To ask what your worst birthday parties have been?

[Soubriquet]

I thought my Dd's 3rd birthday party this year was pretty bad.

It was at a soft play and weekend. There were 3 other parties going on at the same time as well as the general public. Only half the guests turned up (out 8!) and dd was really poorly that day too so spent the afternoon crying. We didn't realise she was a poorly as she was.

Luckily because it was soft play, the other children entertained themselves but it did mean they didn't want their dinner because they were having so much fun. It was a disaster.

But one we attended a few weeks ago was worse!

They had done it to a budget. I admire that. I love a good party on a budget. But there's budget and stupid.

They had picked a local games hall to hold the party and its cold in there at the best of the times. Heating was an additional extra so no heating was on. It was freezing! In fact it was warmer outside it was that cold. Most parents didn't take their coats off as they were dressed for a children's party that usually gets quite warm with alot of kids running around

The entertainment was a colouring table and balloons on the floor. There was an iPod in the corner playing music that was barely heard. The food was....ok for children. Ham or cheese sandwhiches, cheese nibbles and chocolate biscuits. That was it.

Only 4 children showed up out of a nursery class. My dd was her friend, ds was an added guest.

After an hour I couldn't feet my toes and ds (20 months) had turned blue.
He wouldn't stop crying, so I made my excuses and took him home leaving dd and Dh behind.

Apparently it didn't get much better. One game of pass the parcel and that was it for 2 hours

The child was only turning 4, so if it was a case of finances, surely nothing would have better!

Can you beat that?

You sound quite unkind to be sneering at other people's parties - and why did you take your 20 months old DS to the party if it was for your DD's nursery friend - and why did you and your DH have to go? .

Did you offer to help organise some games or do anything else constructive?

all I can say is I attend, I wince, and I vow to never do again

this year DS2 got a burger king meal with a few mates. he liked it though!

have had a few soft play horrors

Bit of an unkind post op, bitchy and sneering. Mabey they did not have much experiences of children's parties. Mabey they were dirt poor, that they could not afford £100 for a children's entertainer, and an extra £100 on food for 30 kids and probably their parents.

Around two years ago I took my gs to a party at a play centre which had probably cost quite a lot and exclusively booked. The parents concerned were vaguely known to me and I had had their ds for tea but it was not reciprocated. I found them slightly cold and cliquey part of a group of fairly well off mums.

I arrived with an excited gs, and they did not even bother to look at me or acknowledge me as I handed over the card and present. There was a cold atmosphere as though they did not want us there. To my regret, I left and went home along with most of the other parents.

When I collected gs, he was very quiet. I thought it was odd. A few days later one of the parents who remained asked me how gs was. I asked what she meant and she said how appalled they had been at his treatment there. Apparently he had been playing on equipment another boy wanted to use and he began punching gs and then the birthday boy held him down while he tried to strangle him in full view of cold parents. I checked him that evening and noticed bruising to his neck. I felt so guilty.

The school refused to intervene or even say anything because it happened outside school. Whilst I could understand this in part, they were all in a class together and strangulation is a pretty serious issue.

I rang the boys mother and told her what had happened and she actually blamed the other mother for not intervening, completely scapegoating her! I told her that her ds had been just as involved and I was disgusted.

Needless to say they never spoke to me again and gs was ostracised by parents in her group. It was the final push I needed to take him out of that school and whilst the one we have moved him to may be a bit more rough and ready, well at least you know who your enemy is! He is also so, so much happier.

When I invited 8 little boys to dds 7th for a craft party. They were post school and not interested. Dd assured me that her friends would love craft and I was determined not to be sexist. Big mistake.

Dd was ill at the party and went to bed. My older child was supposed to be collected by a neighbour who forgot so was walked home by the deputy head, in tears (Dd1 not deputy head). Parents away and Dh on work call so I did party solo ie entertaining and food. Discovered this is not actually possible. Food was burnt pizza.

Ds went because he was invited

And me and Dh went because both was invited. Made sense to keep an eye on one child each.

And if they were that hard up, what's wrong with doing it at home? 4 children, at home?

Bloody hell Elsie that's awful

You sound a bit mean. The first party I held for dd was chaotic as I had no idea what I was doing. We forgot to do pass the Parcel. But we had a bouncy castle and I think the kids enjoyed themselves but I know the parents could see it was chaotic.
I've learnt from that over the years and our parties have got better. I'd be mortified if I found out someone had posted a thread about my "crap" party online. Shame on you OP.

