To think children’s parties are getting a bit much?!

[AnotherWorriedMummy]

Growing up, parties were always in people’s homes or gardens. Occasionally we might have gone to a soft play or swimming party but it wasn’t the norm.

None of us had particularly big houses or gardens and it just worked?! Snacky lunch, a few party games…

Now that I have my own children I am totally overwhelmed by parties. Is a party in the house/garden ok or do parents expect a bit more?!

The ones we have attended have been in hired venues and have had magicians, bouncy castles, a baby sensory class, etc.

And don’t get me started on balloon arches! 🙄

So AIBU to host my daughter’s party at home and just let the children play with toys, maybe play a few games?!

I agree about balloon arches. Each to their own but they’re really bad environmentally and just seem a bit of a pointless pollutant

This!

@KingofLoss oh don’t get me started on the cake situations!
A store bought caterpillar or a homemade jammy sponge will do!

This sounds awesome. Can I come to your next party?

I completely agree, and honestly think so what works for you. We've never done big elaborate parties. Have had a few friends over, played games, crafts to take home, ice cream sundae making etc. The kids just want to see their friends and eat cake at the end of the day. We definitely don't have hundreds of pounds to be spending on a party, and I can't be dealing with the stress of it.

no it doesnt!

My daughter's 4th bday was 5 friends from nursery so an m&s cake with an etsy party topper was fine.
This year- and the only year i will do this- ive said she can have a hall party and invite the whole class, granted not everyone will come, but she has other friends I can invite. So that's 30kids to feed- plus cake for the adults who are staying because of the age- thats not an asda cake.
I do think people are a bit deluded on this thread- all the home birthdays are great when little and if Summer born. You know what 7 year olds want: trampoline parties, laser tag etc. Entertainment costs money!

We’ve done both over the years, the best ones are always the ones not at home because there’s no mess! Ds last birthday we hired a mobile gaming bus, I met everyone at the park where they played football for an hour then I walked them all back to our house and the bus was all parked up on the drive, they had an hour and a half in the bus and I had ordered pizzas to be delivered at the end. They ate the pizzas in the garden as it was a mild November day and they all ate and played football/swingball - limited indoor time, limited mess, happy kids.
We’ve been to a few very elaborate parties and some where it’s literally cake and games in a front room. I dare say the kids enjoy it all, but I prefer one where there’s an activity that tires them out and then food and cake.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I wouldn’t say deluded!

Buy two caterpillar cakes.

@Sova it’s an utter minefield!

Parents should absolutely do what’s best for them, especially in regards to finances!

Exactly what we’re doing for DD’s upcoming party! If I’d been organised I might have special ordered the big one but I’m not so meh, 2 regular Colin’s it is.

Because of covid we’ve never hosted a birthday party. So yes, I am going all out this year, and this year only! DC1s party will cost a lot but we’re hiring a hall, an entertainer, a face painter and a bouncy castle, plus a buffet to feed maybe 50. They’re reception age so it’s the whole class invited and parents have stayed at all the parties so far so I’ll make sure there’s enough food for them to have some too.

I briefly considered hosting at home because of the trouble and cost of finding a venue, then realised I didn’t really want 20 5 year olds and their parents and siblings in my house.

Next year, it’ll be a couple of friends for either a play date and cake at home, or an activity/day out.

I prefer a venue so I don’t have to tidy and entertain.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers You need a Costco cake
15 quid feeds about 1000 people 😂

or supermarket traybakes
they’re actually really nice, you don’t need a three tier wedding cake for a whole class party, unless you want to of course

I've got 4 grown up kids and I'm guilty of this. I Loved throwing parties for my kids and have some spectacular parties. We lived in quite a poor area and we're lucky to have a generous budget with family help. So they all had 2-3 HUGE parties each and a few smaller home/park based. We had pony rides, bouncy castles, soft play, craft tables, mobile zoos, inflatable assault courses, go karting, paintballing, themed parties....all sorts. But not at the same time 😂. Always in hired venues and with full decorations and tons of food etc. parents were invited too. We made sure that all the invites specified that no present was needed, company was more important. Siblings were welcome if they let me know so I could cater/book food etc. Everybody loved the parties and for some kids it was the best day of the year after Xmas and birthdays. As I say, very poor area and after a few years it was almost not even about the birthdays but just about a huge group of school friends and their parents getting together. The last party was my daughters 11th. Two years ago and that was a mobile zoo experience with raccoons, coatis, armadillos, giant snakes tarantulas, etc , a bouncy castle and a craft table. In a local pub near the school ( lots of parents don't own cars and our transport is terrible) . Budget was about £300. I appreciate that we are incredibly lucky to be able to do that. I'm gutted that my kids are all older but the parents asK still get together for a bbq at mine every summer.

We had parties at home when before DD started school. Just family.
But no way was I having a whole class party of 30 kids and parents I barely know in my home.
One of DDs friends did it and her bedroom got trashed!
It's less stress having it home, and far less clearing up!

I’d be all about hosting a party in the garden but my DC was born in the depths of winter. She’s not even one yet so I don’t need to think about this for years but I don’t think that would be much fun.

I also can’t believe how cheap it is to hire a bouncy castle - only about £60 for a small one. I honestly thought they’d be hundreds so maybe these parties aren’t costing as much as you think.

The best thing for the kids is to have variety of experiences. If you haven't had any at-home parties yet then that's very exciting.

The only thing I would say is however relaxed you get, you're going too far if you have a picnic in the park without any games nor even a football for the kids. Kids don't care that you brought homemade pasta, a party needs to involve some kind of activity or they get a bit feral.

Don't invite the whole class, 5 other children is enough, have it at home and enjoy the day. Stuff what others are doing

the last balloon arch I got was from home bargains and cost £3- people really are weird about them like they cost £1000s

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I was thinking more the companies that do them…

They are more extravagant than the 80's as I'm sure they'd improved from the 60's.

Instagram is the main change creating oneupmanship.

The best party DS attended this year was a home party, he loved it, they'd trampoline, it was a nice day they'd games in the garden.

People have short memories.
40 years ago, plenty of kids had parties which weren’t just in the house or garden. And had whatever was the fashionable equivalent to the balloon arch at the time. Nobody had insta and taking loads of pictures of big events still happened.

Folk with more money did bigger stuff and folks without did smaller. I went to parties in church halls, I went to roller skating parties, one party at a zoo, a couple which were trips to the cinema then a meal out. I never had any kind of birthday party as my mum couldn’t afford it.

No doubt everyone complained about it then too.