Nov 22 2007
The Party of the (Kindergarten) Year
My daughter JT is turning 6 in January, so I have to be organised to send invitations out before the end of school.This year, we’ve had a plethora (I love that word) of parties.
The year kicked off with a celebration at a local kids play centre – you know one with climbing equipment, ball pits etc. The whole class was invited. Estimated cost (basic package) – $495.
Other parties have included; horse riding, ice skating, another at the same play centre, a fairy party at a craft centre, bowling, and upcoming swimming party and a few home parties.
But the pinnacle of the 2007 Kindergarten party season left me somewhat speechless.
The event was a spectacular from the invitation to the thank you note, and left me wishing I’d sprung a few extra bucks for a better present 😳
The invitation came in a metallic pink envelope. It was a three fold matching pink invitation with a printed insert. It’s the type of invitation you might expect to see for a wedding (details have been blanked out for privacy).
The venue was a special purpose party venue in a semi-industrial estate. It was fully decked out with decorations, a stage, disco, karaoke, piñata and a jumping castle. Complete with dim lighting and strobe lighting for that “night club” effect.
The long table was chock-a-block with fancy decorations, and special cups for the kids to keep. All the girls in the class were invited, plus siblings and family friends. The underlying theme was “Fancy Nancy“.
Come pick up time, JT was announcing that it was The Best Party Ever. Not only did she get to keep the hard plastic drinking cup and straw, there was the handbag she’d made and the elaborate lolly “bag” – complete with play jewellery, tiara, fairy wand, cup cake in a little box, and of course lollies. She also walked out with an exquisitely wrapped present, with a card in an envelope with her name on it! Hang on a second, she was the guest.
The party loot:
The Gift – a hard cover book of “Fancy Nancy”
The Thank You card:-
Estimated cost of the party around $1,200. Obviously, you don’t even try and match that.
But my question to you, creative parents, is how would you create a “wow” party, without going over the top on the budget? What’s been your most successful kids party?
17 Responses to “The Party of the (Kindergarten) Year”
No! No! Don’t tell me this. Leave me in my happy delusions of BBQs and a no-present policy!
I will state here and now that as much as I respect all the effort and planning that went into it, I will never make it such an event. (Feel free to call me on that in a few years when I’m really under pressure.)
But seriously, when did we start doing this? I’m not that old. My birthday “parties” involved a family dinner and maybe a couple of friends sleeping over on the weekend. It’s insane. Insane, I tell you!
I never read this. I am shrinking back into my delusions of children and their simple pleasures.
We have had Fairy Parties, Pirate Parties, Circus Parties, Scary Parties and Disco Parties for our kids. They were all good in their own way because the kids liked them. Most we have had at home. They are all expensive, but not outrageous like the one you describe.
o_0 That is just crazy. I dislike parents like that..out to make the rest of us look scroogey LOL Luckily out here in bogan country we don’t see too many like that.
This year we did our first (and LAST) at home party, well we actually borrowed the inlaws house LOL. We had a jumping castle and stuff. The kids had fun…we didn’t. I had no idea 8yr old girls were such nasty little biatches..like teenagers in midget form! It was scary.
After the youngest has had her turn at a few parties (not at home) we will be just doing a few friends over, go out and do something, sleep over type thing.
Can’t help with any ideas, sorry. But good luck!
Boy am I glad I live out here in the itty bitty country where parties like that don’t exist….YET!!!! Sure looks fab though! Bit hard to top for the next party they throw though isn’t it?
Nearly all of our kids parties have involved a sausage in bread at a nearby playground. Very spesh! LOL. But so far we haven’t had any complaints or bored kids.
This year I’m actually putting some effort in. DS is having a Lightning McQueen party in about 2 weeks time. The kids are going to make their own Lightning McQueen out of a cardboard box and hopefully run around the yard like mad while the mums get to have a good natter. LOL. Party bags will be a few lollies, small packet of chips, balloon and a couple of colouring sheets of Lightning McQueen characters (printed off the net).
