Cost of parties for four year old.

The good thing with hiring a hall is that the children get the opportunity to skid around in their socks.

I don’t recall ever taking my children anywhere but the birthday childs house for their birthday party.
This was late 70 s early 80 s. The whole class coukd never be invited as there just wasn’t the room.
My dd on the other hand has had gc parties at home too but more recently they go somewhere with a few friends. Costs a packet, which they don’t really have.
Youngest joining sibling at senior school in September so assume things change again.

I was thinking about my children parties and I don't think once they started School we ever had a party at home.
Both my 2 have Birthdays in winter months February and March so we always ventured out.
All the was class invited , so it was never cheap, but I don't recall ever going to someone's house for party either.

My friends granddaughter is arranging a birthday party for her 3 year old they are having Disney characters to visit and someone to do face painting ,she is hiring a local social club. Soon mounts up .

Though now I think of it once, upon a long time ago, my girls had a joint birthday party as their birthdays are fairly close together.
They each invited about 8 children and I booked a magician. It was absolute mayhem. Never repeated.

My children didn’t always have a party but when they did we never even considered doing anything other than something traditional ie cheap, at home, there wasn’t the spare money to hire halls food and entertainers.
I am no cook , yes it was work which all had to be cleared up after, but a few balloons, pass the parcel, tail on the donkey, musical chairs and a sandwich with a bought cake, - I did say I don’t cook, - and home again jiggedy jig. . 2 hours max.
No parents drinking fizz in the corner either, that def didnt happen.

My first attempt at a home party wasn't a great success. The first guest to arrive said " What a crap cake." That got me in a good mood.

My Scottish childhood version of pass the parcel involves shouting "Yer out!" when the music stops until only two kids are left to battle it out.
(I don't agree with the modern softy's version of unwrapping a layer of paper and finding a sweetie each time so that everyone gets something and no child is a loser.) The one mum who chose to stay looked very disapproving and the gang of little boys ran amok.

MissAdventure

I wouldn't pay thousands, even if I had it.

No, me neither.

Parents didn't attend when I was in charge.

For our young GC and GGC who've had Birthdays this summer: lunch, cake, games at our home - we've plenty of room, ability to make meals/cake, gardens to run in, weather permitting. Prosecco for adults.

Their friend parties have been in various fun child places with small cakes, the attending parents have nibbles and Prosecco.

Ridiculous quite frankly.

Everything these days seems to be about outdoing others, or worrying about what others will think.

My girl's birthday was always at the start of the summer holidays, and the funfair would be down.

It meant I got away with one friend invited to the fair with us.

I read the beginnings of the thread on MN, absolute cheeky f*****y to use their apt description that often applies.

I think children's parties can get disgracefully out of hand as to the cost. I know one friend who fretted about party bags and ended up spending a fortune on the contents, when really they were only ever intended for a bit of the birthday cake and maybe a small box of Smarties.

We generally had them at home in the early years, frankly I found them a nightmare it was like descending into hell for an afternoon. Then we moved to venues, sometimes a shared party with a classmate, these took the form of swimming, trampolining and later on their obsession with rollerblading provided good entertainment because, at the time, they and so many of their friends were into that. What they cost back then, probably too much, it was hard to extricate yourself as a parent without becoming really unpopular, it was a pressure that I'll admit to paying my way out of to keep the peace. Eventually once they hit the teen era, they went off with a few friends to Pizza Express and the cinema and that was that! Thank God. Occasionally we've attended gc's parties, but no involvement I'm glad to say.

I'm staggered that anyone would consider spending thousands on a kid's party, just shocking what an absolute profligate waste of money.

we have been hosting GD birthday party in our garden since she was one. She is 5 this year and was relieved to be told they were hiring a hall this year as the amount of children invited is larger (most of class have replied with a yes). She has been invited to parties since starting school on average at least twice a month so this adds to those needing invites and cost of all the gifts! I thought since they had hired someone to entertain I was off the hook and wouldn't need to do anything but turn up, Should have been wiser- request of could I provide food like last year came at the weekend! So I will be busy this weekend. At least I wont be filling up goodness knows how many party bags. Expect it to get more costly by the year.I bet my son is thinking i was stingy with his as we only allowed him to choose up to 10 guests and he didn't start having parties till he was about 5 until then it was family tea with a cake!

I wouldn't pay thousands, even if I had it.

My 10 year old DGD had a swimming party recently and the whole class was invited. It was the hire of the local pool and lifeguards about £75 I think. Parents could view from balcony area if they wanted and each child went home with a homemade cupcake. She loved it and her friends did too.
My grandson will be 16 in two weeks and my DD1 and sil have invited all the family to a bbq at their house to celebrate. He didn’t want to do anything with friends.
As a family we usually celebrate everyone’s birthdays with family get togethers since covid.
I personally think it is ridiculous to spend vast amounts of money on a party!
My children always had a few close friends around and we did a tea with sandwiches and jelly and icecream and homemade birthday cake. We played all the old games, musical bumps and chairs etc. it was always hectic but enjoyable. Times change tho don’t they😂

My 13yr old granddaughter had a pamper party cost £400 for 10 friends and my grandson had a party in a indoor softball place cost 350 for 15 kids with food no dirty houses now with kids party’s mine definitely didn’t have jelly parties last thing you need is jelly fights lol no party games now they get played on Halloween or Easter we’ve gone American

Ooh yes MissA - that sounds like my sort of party.

silverlining48

It’s the parents fault, trying to out party each other. The small children are none the wiser, they just want to run around, scream a lot and eat Cake, 🍰

Don't we all...

Even hiring a hall for a simple party can be quite expensive though - and I can understand parents not wanting the mess or hassle in their own homes, to be honest. The children's charity I used to work for hired out their premises for parties - think it was around £120, but that did include the soft play and sensory room too. Our local community centre costs around the same.

It’s the parents fault, trying to out party each other. The small children are none the wiser, they just want to run around, scream a lot and eat Cake, 🍰

I agree with you calendargirl, rather than saying 'understand' I should perhaps have said ' accept ' Today's children are not developing in the way we or our AC did. So sad! I think the wording my DD used on the party invitations was spot on. Only one parent stayed and I fully understood why that was necessary.

silverlining48

Hi there I think the point is about the extraordinary cost of a party for a 4 year old.
Then not able to finance it themselves, asking someone eise to contribute £100!
The mind boggles.

These parties seem to be getting more extravagant. My girls had simple parties at home and a good time was had by all.
If people need others to fund their parties then perhaps they shouldn't be having them.

Moonwatcher

Mum has obviously always fancied riding in a horse and carriage.

Hi there I think the point is about the extraordinary cost of a party for a 4 year old.
Then not able to finance it themselves, asking someone eise to contribute £100!
The mind boggles.