Am I the only Mummy who refuses to pay over £100 for a childs birthday party?

[Northerner]

My ds will be 4 in April. It is the done thing to have a party at one of our local soft play centres or hire a hall and arrange food and entertainment. Ds goes to preschool and has loads of friends. It would cost me aout £175.

I think it's ridiculous to spend this on a 4 year old and think I will invite 8/10 of his friends round for a traditional birthday tea and party games and it will only cost me £30 or so.

However, he'll be the only child having this sort of party, do you think it will be exciting enough for them?

no

I haven't read all this thread but I just wanted to say that it completely disgusts me when parents spend huge amounts of money on a childs birthday party, there really is no need for it.

Tell me more nononsense

Timescale, how you did food, what games went down well, what you did when things got out of hand (maybe they didn't ) - I have no natural authority over small children hence the panic.

Thing is, I love party games, even now and really enjoyed trad type parties when I was a kid, so would love to do one for mine. But no-one seems to do them at home any more (everyone faints clean away when I say I'm even thinking about it). Would I be better in a hall, do you think? What number would you have as maximum?

Eldest is ds aged 7 (also have dd1 aged 5 and dd2 aged 2). All ds's friends seem to have their parties at soft play places which cost a fortune and smell of feet .

More than enough for them. It's a wonderful type of party. My favourite kind!

We have had all DSs parties out of the house and on the way to his last one he said he did not want to go there an wnated wanted a party at home

So I have promised him a halloween party at home (his birthday is mid-October) and without school friends (he does not start school til Sept) there are 15 kids to invite already

Am hoping my plan of apple bobbing, musical bumps, pass the parcel, food and scarey story telling will be enough to save my house from being trashed!!!!!

Hmm, maybe I'll try it

Any good game suggestions? Or ones that don't work so well? My all time fave is the chocolate game .

Message withdrawn

I hire a hall - with access to kitchen - costs £12 per hour - I hire for 3 hours - 3/4 hr each side for set up and clear up, and 1.5 hrs for party - long enough IMO. Do trad party games - having things to colour available at the start while people are arriving, then a hunt the jigsaw - give small teams one piece of a jigsaw - cut up old birthday card or real one, or pictures on your theme. Takes a few mins and latecomers can join in too. I try to do parties over a proper mealtime, and do a nuggets and chips type meal so little preparation, but I do make an effort over the cake - I like doing it. I think £100+ parties are really pricey, although I think next yr DS will get a trip to the cinema with a few friends, then homemade pizza.

musical bumps (easy enough for 4 yos to understand)
ditto musical statues

Will you all come and hold my hand?

Thanks for all the help. I'll report back...

More party games - musical chairs/statues ot if you have a theme you can cut out multiple somethings that fit with the theme out of newspaper - I did stars for a space party, to have musical whatevers. Some kind of simple craft activity - party hats, ice a biscuit, ears on headband. Simon says (great as no preparation). I usually round off with singing - am used to running a toddler gp so not bothered about leading this. Farmers in a den and Okey Cokey still enjoyed by my DD who will be 4 in 2 weeks (eek need to organised own party, only booked hall today!)

Can 4 year olds do the chocolate game?

That is the one where they wear gloves and cut up choccy with a knife and fork if they have thrown a 6, yes?