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?

That's the one. Don't know about 4 year olds, would say 5+ as they're used to sitting and waiting at school IYKWIM.

MT, will take you up on that, thanks - have to pay for CATs first though.

What's the one where you dance and have a square of newspaper next to you and then you fold it in half (or something like that)?

For my daughters 4th birthday party we went on a bear hunt. Luckily we live in a quiet rural location near caves. We arranged to meet near them on a car park we walked up looking for bear poo etc. Found treasure and looked in the caves with torches from pound stretcher. All had a packed lunch and even took up birthday cake sang songs and played games. I spent about £20 in all, including party bags! All the children seemed to enjoy themselves a parent even rang to say how much their child had enjoyed it and had talked about it loads. I don't do big expensive parties!!!

I am a clown who does childrens parties, and I have been at parties with up to 26 children, at the child's home, so it is do-able.

There are 2 types of people, the type that can do parties at home, and play the games with the kids and amuse them, and those who think they can't.

Happily for me, there are plenty of the second type. You sound like the first type, so you should be fine. Go with the flow, play lots of games, give little prizes, (make sure everyone 'wins' something, a dancing competition for those who haven't won yet is good), keep the food and drink flowing, and don't expect every child to join in with every game.

Don't be afraid to join in yourself and be silly, they love that. Hope this helps, if you need tips on balloon modelling (really easy) or face painting let me know.

I want to have parties at home just for the sake of it. Resent spending lots of money on entertainers or soft play. A hall I would consider, for numbers, but havent had the need yet. DS1 6th birthday party was great, with lots of party games (with inspiration from mumsnet), and because they were so new to all the children they thought it was brilliant. DS2, who's only 4 just has playtime, pass the parcel, musical bumps and food. I haven't done party bags either until this year. Last year I did a lucky dip as a saying goodbye/thank you present.

I went for the village hall, its accross the road from us and cost £20 for 3hrs. Both ours have winter birthdays and our house is tiny.

The local council activity centre (games hall) cost £30 and includes a bouncy castle and a seperate area to set up tables for food.

My kids loved these parties and can go to softplay anytime. They just chase each other about anyway, they don't really play togeter or even see much of anyone.

We invited DS's whole class as he had just changed schools and we wanted to make it as easy as possible to make friends. There is no way that a whole class party should cost £300 pounds FGS. It lasts for 2 hrs and you get totally stressed out and Ds or DD doesn't give a toss how much you spend as long as they get to play pass the parcel, eat sandwiches and blow out some candles.

My limit is £50/60 pounds and that includes party bags. £300 pounds is a weeks holiday. Have your tea party and DS will love it.

Saying all that I hope there are plenty of you mums out there willing to pay a bit more as my shop is going to have a party room, but tea parties and craft parties will be the main options along with science/ discovery parties aimed more at older boys, so carry on spend all that dosh .

Meant to say sharry I love that idea, that is a birthday party that will be remembered for years by yours and the other kids.

I've done a party at home but it still cost a fair whack. This year ds is having his at a fitness place where they do the entertainment and games etc - he is having it jointly with a girl in his class which halves the cost - bonus!