Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Paying to attend child's party?

550 replies

arachnidpearl · 01/02/2022 11:15

Would welcome views on this.

My DS has been invited to a child's party on Sunday. It's at an activity place with a climbing wall then food afterwards. Accepted invitation weeks ago, have bought card and gift etc.

We've been sent a message yesterday from birthday child's parent last night which says that all children under 8 must be supervised by an adult each, which is ok with me I don't mind staying (would rather not, but it's not the end of the world) but that in order to stay and supervise we have to buy a full price adults ticket, which costs £25!

Is this usual? It seems a bit of a cheek to me!

OP posts:
Booklover3 · 01/02/2022 15:49

It would depend how close a friend as to whether I would pay for that to be honest. It’s a bit steep!

MadeForThis · 01/02/2022 15:51

You can't supervise so perfect excuse to drop out.

WithANameLikeDaniCalifornia · 01/02/2022 15:51

@FlickyCrumble

If it’s a swim party all under 8s need 121 supervision by an over 16 that is in the water with them. Can you just pay an adult swim ticket?
Why don't you read the OP?
diddl · 01/02/2022 15:53

So if the party kids weren't going to use the climbing wall?

Wonder how much it would have cost for supervision from them?

Hopeful199 · 01/02/2022 15:53

No definitely not - i think that is unreasonable

If you were all agreeing to go and do an activity to do something that it one thing, but you cant charge people to attend a party!

I suspect they didn't realise but i wouldn't pay to attend!

hopeishere · 01/02/2022 15:53

That's a shit choice for a party venue. At 8 you want to be able to drop and run not hang about and pay for the privilege!!

Eileen101 · 01/02/2022 15:54

No chance would I be paying that! That's more that we'd even spend for a family day out at the moment. I can't imagine that the child will have many kids at the party.

You have a very helpful get out though :)

whatkatydid2013 · 01/02/2022 15:57

I suspect what’s happened is they made a mistake when booking and thought they didn’t need supervision. It’s probably an error from the parent and/or lack of clarity from the venue. They’ve now paid for 8 kids, probably can’t get a refund & potentially don’t have another £200 to cover the adults. It’s a rubbish situation but honestly it’s not your fault and I think declining is ok. Maybe they are counting on some people declining and then they will be able to cover the grown ups for the other kids?

Blondeshavemorefun · 01/02/2022 16:04

How cheeky

Sound like they cba to pay for the adult supervision theirselves

£25 to climb 😱😱

Do many adults climb

Having 121 for a party is madness

TitoMojito · 01/02/2022 16:05

Yikes that the parents decided not to pay for the parents Shock and double yikes that you would have to pay for someone else to do it since you're pregnant! What a silly idea for a party!

Lurking9Till5 · 01/02/2022 16:09

I can’t imagine that poor kid is going to have many kids turn up with that extra information!
No chance would I go and I’m generally quite happy to pay out for things for the kids.

2022HereWeCome · 01/02/2022 16:12

I think the venue is taking the piss to be honest. No way would i be paying for a party and then for every adult to have to fork out £25 just to be on call. As a comparison DS went to a go ape 8th birthday party, some children were 7 - the party package included instruction/ supervision for the children. Supervising adults had to be at the site. I think it was one adult per 4-5 children but there was no charge for watching!

Can you name and shame this venue OP - they are fleecing parents?

JuergenSchwarzwald · 01/02/2022 16:14

I find it quite difficult to believe that most people pay for the parents to supervise in that way, It's astonishingly expensive . £25 plus the child fee for each child? That would mean getting on for £400-500 if you had 10 kids depending on the price for the child!

I think someone at the venue is talking out of their backside.

But if they're not, you can't go anyway OP and will have to just drop off the present or recycle it for the next party!

IWentAwayIStayedAway · 01/02/2022 16:14

Bloody hell. Wee tarquin will need to wait till his 9th birthday so parents at 25 a pop not needed. Like others its bad enough having to hang about and drink shit overpriced coffee lol but pay to supervise/work. You need to decline due to pregnancy and noone else free. Give present and card at school pick up. Job done!

Rainartist · 01/02/2022 16:14

Its obvious that the venue have priced it this way to discourage young children.

The fault lies with the birthday child's parents I'm afraid who just booked thinking oh x is 8 now and no thought to the fact that other children in the group are much younger. We've been through similar scenarios over the years with various parties (never expected to pay that much though!) It's always with the older children in the year groups birthdays. Personally I never booked an activity unless I knew all invitees were accommodated but that horse has bolted now.

Given your situation op is ring the parents and say the venue will not allow you to attend due to the pregnancy, could one of the birthday child's parent/relative watch your dc?

JuergenSchwarzwald · 01/02/2022 16:14

Yes please give the venue OP. Or at least your county and then we can google it. Please.

LethargicActress · 01/02/2022 16:17

Fuck that OP. Just cancel and tell them why, and if your ds is upset not to go to the party you can explain reasonably why you’ve decided this, because it’s so unusual and rude to be asked to pay so much after accepting a party invitation. He’ll understand, and if he really wants to try climbing, then take him to a session that he’ll probably get more experience from than he would from a birthday party.

gogohm · 01/02/2022 16:17

I think people are misunderstanding, the accompanying parent has to do the activity with the child. The centre should not have accepted a booking for under 8's or rather explained that those under 8 must be accompanied.

drspouse · 01/02/2022 16:17

@Pbbananabagel

Everyone saying this is outrageous of the venue - hold on. OP said this is a local family run business, they probably haven’t got the qualifications or insurance for supervising children under the age of 8 at a party and probably told the parents a certain number of parent supervisors would be required for an 8 year olds birthday party with the idea that other children would be over 8 years. Its not the venue’s fault that the other children are under 8 years old. They have a cap on the number of people they can have in there so if the birthday child’s parents haven’t paid for exclusive use they need every adult in there to be paying. The fault here is 100% on the birthday child’s parents for not checking all the rules prior to booking and inviting the kids.
This may be true but the venue doesn't need to charge £25 per adult for supervising and not climbing.
2022HereWeCome · 01/02/2022 16:17

The venue should not be offering climbing parties to the under 8s if they cannot supervise / instruct safely without relying on parents (who then have to pay £25 for the privilege). I think the onus is very much on the venue to have declined the booking if they cannot guarantee H&S. I would be reporting to trading standards.

whoknows23 · 01/02/2022 16:18

Seems a bit expensive.

gogohm · 01/02/2022 16:19

The family booking read are 8 and forgot friends may be younger!

3scape · 01/02/2022 16:20

It really sounds as though the venue want to discourage to young children from attending. Perhaps it's not s climbing venue with much in the way of the easier climb/ cave facilities and just has more involved climbs?

The family making the booking must not go there very often Grin.

3scape · 01/02/2022 16:21

*also. What does the venue do about twins?

This reminds me of the ridiculous rule my local pool had, preventing me as a single parent from using the pool with two children.

Rainartist · 01/02/2022 16:23

@JuergenSchwarzwald

Yes please give the venue OP. Or at least your county and then we can google it. Please.
Don't name and shame the venue! Shock

They're entitled to have whatever conditions they want. Young children are probably a liability in such a place and they're entitled not to cater for them if they want. It is not fair to give them negative publicity.

The inconvenience to attendee parents and potential upset to children and additional expenses lies with the parent organisers only. The only way for them to ensure their child has a good day and isn't upset is to pay for the extra adults or accept some children won't attend.