Paying to attend a child's birthday party.

azzabazza

I have never heard of anything so ridiculous as charging for children to attend a party. If the party holder's parents can't afford a party, then a birthday tea at home free gratis!!!!

A group of friends eating out to celebrate an adult birthday not in the same league. What I have experienced is the group share the cost of the birthday person's meal and drinks. I cannot imagine the birthday person would be expected to pay for the whole group.

Spendless

Several years ago when I was a new member on MSE a similar thread came up about how they'd been asked to pay for their child to attend a birthday party and how they couldn't afford it.

The replies were all along the lines of how it wasn't the norm and how they wouldn't pay. The OP ended up not going. I came late to the thread and asked how they knew they were expected to pay? they answered that when they'd received the invite they had asked birthday child's parent 'how much is it?' and got the answer 'It's £x'

They had taken that to mean it was £x to attend the child's party as a guest. I spoke to the OP via pm saying that if I'd been asked that by someone I'd invited to my kids party, I'd have thought the person querying was interested in how much the venue charged as they might consider it when their own child had a party. The OP hadn't thought of that, she was going thru a difficult time and it had added to her stress (as did the fact she'd perhaps stopped her child going to a party by misunderstanding what was meant).

It's a long time ago I don't re-call the OP or what the thread was called, probably gone now as the site changed but I mention it cos it stuck in my mind, so the first thing I'll ask is how do you know they are charging guests to attend?

SunshineButterfly

The norm is for the parents of the party to pay for children attending.

My boys (3 and 5) have their birthday party tomorrow. It costs £8.50 per head including food and party bag. For both both 20 children were invited and 18 are attending.

It does work out expensive, but if I didn't want to pay for all the guests then I would not choose to have their party somewhere that charges.

Saying that, I have had 3 parents asking how much they need to bring. I have told them nothing. If they want to buy a card or present for the birthday boys that is fine, but I would not expect any invited to pay.

I have however stated that older siblings (as in way older than my boys) are also welcome if the parent would like to pay for them.

ciderwithrosie_2

If the parents can't afford a big party then they've got a bloody cheek expecting other parents to fund it for them. The children won't even remember it as they're only toddlers.

LoopyLil_2

I have never heard of parents being asked to pay to attend another childs birthday party and I wouldn't even dream of asking people to pay to attend my own childs parties. It's darn cheeky if you ask me!! If the parents can't afford a party like this then they should do without.

Janepig

I've never been charged to send my kids to a birthday that they've been invited to! As others have mentioned, if it's a soft play type place then you have to pay for siblings (or certainly it's polite to!). If it's a party in a community centre or something like that and I've had to drag a sibling along then I would always ask the host beforehand and would never expect them to be fed, although I always found that the host would usually make too much food and would be happy for the "extras" to tuck in. I can't imagine anyone having the gall to ask for payment to attend their child's party, let alone two people!!

Jx

mummyroysof3

Never heard of this and at that amount my children would not go. Something about £5 I might be tempted as it doubles up as an outing but that would be too much imo

Pont

scotnan wrote: »

OMG I've heard it all now :rotfl:
charging to attend a kiddies birthday party!

What next??

No, it's not the norm and I'd definitely not be going, what a flaming cheek!
I bet they're expecting a present on top of that too :rotfl:





And that's exactly what young kiddies birthday parties should be, sounds like fun can I come to your next one :j

Course you can! Kids are 18 and 20 now but still wouldn't turn their noses up at a bit of jelly! Come on over everyone - you're all welcome!

hayday75

We have always paid for our childrens parties and have noticed (recently) when they attend other kids parties we have to pay for the privilege .
I would rather not hold a party than ask parents to pay .It defeats the whole point of holding a birthday party in my opinion .

Errata

Parents who put a price on children's friendships have their heads scewed on cross threaded.