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Original poster

Cost of birthday party for 4 yr old - what is reasonable?

30 replies

Eowyn · 17/03/2004 20:19

I'm really stuck with this. My dd is 4 on Easter weekend.
In the past we've just had a couple of girls round to play but now she's got a few more friends at pre-school & I'm not sure about just having something round the house, it isn't v big & she wants 3 boys, which might just mean they won't be sitting around playing nicely with dolls...

So...we've just been to a party in a soft play area which was nice but i don't particularly want to go to same place, also she got all clingy initially so maybe not ideal (tho dying to go back by end).
She loves bouncy castles so I've been investigating, best one at sports centre is £6 a head for min 8 but it's closed thru April, another is only open at the weekend. But found one which can do it in the week before, but they want £69 as it's for a min of 10. This seems like such a lot of money to me tho cost per head is ok, just we were only going to have 7 max so rest would be not such good friends, also I'm worried they'll all be away that week. But hard to ask everyone whilst standing outside pre-school as not everyone being asked.

Do you think I should just go for it, that it seems reasonable? 1 hr on bouncy castle then food.

sorry to go on & on but I'm worrying all the time about this..

OP posts:
miranda2 · 17/03/2004 20:37

Seems quite a lot to me - I would only want to spend c. £50 all in (with food)!! But maybe I'm jsut a cheapskate. I was thinking for ds's birthday in June of buying him a smallish bouncy castle (the big ones from ELC or somethign), and that being hs present but also providing the entertainment for the party...
If you are prepared to spend that much go for it, but I'd worry they wouldn't get a whole hour of entertainment out of it?

150percent · 17/03/2004 20:39

10 kids for a 4th bday doesn't seem unreasonable. Ds has 15 for his 3rd bday, but that is part down to the dynamics of the preschool (they have all had parties). The rates locally for bouncy castle places seem to be £60 for 1 hour for up to 20 children and then hire of a party room for £20. You provide food and party bags. The places that provide food and party bags seem to vary between £6 and £10 per head locally, and a minimum of 10 seems to be standard.

I could do it at home (we have the space), but would then have to entertain at least some of the parents, and at 4, there seems to be a greater expectation from the kids for entertainment ie not just an ordinary playdate, but some games etc. If money were tight then I would do it myself, but I'm not unhappy with the charges given the lack of hassle on my part, and the fact that they'll all be knackered (but then I have boys!).

BTW you're lucky that there is still stuff available near you. I had to book over 2 months in advance and still didn't get the date I wanted!

150percent · 17/03/2004 20:41

Summer parties seem so much easier (I guess so long as you are avoiding the main school holidays). Ds2's bday is in May and we're hiring a bouncy castle for the garden and having hotdogs on the barbq.

Original poster
Eowyn · 17/03/2004 20:46

yes, if the weather was ok so they could have a picnic in the garden I'd be happier doing it at home, but the house isn't v big & i don't know how many mums would stay, plus the actual entertaining them is a bit daunting. I was going to do it at home but think leaving the mess to someone else & not having to move/tidy absolutely everything is v tempting.
Think I might just book it, just didn't want to feel i was throwing money away (haven't got a lot of it). Hope she doesn't throw a strop on the day.

OP posts:
Janh · 17/03/2004 20:51

Oh, god, Easter birthdays, you have my total sympathy, Eowyn (3 of my kids have birthdays on Apr 1st, 5th and 15th, at least one of them has always been in the Easter hols!)

DS2's birthday (11 - the other 2 will be 19 and 22 so parties not my problem any more!) is the 15th, we have booked a party for Sat 3rd which is probably a bad idea if anyone is going away for Easter - should have gone for Sat/Sun 17/18, or even the week after to be on the safe side.

£69 is a lot for 7 - and bouncy castles do wear a bit thin - have you asked her who else she would like to come, to justify the cost? What about Wacky Warehouse? Charlie Chalk's? (Are they still called that?) Are there any petting farms around your way? They usually do parties - would be more interesting. (Tell me where you are and I'll do some googling for you, am the Queen of Google!)

How about waiting until after they go back to school (as it's not going to be on her birthday whatever you do) and then going again to the soft play area?

roisin · 17/03/2004 20:54

I agree with JanH - attendance at parties during school holidays does tend to be a bit hit and miss IME. Some people are away, and others just forget. It may be smoother to arrange it when they are back at school, if she doesn't mind. Do you think that would work?

Original poster
Eowyn · 17/03/2004 20:56

Feel free to google me, we're near Farnborough, Surrey. She is v keen on a bouncy castle, does enjoy soft play areas but not anywhere too big as she panics if she can't see me (I had forgotton she was like this as hadn't been to one in ages), she is getting much more confident but it takes her a while to acclimatise.(sp?) She definitely wants 7 tho was keen on 2 others I originally vetoed as a bit rough, so if they could all come we'd have 9.
I did wonder whether to leave it, could go to cheaper sports centre if wait till May but seems a long time.

OP posts:
Janh · 17/03/2004 21:23

Is Finkley Down Farm Park any good? (Click on Birthday Parties). It's in Andover but came up under Rushmoor which seemed to cover you?

tamum · 17/03/2004 21:28

Is Andover not miles away from Farnborough, or is my geography worse than I thought?

I pay about £70 for dd's parties, so I wouldn't have said £69 was badm but I can see what you mean about inviting 10. My dd's birthday is Easter Saturday, so we're having similar problems!

