To think this is an absurd party request?

[MerryMax]

DD is invited to a 7th birthday party today. The birthday girl's mum has given clear instruction that all parents need to stay and be present on the climbing frame. I've had a cold and don't feel like traipsing around a climbing frame trying to follow a bunch of 7 year olds. Surely at 7 they can be in there on their own?

I'm assuming she wants parents to keep an eye on their own children because it's an open party and has worded it awkwardly.

This is how I read it too, I suspect she isn't that fussed about where parents actually stand but doesn't want to be blamed if an accident happens. Has something happened before where a parent has giving her a horrible telling off for a hurt child?

I don't get this modern trend of parents staying at parties anyway. I don't remember that expectation when I was 7.

At soft play? Could she maybe mean that she wants parents to stick around in the cafe area and be ready to step in if their child misbehaves?

Most of the soft play places round here discourage parents entering the climbing frame areas. You really only see parents in there if they’re with toddlers or if a child has got stuck somehow.

I imagine she's over anxious about a child having an accident while at her child's party.
During the latest party my child went to (parents stayed but sat at the tables while children played apart from one Dad who was having a whale of a time!!) there were around six bumped heads/ banged arms etc.

At soft play parties I sit and have a cup of tea with the other parents. I don’t follow my DC around.

Normal Soft play frame?

At 7?

Are you sure it's not one of those colossal climbing wall frame thingies. There's one near me that requires under 8's to have an adult with them.

Agree it's odd though

No adults/kids over a certain height allowed on the equipment in our soft play (unless of course required). Last soft play party I was at I sat with a cuppa at the cafe bit in next to soft play and that was 5/6 year olds.

There's one of those near us, we had to have a certain number of parents per children in the climbing frame. So nobody got stuck in there for the whole slot all parents agreed to take turns. It was the only fair way to do it. Perhaps that the case.

I'm assuming she wants parents to keep an eye on their own children because it's an open party and has worded it awkwardly

I agree...she's probably just being over cautious and want to make it clear you'll need to supervise your own dc.

I'd stay but not go on or inside the climbing frame...I imagine that's what most parents will do.

Perfectly reasonable to make a clear request, if you don't like it, don't go. How unbelievably rude and arrogant to just ignore it and dump your kid!

I am guessing that there are at least 1 little brat invited, or some parents are known to dump the kids and run, and she wants to avoid such incidents. She is not a babysitting service, she is perfectly entitled to ask the parents to stay around.

Again, it's not a summon, it's an invitation.

That's weird, surely she can't mean ON the climbing frame?! Fair enough if she wants to you stay in the cafe or whatever rather than drop & go, but actually ON the climbing frame, with 7 year olds? Very odd!

Google the venue, see what their rules are.
My guess is that it is one of the really huge frames that are suitable for much older kids and teens and that smaller kids must be supervised.
You would look ridiculous in a toddler set up!

She is asking you to supervise your child so he/she doesn't get hurt. She is saying that she doesn't have the capacity to keep them all safe, so needs you.

I don't think being asked to supervise your child is "absurd" at all.

It's a regular climbing frame with a max age of 8. It's not huge. She was very clear that she didn't want parents on phones sat at tables. One parent must be "in" the climbing frame. I just can't see it happening. I couldn't keep up with a 7 year old whizzing around. I think we are all going to look mighty odd sat in there.

just be nearby and have a coffee.

She's probably worried about someone getting injured and would prefer their parents to be there incase that happens.

She was very clear that she didn't want parents on phones sat at tables. One parent must be "in" the climbing frame.

What did she actually write on the invitation?

'She was very clear that she didn't want parents on phones sat at tables.'

How was this worded?

Sorry crossed post
Molaki

It's probably aimed at one child and parent in particular and she's thought this will be less awkward than having a one to one conversation.

There's always one.

If those aren’t the rules of the soft play then she can’t say that.

The wonderful thing about taking your older DC to soft play is being able to sit in the cafe whilst they wear themselves out and occasionally appear for a drink and the toilet.

Haha her request is hilarious! How is there going to be any room for the kids if all the parents are in it?! How strange! I wouldn't go, tell them you're not well and take dd to mcdonnalds instead!

I wonder if she realises how awkward she's making it? It's really not normal to tell people what to do like that!

I do remember feeling uneasy about other people's kids and not being able to monitor what's going on when mine first went to soft play. But all they needed was someone to go to if something happened and occasional hugs and/or advice if things went wrong!

I'd try to have a conversation with her about it. What is she worried will happen?

Check what the soft play centre expects and follow their guidelines.

Hahaha that's hilarious. Just go and let DD run about, she's hardly going to hold a gun to your head and force you into the climbing frame.