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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to have a lasertag party for a bunch of 6 nearly 7 year olds

18 replies

unsure66 · 09/07/2019 20:16

Really struggling to find a birthday party my soon to be DS would enjoy. He has ASD and does not generally like his fun to be organised. He does enjoy shooting things though. We are still doing all class parties so would be about 25 kids probably. I've never been to a lasertag party but I know older kids often enjoy them. Anyone have an opinion? YANBU if not a good idea.

OP posts:

pombal · 09/07/2019 20:19

They’re great but, I think 25 is too many.

Would you have exclusive use, or be mixed in with others? That’s something to consider.

MermaidUnicorn · 09/07/2019 20:22

I would be surprised if a venue allowed 25 to play at the same time - 20 is the max round here. 6-7 is a bit young in my experience.

Ambydex · 09/07/2019 20:22

Huge sensory issues with it here. Dark, noise, bright lights, massive meltdown.

Take him for a general session first and see how he gets on with it before you even consider it.

How about bowling? Or just a much smaller party - start a trend.

Sparklingbrook · 09/07/2019 20:24

My two thought they were great at that age. Don't know how it would go down with parents that are funny about toy guns though.

CasperGutman · 09/07/2019 20:24

My just-turned-seven DS went to a Laser Quest party a couple of weeks ago. They seemed to enjoy it. I think the numbers were limited to about 20 though, so check with the venue. I wouldn't book if you can't get exclusive use though, as having much older kids in the mix would spoil it for the younger ones (and vice versa).

24hourhomeedderandcarer · 09/07/2019 20:31

my 8 y old could not cope at all with a laser tag party and actually flighted from the room as soon as he set foot in it,he has pda,asd,gdd and spd

this was my nephews party so he knew the people

(for those that dont have children with asd or any other disabilities they either fight or flight)

Original poster

unsure66 · 09/07/2019 21:19

sorry, should have explained, its one of those parties that comes to you, they bring the equipment and then you can have it in back garden or local woods - we have some good ones here. I would definitely have it as an outside party although have a big enough space here that I could host indoors if it rains. It would be exclusive to the party goers. They offer parties up to about 33 kids.

OP posts:

Original poster

unsure66 · 09/07/2019 21:51

I don't care about parents that are funny about toy guns, they don't have to come. I also don't want to start a trend with small parties, that is when kids like mine start to get left out (they don't make the cut for any of the parties). I'll happily stick to whole class for as long as possible. Bowling definitely wouldn't work, too still, requires too much concentration. Thank you for your replies

OP posts:

stayathomer · 09/07/2019 21:56

When we rang up about laser tag we were told it's not suitable for under 8s and warned about sensory issues but someone above said 7. It sounds like a lot of people to supervise for that sort of a party tbh because theyre still so young and will be all over the place

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 09/07/2019 21:58

I think it would turn into a bit of a nightmare. I took a slightly older group and there were much older kids/adults groups there too at the same time, and it was like lord of the flies.

stayathomer · 09/07/2019 22:01

OP jusw that you said 'soon to be ds.' Are their other parents involved? What do they think?

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 09/07/2019 22:05

I just took it as a typo for soon to be 7 ds.
I think it could work. I’ve also heard of nerf gun parties for a similar age group.

Sparklingbrook · 09/07/2019 22:06

I don't care about parents that are funny about toy guns, they don't have to come

I only mentioned it because on regular threads on MN about toy guns there are a lot of people who don't allow them.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 09/07/2019 22:11

Some kids don’t like them either (as I found out on the day).

HeddaGarbled · 09/07/2019 22:11

Although he enjoys shooting things, how do you think he would cope with being shot himself? I know several young people with ASD who really struggle with games involving lots of people: people not following rules, perceived unfairness, not winning, for example.

RicStar · 09/07/2019 22:17

I have a 7 year old who would not want to go and I would not send to such a party. I know you said you dont mind that but if it is a lot of the guests then the party will be much smaller than whole class. What is the wet weather plan? I didn't quite understand that bit. Most popular 7 year old parties here are treasure hunts / trampolining/ or football.

Ambydex · 09/07/2019 22:21

Fair enough.

Re the Lord of the Flies comment, absolutely. Containment would be key. Friend of mine ran a tree climbing party for 7-8 year olds and half the kids ran off, hid and would not come out. Not for 5 mins, but way past when it stopped being funny. This was with about 8 kids. With 25 I would worry about ensuring we don't lose any and I still think it would be too much for DS.

Around that age DS had a street dance party and a farm party.

Original poster

unsure66 · 09/07/2019 22:35

Sorry it was a typo for soon to be 7 ds. He will be the first one turning 7, the rest are still all 6. I think it might be quite a lot of children to supervise and I will need a sort of fenced off outside area they can't easily escape from. There are a couple of local school outside areas that might fit the bill.

I agree Sparklingbrook there are quite a few parents who don't allow toy guns and I have quite a lot of sympathy with this view. However, gentle and sweet-natured DS has, for reasons I don't understand, been obsessed with toy guns since he was 3. When he was little and very difficult to reach this was one of the only ways to do so and playing shooting games with his fingers was one of the first methods of interacting with his peers (and pretend play at the same time) so I have learned to pretend I don't see the disapproving stares re the type of play he engages in (he has become a lot less gun focused recently (lego is the new interest) but he does still love a good gun fight).

I might give this a try, just because it suits his interests so well (I think).

OP posts:

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