Parents probably thought Dd's was rubbish! It's a learning process

I worked in a softplay area at a zoo which done party packages. One option was entry to the zoo for the day, private party room for the day, with food set up when needed. It was priced per child, with one free adult per yay many children. Any extra adults staying have to pay full price zoo entry. One parent didn't explain this properly on her invites, then presented the parents who had stayed for the day with a diy invoice. It did not go down well at the end of the day.

We also had private hire of the soft play after the rest of the zoo had closed. At one party the two grandmothers of the birthday child had a fight. The parents were unable to break it up and I had to radio in some zoo keepers to separate them.

Yabu.
I've been to parties in halls before where all children are just realised bing around in absolute bliss with each other. Then the entertainment turns up and they're all disappointed they have to stop runners by aroubd.
So, yabu, happy children make their own fun.

I once went to a party held by a rich family (this is relevant).

It was at their house (fine). No entertainment was provided, not even pass the parcel or other party games. The worst was that there was no food, not a bean even for the children. I left early as dd was hungry.

What was you supposed do Rattsun?

Just sit there?

There wasn't even enough seats for the number invited. Presumably they invited lots to get the presents.

I just stood around and watched while the kids ran riot.

Strange.

Oh god my ds' 4th birthday is booked at a softplay next week! Any tips? I'm hoping they just.run riot while we all drink coffee and chat

Let them get on with it really

Hope they come for food but don't force them if they don't want to.

I've booked a cold buffet of sandwiches etc I always have parties at home but said not this year as all the setting up and tidying up is too much!

That was our thinking

Less tidy up and free entertainment and all food cooked....

Pity it went horribly wrong

It was DHs work Xmas party for kids! They did it the afternoon following the office party in the middle of the office so just what hungover people want, a load of kids!!

There were entertainers but the games were just weird..... Tied balloons to the kids feet (ages 18months up to about 10) then told them to try and stamp and pop each others balloons. Resulting in a load of crying toddlers who got a shock and were sad their balloon was popped! Then a game of charades but they were things like 'act out the Russian Revolution' given to a 4 year old or 'pretend to play a concerto by Bach'!!!

And a face painter who couldn't speak a word of English and I don't think had any idea what they were meant to be doing. DS1 came back with an orange face and a blue triangle on his forehead, he was as perplexed as us and apparently asked to be a reindeer!!!

Followed up by a McDonalds happy meal which must of been bought hours before as they were fridge cold........

It was that bad it was hilarious!

My DD 5 party was a bit of a disaster this year. Will see if anyone posts about it

We went to one that wasn't bad but pretty hilarious. It was a snowy day and it was a party in a hall with a bouncy castle. 6th birthday I think. Lots of wild, wrestling boys on the bouncy castle. All of a sudden they were joined by a big, brown Labrador. They all freaked out and scattered while the dog was having a merry old time. The funny part is that the dog didn't belong to anyone attending the party, we later found out he had escaped from a garden down the road and somehow got into the hall.

I went to one recently where the entertainer was terrible, a really ratty old bastard who clearly hated kids. He was attempting some sort of a magic show but kept stopping and shouting at the children to sit down and said "you won't have a birthday if you carry on like this." It was a 5 year olds party! Then he did balloon modelling and one little boy had annoyed him by not paying attention during the magic bit, so he made his balloon dog all misshapen! Then he put on a disco that was stupidly loud, you couldn't hear yourself think. My kids disappeared and I found them sitting under a table behind the stage, pissed off with the whole thing. The party girls dad was furious with the entertainer and took him outside "for a chat." Words like "you can take it out of my face" etc were exchanged...

And a face painter who couldn't speak a word of English and I don't think had any idea what they were meant to be doing. DS1 came back with an orange face and a blue triangle on his forehead, he was as perplexed as us and apparently asked to be a reindeer!!!

PMSL!!!

We did a horrendous one at home for DD in reception. It was on the last Friday of half term, all girls, nobody listened to anything or wanted to play any games, at least 2/3 of the group was crying at any one time, and DH shouted at the partygoers. DD took herself to bed and stayed there.

4 years later I still get cold chills thinking about it.