Oh my god?


Will a cake, and a trip to megabowl not suffice modern kids?

Anyone else watching the doc on BBC2 right now?

Kids parties have changed. I imagined they would be at home, few party games, snack food, done & dusted...it's not.

And, tbh, it's often easier to have it at a venue so your house doesn't get wrecked...but oddly I find it harder to organise than I do with an adult function

Trying to find somewhere interesting and that hasn't already been done to death (with only TWO years of school gone by so far...it can only get harder!). So this year it's at Sea Life Centre...and tbh you get a decent amount for the cost. £15 per child, includes private tour round, plus hands on rock pool experience, buffet, drinks, half an hour of alternative entertainment, cake (although I'm making my own) and party bags (which I will also add to - tbh you spend more on this area!).

That said, I watched the beginning of the above and have sadly seen "my super sweet 16th" and I want to smack both the children AND the parents on them.

But it's the done thing...they have a big 16th, and 18th and 21st...I remember for us it was one or the other...

Originally Posted by Fallen Angel

...18th...

I had one of those (joint with a friend who was 4 days older than me) and as a result it was 5 or 6 years before the venue held another one. It was their own fault for using dodgy door staff.

It's all about willy waving and I find it rather distasteful, although I'm sure it was around when I was a child as well - maybe less obviously and not as widespread is all.

Originally Posted by Fallen Angel

But it's the done thing...

Only if you let it be ....

Originally Posted by Fallen Angel

they have a big 16th, and 18th and 21st... I remember for us it was one or the other...

I gave my kids the choice ~ big 18th or 21st. They respect my position as their parent and head of the household, so they accepted the options without question.

Originally Posted by fazerdaze

They respect my position as their parent and head of the household, so they accepted the options without question.

Wow!, where did you buy your kids and can I swap you for mine.

Originally Posted by Fallen Angel

Trying to find somewhere interesting and that hasn't already been done to death (with only TWO years of school gone by so far...it can only get harder!). So this year it's at Sea Life Centre...and tbh you get a decent amount for the cost. £15 per child, includes private tour round, plus hands on rock pool experience, buffet, drinks, half an hour of alternative entertainment, cake (although I'm making my own) and party bags (which I will also add to - tbh you spend more on this area!).

That sounds justifyable though. Because the kids are at least getting some sort of learning out of it too. I think i am more confused about the people spending £20000 on their kids party....it's just one day.

I didn't celebrate my 18th, and in two months is my 21st, but i haven't anything planned. Never really been a party person tbh. Think the last party i had was when i was either 9/10. Then i was just content with a few friends to the cinema then back to my mum's house for grub. I've turned out alright me thinks....

Originally Posted by Charlotte

I didn't celebrate my 18th, and in two months is my 21st, but i haven't anything planned.

A 21st birthday in two months, you say? Hmmm Well, at the very least, I think you should meander over to our place for a big boozy barbecue

Birthday parties? I think I had one once. I was 12

Other than a BBQ I had when I turned 21 (and wasn't anything unusual as I'd normally have a few every summer) the last "party" I remember was a picnic in the back garden with the food on a coffee table. The bit I remember most is my rabbit at the time hopping up to the table and standing on her back legs to survey the contents then grabbing a piece of buttered wholemeal bread and hopping off to eat it. Cue children rolling around laughing on the grass.

Birthday parties! They are solely responsible for introducing mu kids to the horrors that is McDonalds! Never gave our kids any of that processed crap, but once the birthday parties start the events always ended up at McDonalds for a happy meal extravaganza!

Fortunately now a lot of kids venues do catering of some sort so its not necessary to go onto Mads, but the kids all seem to still push for it!

Wife always favoured taking kids to the pictures see the latest kids film, if one was out, then onto Pizza hut. But she has also done the bowling thing and the game whose name escapes me, with electronic guns.

Best party was when it was hot one April and my daughter had her pool up. She had a pool party with BBQ and disco. My wife even got a Pinata but didn't realise it didn't come with stuff in it, so cue kids beating the shit out of a paper mache donkey for no reward!

My Daughter went to one recently where they got taken to Lakeside shopping mall and were given a £5 to spend. They all went into Primark and got tons of stuff and were thrilled to bits with the whole concept. not too sure how long you'll get away with Primark but still a good day out for them all!