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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:
Graphista · 01/02/2022 12:17

wtf! No! Prices of things like this should be explained at time of inviting.

I'd also be VERY surprised if that fee was accurate - think you've a cf parent on your hands here

It is only a small party anyway, maybe 8 children? And they're all under 8 except for the birthday child, so all parents will have to stay and pay.

Yea the size of the party may be a factor, parent thought they could do it on the cheap and venue aren't having it OR parent is trying to recoup costs

Whenever we've been to birthday parties at soft play / leisure centres / activities etc., the cost of supervising and running the activity is covered by the parents, it's part of the party cost imo.

Yep that was the case when my dd was this age/stage

I know prices will have gone up but wow!!

I wonder if they've tried to be cheap and not book a party but just a load of kids places

Yea that happens too

Nope. What the parents are doing is making you guys pay for the party!

At my reckoning, 8 kids x £25 is about the cost of the party!

Entirely possible I think!

AryaStarkWolf · 01/02/2022 12:17

I would definitely phone the venue and ask if this information is correct, sounds very dodgy to me

Glittertwins · 01/02/2022 12:18

We did a climbing party for our DC's when they were about that age. Nobody had to stay and supervise nor did they have to pay. £25 is about the cost of the child for the party though...

Lalliella · 01/02/2022 12:19

@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?
Errmmm are you having issues with reading @FlickyCrumble? Grin
rainrainraincamedowndowndown · 01/02/2022 12:20

That's not ok. Making parent pay that much to attend child's birthday party? No way.
I will cancel and just send them the card and present.

ZenNudist · 01/02/2022 12:21

If you are 7m pregnant you won't be allowed to supervise. Climbing walls have really stringent requirements to meet their insurance obligations. No way can a 7m pregnant woman spot a child climber. If someone falls on you you could risk your baby.

Tell them this then it doesn't need to be about price but that's ridiculous. My dc climb and I do go and spot them but not at a cost. I had to do a safety training sessional a damage waiver form.

Very cheeky.

Wife2b · 01/02/2022 12:21

I’d pull out, it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Quick text “Hi X, unfortunately we will have to decline your invite as we were unaware that having to supervise X would incur extra costs that we haven’t budgeted for. Hope X has a lovely birthday”.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 01/02/2022 12:23

I've just checked my local climbing wall and they charge £14.50 for adults, and that's obviously to watch, not spectate.

Another local one charges £15. They don't say anything about age limits.

Greydove28 · 01/02/2022 12:24

Is this real? This is one of the cheekiest things Ive seen on mumsnet and Ive read a lot on here

mam0918 · 01/02/2022 12:24

Surely they offer spectator tickets.

I took DS to a trampoline party when heavily pregnant, we had to stay to supervise but there was clearly no way I was going on the equipment (and venue rules didn't allow it anyway) so they would have no argument for charging me full price entry when I'm not using their services but they stipulate I must be there.

They did however many money from the drink and snacks I bought over 2 hours of sitting there bored and from the bloody 'special socks' they made us all buy for our kids.

JollyHolly30 · 01/02/2022 12:25

Have you phoned the venue?

JuergenSchwarzwald · 01/02/2022 12:27

This is an example where they say the party is fully supervised from 3 years old: www.durhamclimbingcentre.co.uk/birthday-parties

TildaRae · 01/02/2022 12:27

Yes phone the venue. Something doesn’t sound quite right here. But no, I wouldn’t pay £25 to stand and watch my child.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 01/02/2022 12:28

Or tell us the venue and we'll look at it for you!

Weirdlynormal · 01/02/2022 12:28

Bullshit would be my response. No WAY is this to supervise a climbing party. They MUST have qualified instructors. The most you would be doing is standing and watching. Party mum is scamming you.

TopsieGreenwood · 01/02/2022 12:28

No that's definitely not normal. Never had anything like this when mine were little

Tal45 · 01/02/2022 12:31

Is the mum saying you need to pay her or you will have to pay when you arrive?

theemmadilemma · 01/02/2022 12:34

I'm guessing it's 8 and above don't need supervision. And they didn't think about the fact that although it's their childs 8th birthday, the rest are under and therefore need a paying adult. I suspect it's an accidental oversight. Shit one though. I bet they're kicking themselves.

polavary · 01/02/2022 12:35

Just call the venue and ask FGS

womaninatightspot · 01/02/2022 12:36

Normally at kids parties adults are free, I'd be disinclined to go tbh. Awkward pulling out as it makes you sound like a cheapskate but c'est la vie

INeedNewShoes · 01/02/2022 12:38

DD went to a clip n climb party recently. I think they required one supervising adult per 3 children but this was included in the cost of the party package.

BigUpAllOfUshereOnMN · 01/02/2022 12:39

Adult climbing ticket is £15.50 at my local rock-up so £25 has some other fees added on?

RampantIvy · 01/02/2022 12:39

Have you contacted the venue to check yet?

If this is the case I feel sorry for the birthday child because no-one will go.

KatharinaRosalie · 01/02/2022 12:40

All climbing parties I've been to include instructors and parents who don't climb get free entry. Check with the place, this sounds unusual.

Raindancer411 · 01/02/2022 12:40

Did she not know about this before now? I can see a lot of people pulling out. I wouldn't expect to have to pay to stay and supervise.