What happened to parties with games and a party tea?

-Yes you do need space. We are lucky enough to have a fairly large house and garden and our twin grandchildren's birthday is the last day of May which is generally a good time. Two years ago we did a traditional party for them :DH and SiL did the games and DD and I did the food. It was a huge success : one boy saying it was the best party he had ever been to and another saying "aren't we going to play any more games?" when it was time to go home .Last year when they were 7 it was decided to have a day out at "Four Kingdoms" each taking one friend. This year they have pleaded for a traditional party so here we go again ! Several of the children will be on the autistic spectrum as they were before and there will be a good mixture of boys and girls but I am sure we will all have a good time.

GD, five, was at a party yesterday and couldn't wait to tell me that they got to pet tarantulas and rats and ..... my toes were curling up in horror. " don't worry Grandma they didn't bite me " thank goodness for that.

Interesting, Greenfinch. My 13 year old grandson has ASD, and he likes trad parties. They seem easier for him to know how to behave, even though they are noisy. He does not like noise but is getting used to it. Strangely, though, his 13 year old friends like it, too. They can behave just like boys should.
Should I play pass the parcel at my party tomorrow?

I've been to a few birthday parties, for my Gks at Play Spaces, you know the places where the children play on the equipment and the Play Space people provide everything including the birthday tea and party bags to take home. I think the parents provide the cake.

Went to one yesterday and couldn't help thinking that there was something lacking. I remember the countless parties I arranged for my kids - the home made cake, the jelly, hotdogs, etc., the clearing up afterwards - it was hard work but so much more homely.

Proper parties build memories.....well they did when I ran them. When DD was 7 she had a Princess party. Not fancy dress...they just had to come in their normal party clothes because all little girls are princesses. I made a cake in the shape of a castle with four towers and doilies used to make the tower roofs (think Cinderella castle shape). Everyone was impressed and, with the cake in the centre of the table, I proudly lit the candles. There was a whoosh as the doilies caught fire. Flames shooting up to the ceiling and screaming little girls made it a party to remember.

Even now they talk about the party when the cake caught fire

DGS has been to several parties lately where the party bag contains a book. Think there must be a good offer on somewhere! Seems a much better idea than all the crap plastic toys they usually have.
My most memorable party was a trad one where there was a power cut for several hours. We had the children singing together and when we ran out of songs they started on hymns. TG for a church school education It was like a Victorian revivalist meeting; hymn singing by candlelight. They enjoyed it though.

I don't like the new habit of children giving each other presents of money - and only folding money will do - instead of a well-chosen present, however small. Of course, I need hardly add that my GSs think it's a great idea.

Having spent a few years as a Guider in my early 20s, I always planned the kids' parties down to the last minute, knowing that any free time between activities would lead to chaos. Alternating quiet and boisterous games, and breaks for drinks and food. This always worked. My kids went on to be church youth group leaders and applied the same principle.

My eldest was apprehended at the railway station once by a girl from back then, who was at the same Uni as he was - they were both doing doctorates, so they were already in their mid-twenties. They had a good chat and reminisce, and the girl said that she would always remember the great birthday parties at our house! (And this despite the fact that all our kids had winter birthdays and it wasn't always possible to go outside).

Anyway, that was then. Nowadays I think we'd have to accept the fact that 9-year-old girls will have a beauty parlour birthday. But a cake-baking, or even more physical activity would be just as satisfying (and probably cheaper).

I misread one of the posts above and thought it said "fire-fighting in the woods". Now THAT would be a really exciting birthday party!

JackyB There was a lot of smoke and coughing, but not a great deal of fire (it was February and windy!). We did manage to toast marshmallows though!

My DGD was at a party on Sunday. They were in a soft play area and then moved into another room for a disco. How old was the birthday child? 2 like my DGD. I do think there is an element of having to go one better than the child before and this was almost the last birthday in their little group. What future parties will include I dread to think!

I have just spent a happy Saturday morning at soft play for dgs's 2nd birthday party. They all had a brilliant time and collapsed in the car on the way home-DGS was transferred to his bed without even blinking! DS and Ddil decided this was actually easier than trying to fit 10 excited 2 year olds, buggies, mums and baby siblings into their quite small house. They also have 10 week old baby so it was def the better option for them

Older DGS had a football party last year...the local junior club hires out its ground for £85 for the morning/afternoon and that included a couple of coaches. They all thought they were Messi or Ronaldo! We were allowed to use one of the function rooms in the stand to set out food and the cake. Fab day and very reasonable.

DGD had The Animal Man who brought a collection of animals from snakes, to Guinea pigs to 5" hissing cockroaches, ducks and geckos! All the little girls loved it! Nanna wasn't quite so sure!

I think it is all such a shame- too much, too young and then nothing is new and exciting later on.

Our nephew goes to a private day school in a very affluent area of the Midlands. My jaw dropped when one "party" for 12 year old involved going to a track and driving a high powered car. £80 per child (that was about 5 yrs ago). When people have more money than sense...

For DGS's 7th, DiL got two PE teachers at her school to run a gym party. They organised activities using the equipment in the school gym, did team games and generally didn't let the kids stand still. DS was responsible for a good tea, after which, for good measure, DiL ran them round the school field. Sounds like a boot camp, but they all enjoyed the challenges.

It isn't just more money than sense, it also spoils the excitement of doing it for the first time when it is age appropriate.
The gym party and not standing still seems ideal- will work up an appetite too.