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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that you should have games or something at a 4yo's party?

43 replies

FunnysInLaJardin · 01/11/2013 21:55

I am totally prepared to be told IABU, so today we went to a party for DS2's nursery friend. Whole class kind of thing, 25 odd kids. When we arrived there was a bouncy castle in the hall which was great. The kids ran about etc and I waited for the games to start. They had party tea and then back to the bouncy castle and that was it. No games or music or anything. AIBU to think that was a bit odd for a 2 hour party? I don't think I have ever been to a party where there was no pass the parcel or musical statues or something!

OP posts:

ExitPursuedByABogieMan · 01/11/2013 21:56

Horses for courses. Did your DS enjoy himself?

Tee2072 · 01/11/2013 21:57

We didn't have games at my son's 4th birthday. The kids had a great time without them.

Original poster

FunnysInLaJardin · 01/11/2013 21:58

well yes he did Exit he was a bit lost at times, but yes had a nice time

OP posts:

GobbolinoCat · 01/11/2013 21:59

Sometimes I think the parties these days are over stimulating and controlled. I used to notice at Toddler group the part the dc's loved the best was right at the end when all the toys were packed away and they simply had space to race up and down and interact with each other.

There will be plenty of parties to come where every move is micro managed. I think its nice that this party was more....carefree

dyslexicdespot · 01/11/2013 22:00

As long as the children enjoyed themselves and the adults survived without hearing loss, I don't see a problem with it. Unstructured play is a good thing.

Lilacroses · 01/11/2013 22:04

It is a bit unusual but the kids probably had alot of fun. Lots of kids don't actually enjoy formal party games so I can totally see why some people don't do them. My Dd hates the school discos for the very reason that they have the sort of DJ that has games for the ENTIRE disco and the kids are all forced to join in. Some of the kids love it others don't.

ginmakesitallok · 01/11/2013 22:04

Funnys, I think we may have been ast the same party? If so parties there a always run that way, but the kids seem to love it...

katese11 · 01/11/2013 22:07

We had one game at ds's 4th bday and it was a total hassle! Rest of the time they free flowed around different toy and craft stations perfectly happily!

WipsGlitter · 01/11/2013 22:07

At parties my DS goes to the best bit seems to be running about at the end hitting each other with balloons. I'm guessing the parents thought the bouncy castle was enough.

pinkdelight · 01/11/2013 22:07

Yabu. The bouncy castle is the entertainment. Some parties are games and food. Some have an entertainer and food. Some have an activity eg bouncy castle/soft play and food. No reason at all to squeeze activity, food and games into two hours. I'd rather pay for the castle and let them have fun / wear themselves out on that than fanny around with games. Sure the kids had fun.

CeliaLytton · 01/11/2013 22:09

YABU, my DS doesn't like party games, prefers just to play with friends, so that is what they do.

wigglesrock · 01/11/2013 22:09

Pretty normal for any biggish all class parties my kids have been to. They all tend to run around, play on the bouncy castle, eat & play some more

Party games for that many is always a bit of a nightmare.

pinkdelight · 01/11/2013 22:11

And games for the whole class? I've seen some mums do it and hats off to them, but no way would I take that on. Esp not in these days of everyone gets a prize.

Re-reading your title, the "or something" is clearly the bouncy castle, no?

That said, I've been to parties with DS where there has been no entertainment of any kind. Just food and a few balloons and other kids to play with. That was fine too.

Original poster

FunnysInLaJardin · 01/11/2013 22:18

god gin I hope not. I would be mortified to think that anyone knew I was MNetting about the party. Where are you?

OP posts:

ginmakesitallok · 01/11/2013 22:21

Were there pirates??? (And would you admit it if there were?

nouvellevag · 01/11/2013 22:23

YABU - I hated bloody party games when I was a kid, and as a parent I dread the thought of trying to coordinate a game of Pass the Parcel for 25 nursery children. We've been to three parties recently, all soft play followed by food, and I think it's brilliant. The kids have a whale of a time.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 01/11/2013 22:25

I have a class party planned next month - bouncy castle, food, cake, last bounce - home :)

Why would I make it stressful and add games to that??

Original poster

FunnysInLaJardin · 01/11/2013 22:27

gin no, thank god!

OP posts:

DancingInTheSnow · 01/11/2013 22:28

25 children all on one bouncy castle = tears in my experience. YANBU.

mousmous · 01/11/2013 22:33

yabu
we had many games planned for the first birthday party but the children just wanted to run around like loons until it was time for the cake.

Mouldypineapple · 01/11/2013 22:33

I think it sounds ok but yes that is a lot of potential kids on the bouncy castle. They need some balloons to chuck about or something. Saying that my dd will be 4 soon and I can't decide what to do for it. Only have 10-15 kids. Any ideas?? (sorry if this is a mini hijack!)

GideonKipper · 01/11/2013 22:37

I've been to parties for my friend's dc at that age and younger, held at her house, which were basically a buffet for the adults with tiny dc expected to have some on a plate and sit politely at some random spot around the living room balancing the plate on their knee eating neatly and tidily. The adults then would be expected to stand around chatting while the children roamed around getting increasingly bored and frustrated and barked at for trying to get toys out, for going upstairs, for touching anything until there was a half hearted game of pass the parcel right at the end.

Totally stressful and a waste of time taking young dc. I started to find I was 'busy' when these invitations were issued. Bouncy castle in a hall sounds good to me!

froginthepond · 01/11/2013 22:40

Sounds like ds 4th birthday party. He had no interest in games and none of his friends seemed to mind. Do people really think parties are crap if they dont have games? I have never been to a party with ds at a soft play that had games so i dont see the difference.

Puffinlover · 01/11/2013 22:48

My DS2 was invited to a 6th birthday at the end of Oct lady year. It was held in some woods near our house. He really enjoyed filling the trail of balloons to the right bit if the wood and I was thinking what a cool idea, expecting some games, maybe an entertainer, hot jacket potatoes etc and thinking clever to save on cost of hall hire. We got there, the birthday boys mum said 'off you go' and that was it. For two hours. In the freezing c

Puffinlover · 01/11/2013 22:50

Whoops! In the freezing cold and getting dark. I was but must say my DS loved it and had a great time playing in woods with his friends. But asked to go h

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