What happened to parties with games and a party tea?

I think one reason that parties have changed so much is because of the behaviour of some of the children. My DD stopped having them at home because the friends of the DGCs were just so badly behaved - and she's used to working with autistic children, so well used to coping with challenging behaviour!

Build a bear are still very popular but a bear plus clothes for each child is quite an expense, when I asked GD how many attended she said "only ten"

When I taught Yr 2, the fad was for 'Build a bear' parties in nearby town. One little guest was talking about it in circle time and complained that they ONLY had £20 each to spend on the outfit for their bear. Totting up the cost of this, plus the Bears, plus the meal at TGI Friday for ten ungrateful children, the parents must have spent almost £500 and this was 5 years ago!

know now!!

DD (who makes cakes for a living) has been asked if she does cake making parties and has looked into it but decided that it would be too stressful. There is, apparently, a franchise offering a similar thing.

After 5 children I would have given a king's ransom not to have to hold any more jelly and cake parties. I was so glad when they wanted to 'do' something instead.

As a penance for having 5 children I know help out at 6 jelly and cake parties - eek!!

The muffin party sounds brilliant.

I just wish children were allowed to be children rather than pushed into adulthood.

Something tells me it won't be a Disney DVD.

My GD has been to these makeover parties, DS and DIL let her go as she would otherwise be the only one in the class not going. DS goes to collect her and takes baby wipes to take off any lip gloss or eye shadow that may have been applied. GD loves the sleepovers, when I ask if she has had pizza and Disney DVD she says "how did you know Grandma" ?

Whoops - showing my age! Sorry, jing, I see now it is 11.03.30. Ignore me, I'll just shuffle off into the corner now and pick up my tatting......

Our lot have outgrown the soft play area parties and eldest DGD had a great muffin /cake making party in her mums kitchen , sounds more like fun to me . She is 11

I don't think it sounds great. Little girls should remain little girls until they are big girls. Both my kids enjoyed their sandwiches/jelly/birthday cake teas followed by games of Dead Lions, Pass the Parcel and Blind Man's Buff. However, that was some years ago and now the grandchildren have similar 'parties' to the one described by vampirequeen. Sometimes I think it is all part of a Mummy's competition to see who can spend the most money. (I'm feeling grumpy today.)

jingle - what were you doing up at 0330?

They will most likely have a lovely time. Sounds great.

Sorry, bl**dy iPad, I meant " birthday girl" singular.

I know, catapulted into grownup so soon! Still, presumably it is what the birthday girls wanted, I am glad ours were children when they were, if you see what I mean! They will have a wonderful time, whatever. I wonder how many the "lucky mummy is hosting?