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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think you should join in at a kids party?

21 replies

Sparklythings1 · 04/09/2022 18:35

I was at a 2nd birthday party yesterday for a little boy my child is friends with. The parents had hired a hall, spent a fortune on decorations, cake, bouncy castle, hiring toys, buffet etc. They had booked a children’s entertainer to do some songs and games for part of the party.

The man asked everyone to come over to join in with the songs and everyone went over to start with. The people who worked there turned off the bouncy castle etc so it was very clear this wasn’t to be used and everyone was to be watching the entertainer. Within a few songs/games, I was one of very few adults left holding the parachute etc. So many toddlers had gone away over to the toys, most with their parents. The entertainer asked on the microphone so many times for everyone to come and join in but parents were just ignoring him. I just kept looking over thinking it looked so rude to have just gone away when there was hardly anyone left and they’d paid this man to come. The school mums I was with went away over to the soft play too. I stayed right to the end when the songs finished and actually felt bad for him that people had been so rude 😕

AIBU to think it’s just manners to encourage you kids to stay in a situation like that?

OP posts:

DowntonCrabby · 04/09/2022 18:37

That sounds like a ridiculous format for a 2 year old, much more aimed at 4+ at which point I’d expect parents to encourage participation.

WhatNoRaisins · 04/09/2022 18:37

I think 2 might be a bit young for this sort of thing to be honest, they don't have very long attention spans.

Slimfitblouse · 04/09/2022 18:39

Sounds like my worst nightmare. I'd have quietly ignored the singing. I think 2 is a bit young for that sort of thing tbh.

InDubiousBattle · 04/09/2022 18:40

A load of 1 and 2 year olds were never going to last more than a couple of songs/games, especially when there's other toys there too. Sounds more like an ill-advised booking than rude parents.

BringBackCoffeeCreams · 04/09/2022 18:40

The entertainer doesn't sound like he was much of an entertainer if his audience wandered off.

Original poster

Sparklythings1 · 04/09/2022 18:40

Just to add it was very baby/toddler friendly, it wasn’t like balloon animals or anything 🙈

OP posts:

EatYourVegetables · 04/09/2022 18:40

The point of the party is that the kids have a good time, not to feed the entertainer’s ego. The format is ridiculous for a 2yo. If they like the bouncy castle and the toys let them have it.

CoolerThanIceCream · 04/09/2022 18:42

You - and the entertainer - are being completely unreasonable.

That’s waaaay beyond the realms of most 2YOs’ abilities - and kids parties are for kids. Not adults.

NerrSnerr · 04/09/2022 18:45

If it was a second birthday party I'm guessing most of the children were one or two, that's too young to sit and join in for many children. It's really not worth the battle if they don't want to do it- parties are supposed to be fun.

DustinsHat · 04/09/2022 18:45

Sorry I'm just imagining a load of 2 year olds on a bouncy castle now. Hope there were plenty of ice packs

YABU OP. If the parents had forced the children to sit and watch the entertainer you'd be on here complaining about the audience of screaming 2 year olds ruining the party.

Original poster

Sparklythings1 · 04/09/2022 18:46

I’d agree I don’t think it was the best choice of entertainment and they’d have been better off just playing songs and letting them play but there was a set time when they were supposed to do that. I just think it is manners to at least acknowledge the guy when that’s the choice they’ve made and make some sort of effort to go over.. maybe just me 🙈

OP posts:

WhatNoRaisins · 04/09/2022 18:58

In that situation I'd make an effort but I wouldn't be trying to restrain a wriggling screaming 2 year old on my lap for something that's supposed to just be for fun

HauntedPencil · 04/09/2022 21:11

You cannot force a 2 year old to join in stuff if they see other toys and want to wander off. Maybe they thought it would be better than forcing them. Surely the entertainer could have seen that and adapted?

Choice4567 · 04/09/2022 21:23

But it’s a party - they should be allowed to have fun!

MarianneVos · 04/09/2022 21:25

You've said everyone went over to start with, so that is everyone making an effort!

I'm another that would have given it a go, but I wouldn't force my child to take part at that age if/when they lost interest.

Sunnysideup999 · 04/09/2022 21:27

The entertainer would be getting paid either way so I doubt he cared.
2 year olds are into having their own kind of fun and no doubt the entertainer knew that

Sartre · 04/09/2022 21:27

I think it’s a bit OTT to expect a group of two year old’s to engage with something like this for a long time tbh. My DS turned two last month and there’s no way he’d want to stand around being ‘entertained’, he’d run away and find something else to do. I’d imagine the ‘rude’ parents were chasing their very small toddler’s around so didn’t have time to join in with the entertainer…

MaryHoldTheCandleSteadyWhileIShaveTheChickensLeg · 04/09/2022 21:35

Filling a hall with 2 year old babies and expecting their parents to force them to do a certain activity, with all those different distractions around is just silly.

2 year olds are spontaneous. They like what they like.

GUARDIAN1 · 02/01/2023 13:01

I wouldn't expect such young children to sit still and watch an entertainer. Sounds more appropriate for school-aged kids to me.

AChristmasCaro · 02/01/2023 13:07

I’m with you, op- I’d definitely be trying to keep the focus on the activity. However it does sound as if the party might have been more suitable for older children.

biscoffonasunday · 02/01/2023 13:10

'That sounds like a ridiculous format for a 2 year old, much more aimed at 4+ at which point I’d expect parents to encourage participation.'

This ^ too young with too small of an attention span. I don't blame the parents as they'll have been doing their best to keep they dc entertained. I don't think crying 2 year olds told to stay in one area would be any more welcome.

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