DD is having a “making party”. Kids are going to make their own “loot bags” and we’ll do stuff like fruit loops necklaces, decorated biscuits etc. All of which will ALSO constitute their “take home” treats. And they’ll make their own pizza which will be the food for the party.
I like things that give me double value (ie party activity PLUS something else).
Oldest DS is turning 10 in January and he’s taking 4 friends 10 pin bowling. We have to drive an hour and a half so could only take 4 friends as that’s all we can fit in. We’re going to go to KFC for lunch and then a game of bowling. Will probably be the most expensive party I’ve had for my kids but nothing like what you’re describing. We did give him the option of having a larger party (ie more friends) if he wanted to do something like beach games (volleyball, beach cricket etc).
I actually enjoy planning and throwing the kids parties but I tend to try and keep them as simple as possible (with the exception of the “making party” I guess) pretty much because I’m “lazy” I guess. LOL. But it works for us and our kids are happy….can’t ask for more than that.
Good Luck with working it out. Still shaking my head in amazement. I’d heard that some kids parties were beginning to get a little out of hand…. I actually think it’s kind of sad in a way.
I always had a simple party at McDonalds. I remember my sister was having one and I would probably have only been about 7/8 and I saw dad paying for all the food and I screamed out “You’re eating a lot”
cerebralmum – LOL. Wish I could too. I remember my 6th birthday party – maybe 6 kids, a pool and some party food. Unfortunately the expectation has been created…
Colin – a home themed party sounded good until I read Leigh’s comment!
Leigh – LOL – why IS that, that little girls can be so nasty? It seems to start younger and younger… I really hope my little girl isn’t like that when I’m not around.
Lightening – yes, it was fab – but also setting a completely unachievable standard for the rest. Making stuff? I’m not that “crafty”, but I could co-opt Miss 14 to help. JT wants a beach party. Like we’re going to take a group of 6 year olds to the beach! (And we don’t have a pool). Still, I’m not entirely convinced I even want to have it at home.
Bryce – LOL nice one. Actually I keep saying that we should have a Maccas party, because it’s about the only thing that hasn’t been done this year, so at least it would be different!
Still a couple of weeks to procrastinate.
I love fairy bread. I thought I’d just come out of the closet and say that. Now I think I might have to have it for lunch!
I also love bowling. And pink. Just so you know.
You can get those metallic envelopes at Office Works. 😉 I love them! They have a whole range of colors including gold and silver. I didn’t think the prices were too bad.
I’d go the Macca’s party myself. Just make sure it’s a Maccas with a Mc-cafe! 😉
Cheers,
Snoskred
wow – I am so glad we have boys . The twins will have to share their birthday parties so we have a head start.
We hired mini indoor gokarts (elcetric cars) once for our son’s 7th (7yrs ago) it was very popular.
Though he was an only child then and we could afford to lash out once.
Boys don’t care for much as long as they can go feral or run wild.
It would be so hard to compete now … my nieces go to some outrageously expensive parties and all the kids are expecting it now. One niece just did the Build a bear workshop – minimum $40 a child.
Macca’s is still a favourite of most 6 yrs olds probably.
I just counted up how many birthday parties I have organized for my kids and I suddenly felt very old. The number is 54! Only a few more to go until my youngest no longer wants mum to organize them though.
I just asked my boys which parties they had enjoyed the most. Both said “the home ones” without hesitation.
I tended to really get into the spirit of the occasion and the kids caught my enthusiasm – having set the trend they then expected nothing less but they did join in helping with all the preparations. That prolonged the excitement of it all for them too. We would make decorations in line with the party theme – these ended up more elaborate as the years went on. Plenty of party games adapted to the theme, dressing up, traditional party type food (although we did have blue spaghetti once) and lolly bags for the way home. They sometimes ended up costing more than going bowling etc but never too much more. We all had fun.
