4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Bantambabe]

YS will be 10 on Friday. We have been talking about "parties" and had thought to take a small group of friends to the cinema, but it's difficult as harder to involve his siblings who have quite different tastes.

So today I booked the leisure pool (beach, big slide etc) at the local centre for a 1 hour party on Sunday. The booking also includes the "party room" for the following hour for party games. Can't see pass the parcel etc going down with his mates! (Definitely not )

 

Trouble is you can do food from their cafeteria at £3.50 ph; but not allowed to take own party food. So I've said the party is the hour swim (exclusive use of the pool) and then we, as a family will go for a picnic in the park (weather permitting) and any of the kids and their families who want to join us can do, providing their own picnics (and supervision - I had visions of having 30 ten yr olds loose in a massive country park right next to the river avon )

 

Thing is: he had a pool party a couple of yrs ago and we followed it up with a bbq at the house which all the families came to. It was great fun, but we don't have the time or the funds for that this yr.

 

I suppose a free swim in a fun pool should be enough of a treat, but I just feel a bit mean..

[theherd123]

Dont feel mean at all i think your idea of the swim party and a huge picnic with an open invitation to all is a great idea

[Guest]

all my birthdays when I was a kid were family days, I did have a party in the garden when I was 16 but that was because it was a milestone sort of birthday.

 

I hear about my friends now with kids taking them and all their friends to McDonalds or Play Barn or wherever for a huge party, how times have changed!

 

All I can say is I remember those family days very fondly, if I had kids I'd do things like a family picnic in the park, it sounds lovely!

[Patricia W]

Don't feel guilty - it sounds like a lovely day so enjoy it.

[Chickvic]

Sounds great It leaves it open for the other families to decide what to do, they can join in and enjoy the party!

[Janepie33]

It all sounds like a lovely idea. The 10 year olds can wear themselves out swimming and then make their own entertainment during the picnic, especially if people bring bats and balls and frisbies.

Children's parties seem to be so competitive. The ones my children remember best are the ones where friends and family all got together and had FUN!

 

Hope the weather stays good for you - if not, could you borrow a gazebo?

[Guest]

I hate the children's parties! I'm very glad that my youngest is now 11 and things are getting easier.

 

I think what you are planning is a lovely idea. It is inclusive and gives you a chance to get to know his friends' parents as well. I hope many of them come and that you have a great time.

 

French Cricket is an excellent all-inclusive game we always find. It can be played with a few people or loads. The very little ones can run for you or have a go at throwing the ball. Everyone loves a go with the racquet and people can opt in or out at any time without spoiling the game. We have played it for years with great success. Even strangers join in! My only rule is that it is up to the person with the racquet to be honest about whether they are out, not up to other people (except clearly in the case of being caught out!)

 

Try really hard not to feel stingey. What you're planning is great and something that we should all do more of.

[Bantambabe]

Thanks for all your kind comments - these kids do know how to tug the heart-strings don't they?

I know what you mean about it being easier when they get older Ginette - My OS is 13 and his birthday party was actually a birthday treat and he went with his dad to the velodrome in Newport for a day of training and trying out riding a bike around the track (OH is a keen cyclist/time trialler and OS is looking to take it up too as he gets a bit bigger and stronger). He's also keen on football so the last few years he's had a trip to a Premiership games with his dad and a friend. So much easier!

[PapaJuliet]

we followed it up with a bbq at the house which all the families came to. It was great fun, but we don't have the time or the funds for that this yr.

 

I suppose a free swim in a fun pool should be enough of a treat, but I just feel a bit mean..

 

This sounds to me like the important part. It sounds as though you've put a lot of thought into this party but there is no point getting into debt to provide all the things you are "supposed" to provide for a party.

 

It sometimes seems as though parties (of any sort) are purely a reason for one-upmanship so if your children are happy with that, that is all you should worry about.

 

PJ

[Looney]

It sounds like a great idea for a party and no you are not tight or stingy! There will be plenty of time and opportunity for mucking about and having fun - which is what parties are all about

[Chucky Mama]

I don't buy in to expensive parties and never have. I think that it is tempting to think that more 'involved' and expensive parties are more fun. One of my most successful parties for children of this age was going for a 5 mile walk with a picnic packed in each child's rucksack which was eaten at the 1/2 way point. We let off balloons at the beginning and there was a prize for the one that was returned having travelled the furthest. The children both boys and girls loved it. I gave them the choice of sandwich filling, crisps, sweet treat and drink which meant that there was not piles of half eaten party food left at the end of the day. Their parents dropped them off at the beginning of the walk and picked them up again at the end. They all thought it was the best party they had ever been to. I cost virtually nothing! I had another where the children handmade pasta and cookies, essentially they made their own party food, again no waste and lots of fun. Whilst they were waiting for the food to cook we had a treasure hunt around the house and garden that the older children had planned.

