To think this is not a fair way for kids parties?

[MidniteScribbler]

So I was forced went to a kids 5th birthday yesterday. I've managed to avoid kids parties for the last five years, but it looks like my run of freedom is now over. So this party had about eight 4-7 year olds attending. Mum had organised lots of party games - moving statues, pass the parcel, quizzes (which kids movie are these characters from, etc), musical chairs - she went all out. Every single game was won by the birthday girl. All of them. Mum made sure the music stopped when her DD was right next to the last chair, made sure she had the last parcel in pass the parcel, kept calling her daughter for the silly quizzes, and no matter how much her DD moved, she won the various rounds of musical statues.

Now, I know it's just a kids party, but I could see some of the kids getting a bit frustrated when they kept getting sent out of the games or not picked for the quizzes, and many of the mums were starting to give each other rather pointed looks. I would have thought that you would generally try and make sure that everyone had a chance to win something? Or is this a whole new mummy thing that I've never experienced before?

[missyB1]

I wonder if they are frightened she will throw an almighty tantrum if she doesn't win? Way to ruin your child!

[TwatbadgingCuntfuckery]

This is 'OMG is that my sister?' threads.

Not normal, bizarre. Completely bizarre.

[RaeSkywalker]

I have vivid memories of a similar party I went to aged about 7. It wasn't the birthday child's mother that was the problem, it was the mother of another guest (who happened to be the birthday child's cousin). She hovered over every game to make sure her DD won. I got down to the 'final 2' (the tension) in a game against this child, and won by a very visible margin. The mother then proceeded to tell me in front of everyone that I had lost, her DD had obviously beaten me, and I mustn't be a sore loser and should giver her my prize. I was so, so embarrassed to be told off in front of everyone.

When my mum collected me I burst into tears, but lied and said I was crying because I didn't feel well as I was too embarrassed to tell her that I'd been told off by another parent

My friends still talk about how I was robbed

[wanderings]

How do you rig pin the tail? (Misses point of thread)

[CombineBananaFister]

hahaha, this is brilliant how blatant and awful !! Nope, not normal at all.
Feel sorry for the poor birthday girl, her mum is really not doing her any favours. That winnings stash of Haribos,bubbles and whoopie cushions will come at a cost as kids are savvy enough even at five to know they've been ripped off. What a bloody miserable party!

[shinynewusername]

Poor girl - bet there won't be many takers for her 6th birthday party

As everyone else has said, norm is to rig games so that everyone wins something. After about 6/7, they are too arsey sophisticated for that, so you let natural selection take its course but you certainly don't rig in favour of the birthday boy/girl.

[FTM89]

I cringed a bit when a friend posted on Facebook that she miscounted the layers and the birthday boy didn't get to win pass the parcel. I just kind of assumed that nobody let the birthday child win. They've already got lots of presets so don't really need prizes on top

[WankingMonkey]

This is horrible, especially to kids that age. I have never thrown a party yet for DD but if I did I would do the games and such like my parents did when my brother was younger

They would ask the DJ (this would work also if you were doing it yourself) to ensure each child won something.

Surely this is the fair way to go about it all. I would feel seriously cruel doing it the way described in the OP, and tbh would be raising a little brat who always got her own way..

[CatNip2]

This is awful if you are going to cheat you absolutely make sure the party kid doesn't win anything.

[legotits]

Years ago my DS was lucky enough to be invited to a pals birthday, it was at a pub with a fun factory.

Naively I thought that meant 7 or 8 kids.
The family were from a different culture.

Assuming it was
A.an invite to one of a few (didn't want to let b day boy down)
B. Just like school so £10-15 max budget for prezzie.
The b day boy had 48 guests.
Not including mums.
There was a four sitting b day tea.
Four candle blows, four cakes.
It was mostly family, each bringing a gift ~£100.

The shame.

3 hours.

[simiisme]

YANBU - The child will grow up to be a spoilt, entitled brat who cannot play well with other children. Poor kid.

[Shona52]

No I make sure everyone wins something and my son has autism and he finds it very difficult to let others win. But it's a good lesson for him to learn

[rockcake]

Whole point of games with prizes used to be so the other kids also had a chance of winning something, bearing in mind the birthday girl gets gifts from everyone..... Can't believe that mum! Super weird and embarrassing, not to mention boring for the poor little guests. Veto all the weird mum's parties from now on

[Sara107]

No, not ok! Never seen this. Any party we've been to the organisers go to great efforts to make sure everyone is winning something.

[lifeonthemuvaside]

I found this so hilariously funny! The mother is ridiculous and probably has some childhood issues where she didn't get birthday parties or presents or something! The poor child will become Verucca Salt!

[Cubtrouble]

The kid sounds like a spoilt brat. Or maybe it's the mother who is spoilt.

[SandyPantz]

I've been to tonnes of kids parties, never seen this happen.

When we get down to obviously the last (best) pass the parcel I close my eyes before stopping the music (all dramatically like :-D ), but there's little gifts in each layer anyway.

we also usually do team games - 2 teams, winning team all get "prize" and losing team also get consolation prize. (things like cheap rings or bangles)

[BertrandRussell]

At the party I mentioned earlier (the one that ds still snarls at 10 years later) the mother actually moved the tail her son pinned on........

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

I think it's perfectly normal. If you live in North Korea and the birthday child is called Kim Jong something.

[SandyPantz]

I fix it so that it stops for each kid at least once for a middle layer toy/sweeties, and then do random for the inside prize

[Overshoulderbolderholder]

We all love our DC above all others but we have to teach them to play fair and to share. We have to win and lose with good grace. One of life's big lessons !

[ShelaghTurner]

My 4yo went to her first ever proper birthday party a few months back. She won the pass the parcel prize and the birthday parents and child were visibly pissed off. One of their (adult) friends said "oh really Frieda should have won that, it's her birthday". I replied that it was a shame the music hadn't stopped on her then.

After that DD2 was treated prettily nastily. The birthday sibling made a big fuss about giving her a sweet when she'd had her go at another game (sweet for each go) and DD2 was last and one time passed over for cakes etc at the birthday tea.

I've never come across this before in years of party going. Luckily she was too young and excited to notice but I wanted to cry, I was so upset with them. Luckily they're in different schools for reception so probably will lose touch with them.