AIBU?
to expect 5 yr old boys to cope manfully with being out of musical chairs
martini · 04/06/2007 14:46
Have tried this question under parties but wondered if more people might answer it here.
Basically DS having party soon. Most games are non competitive but can't see point of musical chairs if no one is out. Guests are mainly 5 yr old boys - will they be able to just sit on sidelines cheering on the others as we did as children or will they need other distractions to stop them going into meltdown or generally being PITA?
dustystar · 04/06/2007 14:49
I had a party for dd when she was 7 and in spite of making sure that everyone got to win at something there were plaenty of tantrums and tears. Most kids take it ok but a few just cannot cope with not winning. The only @winning'[ game that i found caused no problems at all was pass the pacel as I put a treat inside each layer.
suedonim · 04/06/2007 15:25
It was always ds1 who ended up in tears at his own parties. In fact, I reckon he took himself off to bed by five o'clock for almost every birthday he had until he was...ooh...16 or 17years old? Okay, okay, maybe nine of ten, then!! He's always been a sore loser.
mummydoit · 04/06/2007 15:34
In theory, I agree they should learn to take it. In practice, not sure I'd want lots of upset/angry kids spoiling the party. I've seen kids having tantrums because they didn't get the first layer of pass the parcel, even when they've been told there's a prize in every layer and everyone will get a turn.
yaddayah · 04/06/2007 15:40
ds (5) is usually hyper competative and hates to lose at anything however when he's with his peers it seems to dissapate, he happily sat on the sidelines after losing at musical chairs/statues (he still tried his hardest though!)
YANBU (i think thats the right way round)
Hope he enjoys the party !
Lazycow · 04/06/2007 15:50
non competitive form of musical chairs here if you are interested web.ncf.ca/an588/musicalchairs.txt
Looks like a bot of work to do but seems like fun to play
ahundredtimes · 04/06/2007 15:55
Musical chairs is awful ritualized humiliation, left without a chair! Bumps and statues is more fun and I've never had anyone throw a fit about being out.
Ooooh a friend did a party with pass the parcel WITH FORFEITS in the wrappers, like we used to have. Children were horrified. Was very entertaining. She'd relented a little though as did put a sweet in every wrapper.
martini · 04/06/2007 16:08
Ritualized humiliation - I feel dead cruel. Thing is I used to love musical chairs and always thought the bit where evryone piles on last chair was great but maybe I was older.
We are doing lots of other things - craft activity/ treasure hunt/ musical bumps/ pass parcel etc but just thought one teensy weensy competitive thing would be okay.
Has anyone got actual practical experience of playing musical chairs with this or other age group - did kids like it?
Stigaloid · 04/06/2007 16:22
I recommend sleeping lions! i used to love playing that as a kid. I was highly competitive and always used to lose as couldn't sit still for a minute but neverminded losing at sleeping lions as i found it funny trying to be as quiet as possible when i was always so hyper.
Things like musical chairs have kids running around and getting their enrgy levels up anyway, so likely to be more upset and hyper at losing.
Plus with sleeping lions you get to make them all really, really quiet....[thumbs up]
wheresthehamster · 04/06/2007 16:44
I made up this version of musical chairs to stop (lessen) the tantrums of being out early.
Before you start divide the children into two teams girls/boys or other.
Play musical chairs as normal but the children who are out have to scream and shout encouragement to their team mates. At the end whichever team member gets the last chair then that whole team are winners. Lots of cheering and backslapping for the actual 'winner' but ALL the team get a small prize. Then they all have to shake hands with the other team and say things like 'better luck next time' 'good try' etc. Very tongue in cheek but lighthearted.
This has worked best at mixed parties.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.