to think that birthday parties are a priviledge for the rich?

[BlueberryPancake]

We are having some work done in our garden (necessary work!) and struggling to know what to do for DS birthday party in November. Our house is not very big and usually we just have some games outside with about 10 of his friends - rain or shine! We can't use the garden around his birthday this year.

So I was thinking of getting an entertainer to come over, a storyteller maybe, and I have made calls to various people based in London, and there is nobody who will come to your house for under £140 (I would like someone for just 40-50 minutes, but apparently they only have 2 hour packages).

I have been quoted cheapest £140 and most expensive £500. The average is £200.

Plus food, and gifts for DS.

So I called a few places where we could go to, and have found nothing under £200 (including food) or £130 (without food) plus entertainer!!!

Is this it? Are birthday parties for rich kids? Am I late on the uptake and everyone spends that kind of money? We have been to many parties and I have been wondering how much it costs other people, but THAT much!

what a strange OP. Birthday parties are not a privilege of the rich. Paying people to do the work for you, either in your own home or elsewhere, is pricey, so you if you don't have the money you just do it yourself

We've recently moved to Antwerp and DD has been to a couple of birthday parties. Hers are not going to be the extravaganza those were. DD will be 10 next year, her party will be in the local park and we will do a BBQ. No party bags in this house either much to her dismay.

Argh to fairies! Why can't girls be superheroes? And 5yo will just run around, like pass the parcel, etc. Hall, food, music, balloons - what's not to like?

FFS

a 5 year old does not know to expect an entertainer unless you tell him its what happens at bday parties.

invite X amount of friends, go to Lidl, pick up some good food, go to asda or £ shop and pick up balloons. google online for party game ideas and entertain them yourself.

of course you could always just, erm, not have a party!!! they aren't an essential element you know.

When I was a child the rule was in our family that you could have as many guests as your age, so on that basis OP would only need to fit in 5 guests!

of course, you would have some explaining to do to the mums of children who were not invited, but IME people would be understanding, esp with you having the work done.

Two of my friends recently go together and shared a party. Booked a village hall and an entertainer.

The entertainer was £200 for two hours, but worth absolutely every single penny as he kept 40+ 3 & 4 yr olds totally transfixed (and still and quiet) for two 45 min sessions and then made them flowers out of their napkins while they had sandwiches etc. They all got a balloon model each too.

His name is Jack Stephens if you want to google . Not sure if I'm allowed to post his site, but he has one.

My DD would love to be superhero and NOT a fairy.

I hated entertainers as a child; I always thought they were utterly stupid and 'saw through' all their tricks. Found it tedious and boring.

If you want party bags, buy some brown paper bags and get your kids to decorate them.

There are some wonderful ideas on here. Don't blow the budget it really is not worth it.

I sometimes think that the party is for the parents! They invite anyone that happens to be in the class regardless of whether the DC actually gets on/plays/is friends with them -and then parents want to stay because they can't leave their DC with strangers-
so then they need a huge venue to hold them all and they need to pay for entertainment/activities because the can't/don't want to entertain/control that number of DCs themselves. It all becomes 'corporate' entertaining-the guest hands over the present which is put in a black sack to open later so the DC can't see it being opened and then Mum writes a letter on the computer and DC signs it!
If that is for the rich then you are well out of it! Your DC will much prefer to be at home with a few real friends-just do something to suit them yourself-ask him.
Birthdays don't need lots of money.

loads of games here Scout website

yabu
food and games is not that expensive

YABU. A cake, a small group of friends, balloons and a few cheapie party games.

You don't have to hire entertainers and cater for the masses.

I live in a very expensive part of west London and you can rent a church hall for 3 hours for £60 which is plenty of time to include clearing up etc.

DS is also 5 in Nov - we will be doing good old fashioned party games and take away pizza + home made cake.

Haven't made my mind up about party bags yet - though will obviously need bags to send home all the left over cake and pizza. PLan to do tatoos instead of facepainting (not sure I'm competant to do face painting).

Actually may get them to decorate their own paper bags to bring home

what the hell is a musical puddle!?

please Mr Crocodile aslo good (bit like british bulldogs)

We invited a handful of friends (5 at most) for birthday tea and watching DVD/playing about/pass the parcel, and very simple (cake, balloon, notebook and pencil) party-bag. A little older they might have either a trip with three or four mates to the cinema after or before a birthday tea back at home. We have done a couple of birthdays where they went bowling or ice-skating but it was a slog and unnecessary in the end - they were just as happy having a sleepover with a nice tea (whatever meal they chose or pizzas/nuggets/whatever + homemade birthday cake) and then loads of popcorn and DVD's for the sleepover; and some kind of special breakfast next morning - cooked breakfast or pancakes or croissants/pains au chocolat. If you host it all at home, it can cost only for the party food and maybe a couple of small treats for a party bag or treasure hunt or game prizes or something.

This entertained thing is a joke really. It is not that hard to entertain children yourself. And no parties are only for the rich. My bosses are quite well off and the most extravangant thing we have done for the DC's is take 2 friends to Chessington on a 13th birthday. Woop de doo dah!

DD, DP & I are still in shock after attending a 5 year old birthday party yesterday. It was huge (about 40-45 kids), they had an excellent entertainer but really it has put me off big kiddy parties for life. Way too much & everyone, kids & parents, look frazzled.

DD's birthday is in November too and we live in a small flat so need to have party elsewhere, and it has to be inside. We are renting a local hall (in London) for £15 per hour, or £25 per hour with bouncy castle. I was thinking (briefly) of doing something slightly bigger if we are going to trouble of hiring a hall, but we've now decided to keep it smallish - so there will be max 10 kids & their parents, plus godparents/family will come for cake etc.

I'll put on a crafty activity (love the decorating party bags & biscuits ideas), play music, bake the birthday cake & organise a couple of simple games. I enjoy putting a little bit of effort & creativity into it. DD still talks about her ladybird cake last year!

For DS's 5th birthday earlier this year we just had 5 of his best friends home after school for tea. DS opened the presents the other kids had got him as soon as we got home which all of them loved (and was always what I did as a kid). Then I got them to make their own pizzas (cheated and bought the bases but they had to put on their own tomatoes, cheese, pineapple, peppers etc etc...) Cooked the pizzas while they played pass the parcel. They ate the pizzas and had cake which took quite a long time. Some more playing/games time then home at 6pm with party bag containing small metal car (60p Tesco) sweets, balloon, cake. They all loved it and although excited all behaved well and I would do it again.

A Peter Pan day. Are you near any Peter Pan places? Could you take him and a friend to see Peter Pan perhaps? (If it is playing anywhere near you)

Peter Pan Party ideas.

www.ehow.co.uk/list_5796904_peter-pan-party-ideas.html

And you can get some idea's from this page for a great at home Peter Pan party.
www.mrgiggles.co.uk/Pirate-Theme-Birthday-Party-Games.htm

They can be very expensive. Could you share a party with someone - this would bring your average swimming party or soft play party down to under a hundred pounds.