KID’S PARTIES - TIME TO PUT THE FUN BACK
Whatever happened to pin the tail on the donkey?Americans are reported to spend over 10 billion dollars each year on birthday parties, and the kids aren’t playing old fashioned party games like we used to.
Parties seem to be supersized these days.As one-upmanship for honours in extravagant birthday celebrations gathers momentum, parents find themselves under mounting pressure to compete. Party planning has become big business, and the good old jumping castle has been replaced by entertainers, magic shows and fully propped themed events,
We barely turn a hair when celebrities throw enormous, lavish parties.The Beckhams were said to have spent ten thousand dollars on a party for their eldest son, Brooklyn to celebrate his fifth birthday, while Suri Cruise enjoyed a second birthday party which cost her parents a cool 100 000 dollars, including a 5 000 dollar cake.But regular folk are being influenced by the Hollywood effect, and many parents feel under pressure to keep up.
And it’s not just the food, drink and entertainment that costs.Recent findings in Britain estimated the average cost of a goody bag given to guests was 7.50 pounds, adding up to a huge 239 million pounds a year.Candy and plastic trinkets are being shunned in favour of pricey gifts, with some goody bags even boasting French fragrance and real jewellery.
This growing culture of excess has elicited numerous websites offering advice on consequences and suggestions for more modest celebrations.One such citizen action group is Birthdays Without Pressure, and they formed the group to engage in dialogue about ‘out of control’ parties, and what can be done about it.
A number of issues concern them, including increasingly lavish invitations and bi-annual birthday parties to celebrate half birthdays.Examples of excessive celebrations are listed on their website, such as a wealthy father from New York whose party for his 13 year-old daughter cost a million dollars, which included paying Aerosmith to perform and 000 gift bags!
What are some better-value things we can do?
• Have fewer guests
* Invite guests to contribute to a charity instead of a gift for the child
* Be imaginative and make gift bags economical. paper bag containing bird seed or homemade candy or cookies
• Themes can push up costs.Think about having an event without a theme
* Outsourcing the event can be a costly route. Have a home party, and make cleaning up fun
* Shop around for the best prices on party goods, and visit discount stores for good value items
* Have the party over a time when a meal won’t be expected, for example between two and four in the afternoon
• Get kids involved. Put plain paper down on tables, and get the kids to decorate it with crayons and highlighers.
* Arrange for the kids to play traditional fun games like hide and seek
* Outdoor activites are fun - what about hiring a bouncy castle.A jumping castle hire Perth company, Soxon Jumping Castles, say that jumping castles are still entertainment of choice, keeping children busy and active at good value.
And often, despite all the generosity and extravagance, some kids will still be dissatisfied, complaining that their party was ‘boring or lame’ and that things could have been better.’ Let’s give the parties back to the kids - get back to some good old fashioned fun, and let the games begin.
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