Is meal out a good 11th birthday do?

[whichisbetter]

My ten year old could not think of what he wanted to do for his eleventh birthday.

I said he likes eating at a certain restaurant. He said he wanted to go there with his friends. I did wonder if that would suit 11 year old boys? Do they really want to just sit and chat for a couple of hours?

Just read about a gaming place near where we live which basically has rooms with massive screens that they can sit together and do gaming. Do you think this is a better idea?

Or is that boring as they spend so much time gaming online anyway?

Listen to your child as to what he wants to do.

You could add something like Bowling or crazy golf on before the meal to stretch out the night if going to a restaurant is what he wants?

Meal out is a fab idea for that age, esp since that’s what he’s asked for. For my son’s bday at that age, I booked a table for the boys to sit together and then a table in the same room but not adjacent for me and 2 friends (one was the mum of one of the boys).

We had a fab evening catching up and they had a great time, feeling a bit free and easy.

I’d say they are too young to want to sit and chat as a birthday party. It might turn into a non-event.
Do what pp said and book something else first. Trampoline park always a good one.

Oh and the gaming thing sounds fun too.

Yes, I will ask him tonight. I can't really afford to pay for something before the meal - its going to be expensive as it is. And I am worried it might turn into a non-event as someone said above, if that is his preference.

One of ours asked for a dinner party at home for his pals when he was about 9 or 10. He chose the menu, we did the table up like a restaurant, all the best dishes and glasses etc. Dad was asked to be the "butler" so put on his dinner jacket and obliged. We still don't know why he wanted to do all this, but birthday child and all friends had a ball 😂😂😂 Go with what your child is asking! It will be fun.

When my son was that age, there were a lot of laser tag and paint balling parties. My son is a summer born so I did a Nerf super soaker party which went down well.

You run a real risk too that it will get more expensive than you think if they’re ordering what they like !

At that age we did an activity followed by McDonalds . I just put money on DSs debit card so he could pay for everyone

DD asked for, and got, a meal out. She loved it.

I'm me of my DD's had a restaurant meal aged 8, it was really good, she then for her 10th, might have been 11th asked for a dinner party - three courses, sparkling grape juice, little place names etc. she was a keen cook then and made the bread and the dessert herself. Whatever they want is fine

I have already costed it out! One main each, one pud each and a sharing thing they can have as starters and a soft drink. They will not have free range to keep ordering and ordering!