To be shocked at kids party prices

[4babiesforever]

almost 4 year old has been getting invited to birthdays parties at nursery and from a club he goes to over the past year and a bit and has now asked for a birthday party of his own this this year.
AIBU to be shocked how much it seems to plan a birthday party for kids or should I have expected this?!

• will be inviting up to 30 kids (nursery class, some pals from club, and lots of cousins lol). cant fit that in our house and I thought th cheapest option would be to hire a community hall as DS would like a bouncy castle. he would like a theme and I’m thinking I could make a lot of the decorations from cardboard, a friend has offered to dress up lol, but even so adding up the cost of hall hire, bouncy castle, and food it all adds up. I’ve been trying to think of an activity that could double up as party favour to take home for example painting themed plaster cast models (I’ve seen kits that have several peices), and making themed cookies to take home (or price of the cake) or books from works etc but still adds up (and I’m planning in a way do I don’t even have to spend on an actual ‘gift bag’) I will provide food for adults as my family would have to travel. everyone I try and cost everything up it comes up to £300/400 - is this normal?
  or does anyone have any good tips? AIBU to be so clueless about this all or to ask for advice please oh ps - theme is ocean animals Tia x

Ok so an update - the Hall hire is only £40 for a 2 hour party - I say only because that includes as much time we need before and after for setting up etc and the bouncy castle is £100 for the day - so we have booked it for 4 hours so travelling family can stay extra after and LO and cousins can still play while tidying up
etc
so I think this actually seems pretty good value considering!
I learned that there are 36 kids all together in the nursery class!!! They don’t all go every day but LO goes 4 days so will see them alll at some point as 1.5 days is the minimum sessions to attended our nursery.
but with cousins and other friends being included I will not be inviting the whole class lol or that will just get crazy with party bags and food etc plus I got a deal on some favours that came in a pack of 30 so that will be my limit lol. So they will get a pack of ocean seek and find cards, a mini ocean animal plushie , and and ocean jelly sweet and I think this is plenty because I also got a pack of ocean animal felt masks for £10 that they can wear at the party.
its ok because I know there are some kids LO plays with more and some not really (for example the older ones that are moving on soon anyway so I won’t have to feel bad not inviting everyone - well I know the ones that LO talks about and I will ask the nursery for other names in case I’ve missed (and also ones that have already invited LO) plus don’t want it too overwhelming and crazy.
i have not bothered with making the plates and napkins over matching as long as they are ocean theme (got them in different sales, so whole plates and shark napkins and the cups are just blue. )
we have enough cardboard for recycling that I will use to make some party games - ie pin the teeth ok the shark, octopus arm toss, feed the whale and maybe a few signs.
I have diy bunting that I have used since LO was born that I painting happy birthday on and can paint it ocean theme on the other side.
I will still get some balloons and just food to think about next and what to put the party favours in.

I do have a shark cookie cutter which will be good for sandwich’s and fruit :)
I will get mini sausages or sausage rolls - easy to have vegan and not vegan versions too which if you get frozen are not too much and the hall has oven /microwave and urns fo hot drinks. and breadstick/humous too an veg sticks and shark cookies. That adults can eat too I will mostly make a bunch of sandwiches- shark shaped for the kids. I may just get a platter for adults.
I am pretty ahead of schedule so will get the rest next pay day but it is working out ok 👌
I think I was just clueless.
oh btw there area few families with babies which is fine because the plushies came in a bigger pack so can have soemthing for the babies too. The hall is big so can have a quiet space set up for them - LO has big ocean teddy’s and big ocean fallacy blankets etc so babies are very welcome :)
I already have enough pens and pencils for a craft table - I saw an ocean table cover that could be fun so will put that down plus you can get chap either wooden or foam ocean shapes to colour if they wanted to create soothing to take home. I’m undecided if the games will be for a prize or just to play - but stickers are cheap so they could be good prizes :)
ph and I won’t over do the sandwiches - one shark each for the kids which is basically half a full one, plus a few extras just in case.

thanks for all the responses - I realise I was naive I was going into it all but think I’m getting pretty good value and have started early enough I don’t have to pay it all in one go :)
Any other ideas welcome :)

Party bags could be cheap paper bags that either you or you child decorate in advance or you make it an activity. Plastic seams wrong given the issue with plastic in the ocean! Baker ross are likely to have themed ones. Don't forget a play list of music - just not baby shark on repeat!

Thank you -
i got packs of anima seek and find cards & mini ocean animal plushies - don’t think this sounds ok for the party bags? I will add an ocean jelly sweet.
I also have ocean animal masks I will leave at the table.
also haha LO dos live baby shark, but also Danny go, fat boy slim and the beatles and maybe I can ask a favourite song of the kids with every yes reply I get?

I meant to say do you think this sounds ok for party bags?
I will probably just get plain paper bags and I like print making so could a relief print of a whale or shark ok each one

I’ve always found going to a venue like a soft play where they do party, food, party bag package for like £12.99’per child is always a cheaper option than hiring halls, plus you don’t have to clean it, parents buy their own coffees etc..
but as it’s nursery I’d be scaling that list right down it’s not necessary at that age there not speak and play with ALL those people it’s too much.

Our village hall charges £25 an hour which includes use of a toddlers bouncy castle suitable for dcs up to age 5.

Food for 30 dcs at £2 each plus a good size cake £15 homemade, Plus food for a few adults - maybe £20 on bread, cheese & pickles.

Most parties we run for littlees come in about the £200 mark. Dcs go home with a slice of cake and a helium balloon.

Sounds absolutely fine OP.

I have twins and have spent varying amounts over the years - the church hall parties were always the cheapest but more work.

Just make sure the plushies or whatever are ok for babies / under 3's if you're planning to give them out to all. So many little toys are marked as 3+!

I think next year will be soft play or trampoline park at certain time will be good. (We went to a trampoilne party last year and it was a slot for babies and younger children only)
however LO wants his cousins and some of then are too old for that - hence the hall and bouncy castle!
I believe we have got a good price for both - it’s a shame it is unlikely good weather as the we could have a garden party and bouncy castle is actually 24 hour hire!
but inside the house is too small , maybe one year we can postpone until summer lol.
The hall is just one fee for the party and that includes as much time as we want before or after so we will keep the castle for extras LO can okay with cousins while we tidy up etc.
after much advice and finding out how many kids in LO class will not be inviting the whole class. I think there are 7 who LO definitely plays with cousins and other friends that makes 20 I think that is plenty. There are potentially up to 4 babies who will be welcome to come along (and I have enough plushies for them 🙃)
i have a friend who has offered to dress up (already has suit) and help with some games all asks for in return is a price of cake 🎂
all the games will be made from things I already have and cardboard, as I love being creative lol. (Feeding whale mouth with bean bags, pin fin on shark etc) with prizes of stickers
I have brought things for a craft table and all I have spent extra to that is an ocean animal table cloth they can colour in (I already have pencils and pens etc and will cut out shapes)
will set up a quite bit with themed teddies and few books that we already have for the babies lol
so far I have spent £190 and all that’s left is to pay is food and balloons so I think that’s ok?
(plus will include extra party bags supplies etc for next year!)

Oh yes 🙌 I will make sure of that - good shout
if not I will get them soemthifn separately:)