We occasionally went for the easy 2 hour in and out, sometimes expensive, organized parties. I recall kids throwing up at all you could eat parties, one having to be rescued after panicking at the top of one of those Maccas type cage playgrounds (having to be rescued by me) and trying to entertain bored children sitting in wait for a show to begin. Instead of being happily exhausted from the activity of the home parties they tended to feel a bit let down, coming home grumpy.
I refused to be influenced by any of their friends who had really expensive events – I was more interested in entertaining the kids than keeping up with their parents.
Well I will say that I throw parties like that. Not to that extent $$ wise but effort wise yes.
I don’t do it to show others up. I do it cause I want to and cause it makes my children happy.
I am a little cranky right now so I won’t say what I was going to (my coffee machine broke down and I am having some severe caffeine withdrawal) but not everyone does it to show off.
Those that have seen my party blog will understand why I my nose is a bit out of joint (primarily from Leigh’s comment, who hired a jumping castle?)
Snoskred – Now I know what to serve next time you come for lunch 😉
Babymore – “…as long as they can go feral or run wild” LOL! We’d probably get away with Maccas, but when you think about it they don’t really DO anything….
Sueblimely – wow, that’s a lot of parties! Talking with hubby, I am leaning towards a home party. You make a valid point about the kid’s entertainment being the most important thing. I’ll just have to force my creative hat on.
Kelley – I must have missed the reference your party blog. Wow – you should go into business!
I don’t know that anyone was implying that it’s done merely for show, I take my hat off to people who can be creative and entertaining without spending the HUGE bucks. Knowing the family involved, it was well intentioned and they just wanted to make sure everyone had a good time, which they did.
It’s just going that bit over the top that makes it hard for the rest of us, not so much “keeping up with the Jones'”, but meeting the expectations of YOUR OWN child who says “I’d really like to have a party like xyz had” and knowing that you just couldn’t pull it off (or not prepared to justify the cost).
Jumping castles have amused many a child at parties, so I wouldn’t be too hard on that call. Actually, I had it as a consideration in the back of my mind. The kids seem to love it at one of the parties recently.
Hope you get some decent coffee soon 😀
Far out – anything with musical chairs and itty bitty cupcakes would’ve blown my mind at age six! $1200 for a party? Unbelievable!
(Am apparently a scrooge. But being a teacher gives you plenty of good games and ideas to keep kidlets busy for a few hours!)
Yeah, sorry bout that. Never fear, I just went and bought a double strength extra shot bucket of latte….. calmer now.
Meg, we girls are a scary bunch aren’t we. It was more so a few of the other girls, but DD was giving her fair share, Daddy was rather shocked to see that side of his shy and quiet little princess *hehe*.
I must have missed reading the party handbook that said jumping castles were a no no. The kids had lots of fun, that’s the main aim.
See the party you describe is what I’m planning for my girls for their 16th, 18th or 21st parties.
My kids are far too young yet for such extravagent parties, and now that I think about it, after 3 parties we’ve had here, between both my girls there have been an invitation to 1 party. Hmmm.
I expect my outlook will change in a few years. I plan on lots of Macca’s parties. Course it could be a hinderance that my kids don’t like Maccas….. but I’m sure there’s a way around that.
our babies are only young once. their tiny little lives should be celebrated!!! regardless of the cost. if you put your creative skills on alert – you can always find cheaper ways around it and/or search and search websites you can replicate at home or ebay where you might even snatch up a bargain. eg. cowboy party – have a dress up cnr…make indian headbands…make money bag loot bags….fill up a sand pit or cheap pool and pan (cooking pan with holes) for gold…eg gold nuggets….cupcake or fairy party for the girls…make wings/crowns etc. and above all this keeps the kiddies busy!. if you have a group of friends that will invite the same group time and time again to each others parties – buy (together) a jumping castle eg ebay$150 max. and every party gets a go.
its not the cost its the effort. i never see the money – i only ever pay attention to the faces of my babies on their birthdays. that is PRICELESS! xoxo life is far too short!
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