To ask if 16th's are still a thing anymore?

[WillYouPutYourCoatOn]

Just that really. DS will be 16 this summer? Is this a big deal anymore? I know some Americans go daft for it on TV, but here, 18 (and 21?) is more of the "big" one right?

All DH and I have as reference is us and our mates turning 16, 20yrs ago, and it wasn't really a thing then. So I'd like to know what people's experience of this in the last three years is please?

So, AIBU to ask if your DC/their friends turned 16 in the last three years, what presents did they get and what party/activity happened, if anything?

Thank you.

With my older two, for their 16th, we did big day trips for places they'd wanted to go - they picked wherever they'd like that could fit into a day trip. One did a fandom convention in cosplay, the other did an adult-size soft play - took ages to find the latter in reasonable travel distance, but it was what she had her heart set on so we made it happen.

It wasn't £500 by any stretch, but it was a big day for them. I think whether they look poor or flash might depend on their friends they have, but with mine it was getting an interesting experience.

Really with mine - the 16th and 18th weren't as big of a deal to them as things like finishing exams and getting their results. We didn't do as much for those - they picked dinner and dessert, lots of pictures - but it took up more of their thinking. It makes sense really as far less pragmatically changed for them at 16 - they were still GCSE students - and with my oldest at 18, he was a college student who could now go vote. 17 was actually a bit bigger because they could go donate blood...

My third is in her GCSE years, and has been talking about what she wants to do for picking up her results for a while now, considering getting her hair done in a way she current can't within the school rules or finding a special outfit. She doesn't really care about turning 16, but finishing her time at secondary so she can go study what she wants and never have to worry about PE kit or SparxMaths again...that she's eager for.

I would say most birthdays nowadays aren't as extravagant as they used to be. I blame lockdown etc for this. People just couldn't be bothered.

My younger sisters celebrated big birthdays - 16 and 18 and opted for a dinner out and cake at the house. Their friends are basically doing the same.

I had my big 30th last year and it was the only birthday I did something "big" for - I went to Gran Canaria with my mum and 2x nights away with friends. My friends are all coming 30 this year and only one is having a party, the other is having an escape room party and one didnt have anything.

My DS is a summer 16, none of his friends have done anything special (party etc) but I have no idea if they had a family thing.

Americans do the whole ‘sweet 16’ party and make a huge deal of it, we never did, it was the same as turning 15 or 17!!
I had an 18th birthday party but hired the hall and paid it myself because I was one of 4 and none of my siblings had 18th birthday parties!
This I guess is the issue with the internet… we see the huge fuss Americans make of things and feel pressured to do the same. … things like baby showers, and gender reveals, sweet 16 parties were barely even heard of here 15 years ago. Now people make
a huge deal of it, film it and put it all over social media for the world to see…

I guess you do you…
if your son wants a big party and you can afford it then that’s ok…. Personally I’d be saying to my daughter that she has a party for her 16th OR her 18th but not both…… I’d rather have an 18th and a few alcoholic drinks personally ….
than a 16th when there’s usually a school prom anyway at some point this year as they leave school.

I’d just book him bowling or something for him and a few friends…. Specially since next year will then be driving lessons and the following one the big 18th

Nothing "big" about 16. 18 in the UK coming of age, been the case for over 50 years. So many friends complaining their kids expected "big" parties at 18 and 21, don't oblige then.

So did I! I was wondering what it was that one used to buy in 16ths!

I think that doing something after GCSEs when they can relax and celebrate exams being over is more common than having a big 16th birthday.

We have done a present worth £750 x

Same 🤣

16 is big. 18 is bigger but they celebrate that more with their friends going clubbing as adults. 16 is probably the last big birthday you might get to plan for him. After this he's going to sixth form, college or work and will grow into a young man so fast.

Imo 20 is bigger than 21, 20 is when you're no longer a teenager, you're in your 20s.

My DD is 16 soon but we aren’t doing anything big as she would hate it

16th is not a big deal. A couple of comments from people about “sweet sixteen” but that’s about it.

We didn't do anything special for their 16ths and neither did their friends. The way I see it, 17 is quite expensive as we end up paying for them to learn to drive, 18 is the big one so we did a big treat weekend for my eldest as well as nice jewelry. I'm not doing 3 big expensive birthdays on the trott, that's just daft.

For his 16th we offered a more special present that he’d want to keep. He chose a watch and we also went out for a family dinner. He also had a sleepover with mates.

He’s getting driving lessons for his 18th.

Ha, I also thought this was about buying a 1/16 of puff.
My dc didn't want or have parties for their 16th and their friends didn't either. After GCSEs though they tend to let off steam; parties and the school prom; trips with friends etc

16 felt big because that was the age most parents of my group of friend agreed to buy (reasonable amount) of alcohol and leave the house for the evening, so a marked difference in the bowling/pizza hut type of birthdays people had before that. This was early 2000's, so a bit more laid back.

Don't remember the presents being any bigger then other teen birthdays. For 17th, everyone got a provisional and first block of lessons.

My DD had a party for her 16th last year, about 35 friends so quite a big one! Not a massive present though (the party was what she wanted).

16th we’ve found is the last big party we do. When they turn 18 they want to go out with their friends because they are allowed in to pubs/clubs so want to do that.

My eldest wanted a big family party for their 16th and everyone obliged. It was the first proper party they'd had as previously they'd always chosen a present over a party. I'm glad we did, by the time their 18th rolled around we were in the middle of a lock down and have just celebrated their 21st with a quiet meal out. As someone else mentioned, it kind of marked the last one that they'd want it to be family over friends

A teenth! My God, how retro! 😂

I like the escape room idea. Maybe a family dinner, an escape room with his girlfriend, and something nice to keep, perhaps a watch.

Can you do escape rooms for two? Is it possible or do you really need 4+?

And me!

Dd 16 last year she's quite didn't want a party. She got a.keep sake type bracelet which was about £60. Nothing much else. We celebrated DS 18th with a lovely watch about £400, and a party for 3 in the garden thanks.to covid rules. He's 21 soon but will be low Key as he's at uni and mYnwll.have finals that day. We have bought him a monster lego model.though and will do meal out when he's home

Now that they cannot leave education/training at 16 all we are celebrating by making 16 big is that they can legally have sex. Is that something you want to celebrate big?