Janh · 17/03/2004 21:41

Godstone Farm do parties too - is that any nearer? £9 a head if they do the food, so almost as dear, but £5.50 if you do, and you could take a packed lunch in a party box each for much less than £3.50.

Sorry if I'm wildly out on distances here! (Could do with a map.)

nutcracker · 17/03/2004 21:42

My dd had her 5th birthday party at a Wacky Warehouse and it cost me just over 100 for 18 kids, but i had payed a bit extra per head so that they had the ball pool to them selves. Food was crap though.

Original poster
Eowyn · 17/03/2004 21:48

janh, thanks for ideas but they are a long way from here. we're wondering if people will forget as roisin said, dh says he would but then he's male...but it would be a shame.
I'm getting even more torn in two now, price seems okish but whether to go for it that week??
snap tamum, mine is that Sat too - one place can do a party that day £4.20 each exc food, but think people are even less likely to be around. want a joint party?

OP posts:
Janh · 17/03/2004 21:58

Farnborough Bowl ???

I know they're a bit little, but you can get those big frames for rolling the ball down now. (I'm still looking!)

Janh · 17/03/2004 22:00

Fizzy Kids Indoor party and playspace catering for both children and parents 10 Camp Road North Camp Farnborough Hants GU14 6EW Tel 01252 669977

(Is this just army though?)

Janh · 17/03/2004 22:06

Farnborough Recreation Centre - is this the one that's closed through April?

(It shows birthday parties as well as soft play.)

Original poster
Eowyn · 17/03/2004 22:08

wow, you're really going for it. i have been recommended fizzy kids, that is quite close, just thought it might be really busy in school hols. the £69 party is at Farnborough leisure centre where the bowling is. hadn't thought about bowling for them tho could be amusing.
do you think people will remember that week as it is in hols? have seen threads on here several times about kids not turning up to parties...
will i owe you commission at the end of all this...

OP posts:
Original poster
Eowyn · 17/03/2004 22:10

the one that's closed in April is Camberley arena, which would otherwise be ok.
I keep getting disconnected at the mo so may disappear...

OP posts:
roisin · 17/03/2004 22:24

Eowyn - if they are close friends that you know well, they are more likely to remember ... as long as they are not away on holiday. DS1 has a couple of friends with Christmas birthdays, who've had disastrous experiences of people just not turning up for parties. They now have their parties before Christmas (when they kids are all as high as kites with excitement Great fun!)

tamum · 17/03/2004 22:33

I'd gladly do a joint party Eowyn, but I guess Edinburgh would be even further than Andover! We've decided to have dd's party on the 17th, as I'm sure most of her friends will be away the week before. Schools go back on the 20th here, so I figured most people will be back that weekend (I do hope!).

It's also my nephew's birthday the same day, and my MIL's 90th, but we're celebrating hers at Calcot Manor the weekend before, so it's all go Hope your dd has a great day, whatever happens (Janh, you're doing a sterling job there!)

Janh · 17/03/2004 22:41

Fizzy kids has a website although it's under construction so not very informative. (Can you tell I've had a look at a map now?)

Honestly, Eowyn, IIWY I'd postpone the party until they're back at school - people might well forget/be away/decide to go out that day.

(Have just been elsewhere btw, looking again now but not for long!)

(No commission required )

Janh · 17/03/2004 22:51

Serendipity Ceramics - it's in Blackwater, GU17 postcode, have no idea where it is but it was a Surrey/Hants newspaper website!

charlize · 18/03/2004 07:51

My ds birthday is ist sept so they are always on sumer hols. I have always had his party a week later sometimes even two weeks so that I can give out the invites as they go back to school.
With my dd she is 4 on 23 April but they are back in school this year by then so party is next day sat 24th.
Iam having it at home for 18 kids
I must be mad! But I have hired an entertainer for 130 pounds who will be here for hour an half doind magic show party games mini disco.
I thought for the last half hour of thre party after clown has gone we will do the food and cake, as I only want the party to be 2 hrs long I think this is plenty for 4 yr olds.
What does anyone think of the time 11- 1 oclock. I hope it isn't too early.

tigermoth · 18/03/2004 07:53

could you club together with another parent and do a joint party somewhere, to keep down the costs? do any or your daughter's friends have birthdays soon?

Having said that, my 4 year old was invited to a very expensive party - expensive for thre guests that is. Four different children were celebrating their birthday and their parents had hired a small church hall for it. I like to spend £5.00 or a bit more on birhday presents, plus cards, etc so worked out it would cost us abot £25.00 for him to attend the one and a half hour 'do'. I wondered whether the parents would think I was a cheapskate if I bought smaller presents - but as it was, we were busy that day and we had to say no.

charlize · 18/03/2004 07:54

Also it is fancy dress, well in princess clothes. Iam sure all the kids will have at least one dressind up outfit princess type clothes don't you think.

hmb · 18/03/2004 08:03

I have just booked the local indoor play area for ds's 4th birthday. I was hoping to get away with a small party in the house, but his 'guest' list was getting longer, and I couln't face having 20 kids in the house, with no prospect of booting them into the garden.....winter birthdays!

The place we are going to give you sole use, whice is helpful when the kids are small. It is £5.65 a head, but you have to sort out your own pary bags and cake. We have used them in the past for dd's birthdays and they have been very good. They get 50 minutes to play and then have food, which I think is enough when they are that small.