To dread Kids Parties in Soft Play Centres

[Oggyandthecockroaches]

My DD has another one of these parties later this week for her soon-to-be 5 year old friend. It got me thinking that probably 90% of the parties my DC have attended this year have been at these places.

Am I the only one to dread taking my DC to these parties? I ended sitting through 2 hours of screaming kids who seem to get hurt and work themselves up in a frenzy.

Well, am I?

No.

You are not!

I hate them too, most of DS's primary school friends had parties in these places and dreaded each one. It basically involves a load of kids running around screaming, hurting each other/themselves, someone ALWAYS ends up crying, the parents sit around some mucky table pretending to like each other and the food is disgusting shite I wouldn't give to a dog.

YANBU.

YANBU and YAN Alone.

But preferable to having 15 x 3 year olds running round my house.

Nope. I dread them too. I find them quite stressful and DS always seems too worked up at them.

I love them personally,. Its a great chance to run around and go on the slides and ball pools. I would say its my favourite type of kids birthday party.

At the risk of getting flamed, am I the only one who thinks it's some Parents lazy choice of party where they just turn up and pay at the end? I appreciate this may be a generalisation but there's little effort involved as these places do everything from the gross food and party bags.

A few years ago my DCs used to love going to parties at play centres but since the majority are now held there, there's not a lot of excitement anymore. I would never normally choose to spend my time and money there!

Oggy everyone I have ever been to the parents have got in with the kids and ran around for the whole time they are there. The kids love it and the parents I know all love it. I think its a great laugh personally.

I quite like them tbh. The kids entertain themselves, while I can chat with a cuppa.

And yes, infinitely preferable to having a party at home.

But yes, they are a bit lazy and very impersonal

Really snowflake? Maybe when mine were toddlers but I don't think at 7 & 4 they would appreciate me following them around!!

Yes they are the lazy option, which is why I love them (although ours doesn't do food or party bags, it's BYO).
If I had the skills necessary to herd and entertain 20 4 yr olds I'd have gone into teaching, but I don't, I can barely herd one 25 yr old assistant.

I wouldnt stay for the party, i would just drop off . Do people really expect yu to stay?

I'm having one for DS early next year and whilst some people think it's lazy(!) I don't have a big enough house to accommodate all of the children and as it's still going to be so cold can't open the doors to the garden.

To counter the hoards of kids and the tears I have booked the play centre for the first slot of the day which means we have the whole place to ourselves.

So there will be 15 children running around for an hour not getting pushed over etc. Food is sandwiches, crisps and juice which I'm sure we've all given our children.

I provide party bags and cake, what's wrong with that!?

I have been to many and have been paid by parents to go in with the kids on some occasions. I work with kids so the parents like me to be there and pay me so I can entertain them and run around with them.

Lazy ???
so what about a trip to the cinema or ten pin bowling, isn't that lazy?
Not everyone can accommodate loads of children in their own homes so only have the option of a 'lazy' party !!

Don't know why people are so snobby about them, I go every week with my ds, he loves to play and I sit with a cuppa and a book, or chat to friends.
Oh and the noise - that'll be the children having fun.

Littleducks - My DD is only 4. I would never leave here at a party alone especially in a place where there are many strangers and I'd be worried about the exit door. Plus its a tremendous responsibility for the parents hosting the party to keep their eyes on every child.

Lazy......or perhaps people do it as kids do rather like soft play, whether adults do or not....?

I'm going to one today. Luckily we have quite a nice one locally, gambados, but I still hate it. When we were last there at a party, dd cried 4 times while
I tried to calm her down through gritted teeth. Have been wondering whether to start turning down invites and explaining that it's just too much for her :(

Oh ok, my dd is 4 too and since the children have started school nobody stays. When they were in preschool we wouldnt all stay, the parents that stayed would keep an eye on two or three kids each and then drop them home.

But i expect the 'party etiquette' varies,
as here it tends to (thankfully)be a group of children (6/8) invited rather than a full class party so easier in that respect. And the soft play centres are aimed at their age, are fairly small and easy to see where kids are.

We have only been to a gambados once and that is a totally different kette of fish, i couldnt leave dd there alone, as there were go karts (she did learn to drive alone but i had to show her) and a climbing wall so stuff i would want her to be watched doing, the place was huge with loads of hiding places. I took four children and definately didnt get to sit in the adults 'peace and quiet' room at all!

I know what you mean ,but at this time of the year especially ,party options are quite limited if you dont want to host it in your own home .

Fair enough - I can see that I am being unreasonable to suggest it's the lazy option. However, I still can't stand them. Maybe it's something to do with the Play Centres near us who charge extortionate entry and cafe prices and are mostly filthy!