Birthday Parties These Days

Published on July 8, 2004 By JillUser In Home & Family

I was recently made aware that it is "old fashioned" to have your child's birthday party at your home. I am not sure when the trend began but I guess most parties are now held at Chuck E Cheese or some other child activity related place. Our kids have been to quite a few lately. Gymnastics and pottery places seem to be quite popular as well as swim parties at community pools.

My kids are home bodies and enjoy having more control over their day. I enjoy a more relaxed setting myself. My younger one is turning 4 this month and we are just having friends and family here. The neighbor friends can just walk over rather than having to drop the kids off somewhere. The grandparents can relax in a comfy chair rather than being stressed out in an arcade setting.

The birthday party industry has gone wild. I just don't understand how some people afford some of the parties they throw. Build-a-bear was one I was surprised by. Each kid got to make their own bear and it sure wasn't cheap! Kids get more presents for attending a party these days than we used to recieve for having the party when we were growing up. I don't get it! Maybe I'm just old and out of touch.

Comments

KarmaGirl

on Jul 08, 2004

Well, I must be old fashioned. I also wonder if it is the "kids" who want the crazy parties, or if it is the parents trying to compete with yuppies. Kids seem to like to just play together. Not totally structured, just play. It seems like there would be too much stress in trying to have a party someplace else. Maybe when my daughter is older (when she has a few *close* friends) I'll have a party out of my house.

I also don't understand the parents who have a party for a 2 or 3 year old and invite 75 people to it. My daughter was invited to a preschool friends party. When we got there, there were cars lined up all over. They had set up a Hawaiian luau and had *tons* of people there. There had to be 30+ kids there. It was insane. The kids were totally stressed by the end of it.

Poetmom99

on Jul 08, 2004

I'm a veteran of birthday parties, having gone through the whole cycle three times now. Each child had one party at McDonald's (which was a godsend when they were kindergarten/first grade age.....they took care of EVERYTHING, and all I had to do was be there and write a check....so it was actually fun for me)....then son had a party at an arcade when he turned 13....and the older two had a combined birthday party at the skating rink, where we rented out the whole place for the afternoon, invited all the family and all the kids from both of their classes. Other than that, we've had just family, or we've had parties at home for a handful of friends. We're probably going to do big blow-outs for the girls when they turn 16, but that depends on what the GIRLS want at that point.
I don't see the point in trying to outdo everyone else when it comes to parties.

JillUser

on Jul 08, 2004

Kids seem to like to just play together. Not totally structured, just play.

So very true. I don't have any party games planned. In the past we have done pinata or treasure hunts but not much of anything else. The kids just like to play. I think most kids are happy if they have friends, cake and presents. I don't know when it got so complicated with themes and activities, goodie bags, etc.

Locamama

on Jul 08, 2004

I have always done homemade parties. I think they are more fun just like homemade birthday cakes and homemade Halloween costumes. My son's last birthday we went to Medievel Times instead of having a party. I was very expensive. It ended up being more than I had planned but it was fun and a memorable experience. We will usually let them pick where they want to go and let them bring a friend so it may be Chuck E Cheese but its not Chuck E Cheese for 30. My boys are 10, 8 and 4 so the four year old would still like a party but my big boys are outgrowing it. Medievel Times was for Bret's 8th birthday. I want to do something good for Brendan's birthday but don't know what yet. I have a few months before I really have to worry about it.

Dusk411

on Jul 08, 2004

Usually, party supplies can run up to $200 (including favors, the apporiate themed plates, napkins, hats, tablecloths, cups) It's a business industry as much as anything else. However, I think the buisness plays upon the children as much as they do during cartoons. They can see all this stuff in the store and say "I want this for my birthday!" and it's the line of new Shrek birthday supplies. For young children, I think it's more for the parents than the kids. Having a theme party is going overboard. I can maybe buying some plates or napkins in the type the kid prefers. But an entire luau? It's like the parents saying "we are cool, too."

Although I think once they get older and can appreciate it, then it's ok.

Poetmom99

on Jul 09, 2004

Usually, party supplies can run up to $200 (including favors, the apporiate themed plates, napkins, hats, tablecloths, cups)

WOW! How many people do you HAVE at a party? I've never spent more than $50 on all that stuff for any one birthday party. At $200, I'd want plates, cups and a tablecloth that I could use more than once!

JillUser

on Jul 09, 2004

Usually, party supplies can run up to $200 (including favors, the apporiate themed plates, napkins, hats, tablecloths, cups)

If you do all of that with a currently popular theme you certainly can get up there. I let my son pick out a theme for his cake (he picked monster trucks) but got red and blue plates, napkins, etc. since they were on sale after July 4th. Then you can use plain colored stuff that you have left over. I never do hats because the kids don't care anyway. Balloons about the only decoration I do other than a birthday banner that I have used for every birthday for years now (just fold it up and save it) which I got from the dollar store to begin with.

I think you are right about parents wanting to prove they are cool. I think a lot of parties are more based on what the parent thinks the kid should have rather than what the kid really wants. I don't know what kids older than 8 are doing these days. My experience is mainly the 1-8 yr old crowd thus far.

crimson

on Jul 14, 2004

Kole's birthdays now go like this: invite one or two friends only. Go to the movies. Load up on popcorn and pop and wave good bye at the front doors. Not hectic, not totally expensive, and a great way to avoid a huge mess at home.

Summer is birthday season for most of her friends.... I want to swear, but I will do my best for the sake of the children.

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