Parties – no longer child’s play
Whatever happened to pas the parcel?With birthday parties costing Americans over 10 billion dollars a year, the games the kids are playing at parties are a far cry from the traditional favorites.
Children's parties are supersized these days.
Extravaganzas, costing thousands of dollars are happening more and more, and parents are under pressure to keep up with the Jones's.The party planning industry is burgeoning, with the traditional jumping castle making way for entertainers, fully propped themed events, magic shows and music bands We've come to expect celebrities to throw lavish extravaganzas.
A cool 100 000 dollars was reputedly spent by Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes on daughter, Suri's 2nd birthday whilst the Beckhams were said to have spent 10 000 dollars on Brooklyn's 5th birthday party. But the Hollywood effect is impacting on regular society, and the pressure on parents is mounting.
And it's not just the food, drink and entertainment that costs. Recent findings put the average cost of goody bag given to guests in Britain at 7.50 pounds, which amounts to an unbelievable sum of 239 pounds a year.Goodie bags are now big ticket items, with expensive gifts replacing the old fashioned cheap plastic trinkets and packet of candy.
The culture of excess has prompted a response from concerned parents around the world and there are numerous websites offering advice on more modest alternatives.Birthdays Without Pressure, a citizen action group, aims to raise awareness of what they say are parties out of control, and they want to engage in constructive dialogue about what's behind the trends, what the consequences are and what parents can do about it.
They are concerned about trends such as invitations which request gifts to be a certain value and parents holding birthday parties for their children every six months so that they can celebrate 'half birthdays'. Their website cites examples of excess, such as a wealthy New York father who threw a million dollar party for his 13 year old daughter’s birthday, including the band Aerosmith and ,000 gift bags and a one year old’s party in Minnesota where the 60 guests endured two hours of gift opening, while the party baby slept through!
What's the alternative?
* Invite fewer guests
• Invite guests to send a gift for charity, rather than to the child
* Make economical gift bags. paper bag containing bird seed or homemade candy or cookies
* costs can increase if there's a theme.Consider having a party that doesn't have a theme
* Outsourcing is pricey.Have it at home, and have fun with the cleaning up
* Look for party supplies that are on special, and shop at discount stores
* Have the party at a time when a meal isn't expected, such as 9 to 11 in the morning or 2 to 4 in the afternoon
* Involve the children. Put plain paper down on tables, and get the kids to decorate it with crayons and highlighers.
* Organise fun activities and games, like pass the parcel and musical chairs
* Hire an inflatable bouncy castle.Bouncy castle Perth company, Soxon Jumping Castles say that parents still opt for jumping castles, as they're great value and keep kids occupied and active for ages.
And all too often, despite all the outlay, some spoilt children will still complain that the party was boring or that the party they went to last week was way better.' Perhaps it's high time that parents took stock of what's happening, get back to some old-fashioned values ... and let's party.
|
Related posts:
- Food Ideas For Children’s Parties
- Childs Birthday Party Kits Make Planning a Party Simple
- A Childrens Party The Affordable Way
- Planning Birthday Parties
- Tips for Kids Parties
Comments
Leave a Reply
Related Articles About Halloween Costumes- All dressed up with everywhere to go
- You say no to drugs, Juicy J can't
- LA Fitness taking over WD Toys R Us property
- HGM International's New Collection Debut at the Halloween & Party Expo
- Cheerleaders in costume
- Need Something To Do Sunday?
- Daisy's Costume Shoot
- New Rave Clothing Collection Now At Yandy.com
- U.P. Children's Museum overrun by pirates and princesses
- Be careful with costume choices
