep. Say just that, it's £12 a head for a sibling to come too. Ask if they want your bank details for payment.

Don't forget to say sibling numbers must be confirmed by x time the day before.

Yes, tell them it's £12 per sibling, and your bank details.

Miraculously the sibling won't need to come.

( It be prepared for kids to pull out)

I would inform them, they should book and pay for their child with the venue for a play session as you have booked the party.

And remind them that they don't need to stay to supervise the party guest.

Just send a message back saying it’s ok for them to come along but they’ll need to pay for them to get in when they get there!
I find parents who just assume they can bring along random, uninvited children to parties so rude.

Yep reply to the parents saying they need to bring siblings saying

“Dc is delight X can come. You’re more than welcome to bring xx sibling however the venue require an additional £12 for each sibling. I can send bank details or PayPal if that’s easy for a digital cost payment.”

Or say, sorry, no siblings. It's your party.

I would just say that’s no problem but you’ve only booked for the party kids and the venue won’t let you add any more on now so they’ll have to book the siblings in seperately.

Can you say that’s fine but siblings need to paid for at the door and parents will need to stay and supervise. Then you’re not taking on the responsibility and adding them to your booking.

Agreed - siblings must be paid for at the door or you can add them to the booking if the money is given to you in advance.

I thought I might be rude to send bank details across but it seems not...!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds it cheeky. There's no way I would bring DS's sibling to a party unless they were specifically invited.

I wouldn’t want the hassle of booking sibling places as well so would just message and say they will need to book the sibling a ticket themselves with the soft play centre, or pay on the gate.

@Beamur @girlmom21 @Winemewhynot on the booking form it specifically states siblings must be paid for, so I'm assuming the venue gets it all the time with 'oh they'll just play'.

I would NOT be getting money from them and adding them to the party. I would reply to the parents that they have to book direct with the centre and pay for them as party numbers are confirmed.

I am One of these stuck with a sibling parents, I live miles away from family and don't know anyone well enough to ask for a couple hours babysitting.
I would expect to pay for entry in this situation, even without the invite clearly stating it, as I'm essentially taking my kid to a play centre while sibling goes to a party there.

Reply with the cost of entry.

Respond to those who mention siblings that they don't need to stay, they can drop and collect. If they insist on staying then just tell them they will have to pay at the entrance for the sibling. Give a list of invited kids names to the venue when you arrive and explain that there may be parents who will bring other kids, but they are not in the party group so you won't be paying a penny towards them.

I wouldn’t want laying siblings to come, the party is for your child and their peers.

^^ paying

[quote yellowgecko]**@Beamur* @girlmom21* @Winemewhynot on the booking form it specifically states siblings must be paid for, so I'm assuming the venue gets it all the time with 'oh they'll just play'. [/quote]
Sounds like the soft play are monopolising on CF parents

Definitely ask for payment, they’re not invited, you’re doing them a favour by allowing them to come, they can’t expect you to foot the bill!

And also be prepared for parents to say "oh little Evie doesn't eat much so I'll just give her some of Maisie's leftovers". So make sure the siblings do not get to enter the food area with your party.

Why did you include the "siblings must be paid for" on the invite?
It's basically welcoming anyone who wants to turn up 🤷🏻‍♀️
Why are you now assuming they're not going to pay?

I used to be one of these parents, DH worked at weekends so I'd have to take the sibling, I'd just pay for the sibling to get on on the door and then provide food and not have them sit at the birthday table. Whoever was the sibling on that occasion was drilled that they weren't to expect cake/a party bag or anything like that either!

Are you under the impression that these guests are expecting siblings to be included?

They are being CFs. They are hoping to get sibling in and for you to pay.
Don’t add them to the list or offer to pay /they pay you back.
The chances are they already know there is a sibling charge.
You need to reply something like
Great thanks for letting me know about Oscar. If you are still planning on bringing Olivia I just need to tell you that soft play is strict on siblings so you will need to book them in and pay separately. The cost will be £12. See you on (party) day

Whenever one of my kids were invited to a soft play party I’d pay for my other kids to go in at the same time and we’d sit away from the birthday table or party room.

It’s the done thing round here. Many other parents would do the same.