[Willow]

I think you will find the majority of parents are relieved It sounds fun and especially if a few families join you for the picnic it will be a great time (but don't think you have to do it all for everyone to have a good time). Chances are it will be one of those parties that get remembered and talked because everyone had such a great time.

 

I'm fortunate my youngest wants the same party every year - pizza making, followed by ice cream sundae making. He has a small group of friends and one of his friends in particular is always hugely excited and tells everyone that A has the best parties ever !

It's hard work but we always have a great time. When they were younger I'd part bake the bases ready but this time just prepared the dough and tomato sauce and got them more involved in preparing toppings rather than just putting them on. kneading and rolling out the bases went well especially as they were able to cover the island unit we were using with lots and lots of flour I also baked 2 cakes in the shape of the right numbers, covered them in chocolate fudge icing just before the children came and left a large bowl of smarties and asked them to finish decorating the cakes which they enjoyed.

 

The worst party I ever did was for my eldest at laser quest - it felt soulless to me and whilst the kids enjoyed themselves I had nothing to do so hated it

[Egluntyne]

Sounds fab. Not stingy at all.

 

I made a stand against party bags when mine were younger. D:

[Lewis]

It sounds like a good idea! They won't know any different.

You could maybe just go to the £ shop and buy a few big bags of sweets instead of party bags.

[Alis girls]

Sounds ok to me, I nearly always provide my own food unless its in with cost. Theres a credit crunch for goodness sake, be honest with other parents they'll respect you for it and if they dont - not worth knwing. ES (13) - all his friends having discos - I dont know what these partents fork out but I dont think they are all affluent. it beggars belief - have told ES he wont get the same and hes fine. Well done on sticking to your plans - have fun

[alih]

I think it wounds great - we have never done expensive parties either and the group activities are what they want: racing about with their mates etc...I always did old fashioned parties at the house when the kids were little as I was mid-divorce and skint, but they loved it and my youngest has requested hers being at home this year again rather than anything "posher".....it's the atmosphere they will enjoy.

 

Hope you enjoy it too!

[Seagazer]

Sounds like a great idea to me. I'd enjoy it, how great would it be for everyone to come together and have fun at the picnic.

[Tiggy]

as I recall when I was that age everyone just went around to the house and played in the garden and had cakes & jelly, Dads joined in the fun, this whole huge kids party thing is getting out of hand, you are not mean at all I'm sure they will have a lovely time

[chickencam]

Sounds fine to me.

 

Childrens parties are getting silly.

 

We have had a few over the years involving a leisure activity and food afterwards which tend to be fraught costly events.

 

The best parties that we have had have been pizza making, dressing up from our large collection of silly clothes and taking silly photos.

 

They will have a great time in the park children love picnics.

[The Dogmother]

That sounds fab to me, I hope that they enjoy it.

 

Rosie is 11 now and for the last 3 years she's (thankfully) only wanted 2 or 3 special friends. It works well like that.

[Fizzle Knit]

As a mother of 9 year old and 11 year old boys your idea sounds great! Make sure the invites spell it out that the picnic afterwards is an optional extra and that children must be accompanied by own food and parents! (Otherwise you'll have the baleful puppy-dog eyes and the Pleeeeeeeze can my 30 bestest friends come with me and/or the parent who doesn't collect after the swim because they thought sonny was off to the picnic. )

 

Enjoy yourselves

[Busybird]

This sounds like a really fun party

 

My DS1 has his 11th birthday on Saturday and is going to archery with me in the morning and then out for a chinese meal with just his siblings, parents and grandparents in the evening. No friends have been invited because in previous years, when he has done bowling or lazer quest or whatever with groups of friends it has become too riotous, we have got cross and everyone has come home upset

 

Spending money doesn't mean it will be a good day. Having fun and giving him an event to remember with pleasure is better for all concerned

[Bantambabe]

Thanks everyone for your support - the invites have gone out today. OH & I debated how explicit we needed to be about the picnic and went for (on the back - the "small print"):

 

On account of that thing called the “credit crunch”, we won’t be doing the whole party food/games etc afterwards (as the leisure centre don’t allow you to cater for yourself and charge too much per head to do it for you!)

 

However—weather permitting, the G*****s will wander into N***** C**** Park afterwards for a picnic. If you would like to join us with your family you’d be most welcome and don’t forget your picnic hamper & parents!.

 

Hopefully there shouldn't be too much confusion. Any kids not collected on time will get a rude awakening anyway as they'll either end up in church with me or in London with the OH, morris dancing

 

Might do something educational as a "party bag" - e.g. a nice pencil each...

[Couperwife]

this party picnic sounds a fab idea, i think that the children will love it.

 

cathy

x

[Willow]

I hate the whole plastic toy party bag thing as well. I put sweets, fancy coloured pencils and a pack of 'kids' seeds into the party bags this time. I don't know how many will get planted but the children seemed pleased with the seeds.