Or have kids parties really stepped up a level?

[Trytoavoidthebastardbus]

Been to 2 this weekend with my youngest and there’s been photo ops, mascots, professional cakes, party ‘favours’.

It’s seemed to gone to a whole new level since my eldest was little (7 years ago)!

Big happy birthday photo banners.

I would say the opposite tbh. I have a big age gap and it’s noticeable how much people are reining it in for parties now

God no, kids don’t give a shit, the crappier the better.

Been to lots of parties over the past few years including 3 in the past few weeks - not seen any of this.

We're seeing a real mix - soft play hire, picnics in a park, gardens and hired halls. Piñatas, party bags, pass the parcel - different things at each ones. All lovely in different ways. I don't begrudge anyone going 'over the top' for a kids' birthday. Different strokes for different folks.

Gosh yes. Most recent had hired out the entire softplay, 8ft mascot, children's entertainers, professional 2 teir cake, ridiculously stuffed party bags (sacks almost!), seemingly unlimited money behind the counter for all parents drinks, pizzas, curry, chips etc out for parents and kids drinks. Was amazing but a bit showy!

A mix sounds lovely, it just seems like you can’t just have a party some food and a bit of cake to take home anymore these days 😂

Not in my experience, to be honest. Mostly run-of-the-mill affairs here. DD had a party at home last year, just 5 friends for afternoon tea. Parties she's been to this year include:
Trampoline park (lots of people do this)
Pottery painting
Pony riding
At home party
Rock climbing

She herself has asked to go to an indoor assault course place for her birthday this year.

My DSs are all older (secondary age) and haven't been to any parties for years. They tend to just go out to something like the fun fair/arcades/cinema with a few mates on their own for birthdays these days.

I’ve got a big gap between my kids. I’ve noticed with my youngest (5) parties aren’t a drop and run event anymore, you have to stay there with them!

How do party favours differ from traditional party bags?

Iced biscuits that go with the theme in one of those little net bags.

Party “favours”?
Do you mean party bags? Because that was normal in 1979 when I was 7 🤣

My dd is 7 and she's been to a few really quite extravagant parties over the last year or so. I suppose some spring born dc will never have had whole class parties due to Covid. A room with a DJ/entertainer and a bouncy castle are pretty standard up to year 2/3 I think. Dd went to one with a photo booth thing, personalised cups and the party bags were very full!
We did a party at home for dd's 7th birthday. She had 8 friends over and they all decorated some buns, played a bit and decorated a wooden box to take home instead of a party bag. Some of the presents she got were so generous, one girl gave her a Switch game, another a load of Smiggle stuff. I felt a bit guilty as dd is Summer born so her friends had already had their birthdays and I'd never given anything worth over a tenner!

I have noticed a change slowly over the years with parties (eldest is 8, youngest Is 2)

We normally go to the usual softplays, home parties, parks, trampoline parks and farms. But one really sticks in my mind it was on par with a wedding. One of the nct mums had a first birthday for her little girl - it was set in a period Manor house which usually holds weddings.

The grand staircase was adorned in white and pink balloons, dressed tablez & chair covers, a leave a memory on a tag thing, floral Centre pieces, a letter box for the birthday cards, white softplay, & white bouncy castle a big led 1 with floral hoop, a 3 tier cake...you get the gist! I felt very underdressed for the occasion and spent most of the afternoon making sure my 1 year old wasn't bee lining for the antiques in the main lobby. Must of cost her an absolute fortune!

I live in quite an affluent area and every party is at one of two quite crappy soft play type places. I don't quite understand why anyone who'd ever been a guest at one would book either but there we go. DD doesn't seem to have tired of them but I definitely have!

DD1 is 5 and standard here is village hall party with some party food and a bouncy castle. No drop offs though, parents stay which is annoying 😂

In certain circles yes this is definitely a 'thing'. Perhaps especially more so for PFB children.

I'm dialling it back a bit, we are in a fairly middle-class area but simply can't afford the type of party you described. My children don't seem to be bothered about or ask for the big flashy parties. DC7 did bowling with 6 friends, cost me £70 plus party bags. DC11 wants a sleepover with 3 friends and takeaway pizza. A few parents were surprised when they dropped off at the bowling that it was only a small group but then commented they thought that was better as they have too many party invites and often don't even know the invitee very well at all.

Trampoline place is very popular for parties locally. The basic package is £18 per child, minimum 12 guests, I think that's very expensive.

If they are it may be because they've not had a birthday party yet because of covid

Same here- DD was the picnic in the park kid! I made a bunch of cupcakes (put quite the effort into icing them, mind) stuck a banner on a picnic table, got a bunch of shiny party hats and let them all get on with it. All the kids seemed to have as good a time there as when they did the laser quest party for another kid, or soft play. Just fun with friends, and no mum competition which was nice!

Yes, round here it's -

Two/three tier professional birthday cake

Character appearances

Balloon arch, with matching blocks spelling out the child's name

Donut wall

Grazing table

Party bags with OTT stuff, latest one had a £5 voucher in for each child, for Smyths toy shop

Everything colour co-ordinated

Last one I went to

www.instagram.com/p/Cd3wqCXoLTt/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I think kids have missed out on having birthday parties for a couple of years so some people have gone wild. Lots of normal sized parties though too.

Yeah I was at primary through the 80s and it was a bit sad f cake and a party beg..and my parents were very frugal but we still had party bags and my kids did too…all teens now

Not here. Soft play or hired halls (with either a bouncy castle or entertainer) remain popular for preschool and lower primary age with the odd party at home. The most extravagant recently was soft play plus a generic build-a-bear (which the children stuffed themselves by hand. It took an age and much parental help). Upper primary parties tend to be something like climbing, trampolining or cinema with half a dozen friends. There is always a party bag or sweet cone plus a slice of cake, but nothing crazy.

I'll never understand that - even if someone missed birthday during lockdown. What parents will do when they'll turn 16? Will hire private castle at France and invite Jay-Z?