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Original poster

Kids Parties ADVICE!

11 replies

IAmBumblebee · 07/04/2015 16:45

Hi all,

My dd's birthday is coming up and I'm thinking about maybe organising the party with the local Leisure Centre.

I'm fed up with opening up our home to a class of screaming, excitable kids, cooking, cleaning, chasing, pulling my hair out trying creating a schedule, trying to follow the schedule, realising that life is not as easy as the schedule implies, abandoning the schedule... all while I'm trying to make sure the children are having fun but not TOO much fun that it all ends in tears....then a month of finding crumbs under pillows, stains on the carpet, untraceable odours... etc. What a nightmare!!

Soooo this year I'm sorely tempted to just hand over the responsibility and the chaos to the Leisure Centre team and try and relax a bit this year.

Has anyone had experiences with Leisure Centre parties?? I'm toying with a few ideas - a gymnastics party, soft play, swimming maybe - just wanted to bounce some ideas of my fellow mumsnetters before making a decision.

Any advice, experience, anecdotes are welcome!! Help!

OP posts:

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 07/04/2015 16:52

If you can afford it and get a slot for an activity that would work, do it!

Nolim · 07/04/2015 17:01

Dc was invited to a soft play party and i think it was fantastic. The kids had a lot of fun!

Original poster

IAmBumblebee · 07/04/2015 20:22

I was thinking maybe soft play would be a bit too young for dd - she's going to be 7... I always thought soft play was more for tots?

Nolim - how old was the child who had the soft play party?

OP posts:

Nolim · 07/04/2015 20:39

It was a toddler, perfect age for soft play, too young for something more elaborate.

The invitation specified that the time was 12-2, soft play and lunch, and it was one hour soft play, one hour lunch. The kids got fish and chips (not my favorite choice tbh) and there were sandwiches and coffee so the parents would not starve.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 07/04/2015 20:40

God yeah. We've had two bouncy castle parties at our local place, brilliant. And you bring the food so cheap as chips too. I'm sure DS was 7 at the last bouncy castle party and everyone had a ball.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 07/04/2015 20:42

Advice-wise, specify the activity on the invite. I didn't realise 7 yo girls dressed up quite as much for parties and a few of them were hampered by skirts and necklaces.

tassisssss · 07/04/2015 20:42

My soon to be 7 year old would ADORE soft play...poor lamb is the youngest of 3 and so never gets taken!

CleanHankie · 07/04/2015 20:50

We've had a trampoline party in our leisure centre once. Trampoline for an hour with instructor then an hour in a room for food (provided by us as no cooking facilities on site) and a few games. It was a 6th birthday party and worked quite well.

Have gone to plenty of soft play and swimming parties too. Not so keen on the swimming ones but then it was for younger ones so parents had to go in the pool.

tinkerbellvspredator · 07/04/2015 21:19

My leisure centre turned out to be more expensive for a soft play party than the soft play places and you get less time playing (an hour playing, an hour for food)

Original poster

IAmBumblebee · 08/04/2015 14:02

Tinkerbell - that's what I fear - that I'm paying for a short session where most of my money is going towards crappy food and decorations which I could do a better job of at home.... Seems like I'm paying a premium for the mess to be taken care of.... But ah! The mess! I hate it!

OP posts:

HereIAm20 · 30/04/2015 17:21

Some leisure centres do an activity for say an hour and you can then hire a separate room for food that you provide yourself which I find a good compromise. I have (mistakenly) hired it for an hour for food before. You really only need 30 mins tops as they scoff it down in 10 mins and then go loopy! I suggest taking an Ipod and speaker to let them have a dance about after food if there is spare time!

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