topic What is the going rate for a child's birthday part in your area? in Community Chat

What is the going rate for a child's birthday part in your area?

petepetey — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 18:33:46 GMT

Typically here the cost can run from $150-$200 depending on the venue.

One mom in our school just threw a party for her third grader that cost between $1500 and $2000. How can you compete with that?

I think that is a bit much.......

Re: What is the going rate for a child's birthday part in your area?

insomniac — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 15:19:53 GMT

Around here, the venue is mostly home!

Re: What is the going rate for a child's birthday part in your area?

Mominohio — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 19:15:54 GMT

My son's parties were mostly at home, with a couple of friends. We live in the country, so we had lots of room to play, fishing in the pond, water balloon fights etc. I made all the food except the cake, did a theme each time based on what he was interested in at the time, but spent very little, much more work involved than money. I made his favors and wrapping paper etc. to match the theme (ie, one year cowboy, one year fishing). We didn't do parties every year, sometimes just immediate family with cake and gifts. One year took him and best friend horse back riding at a friend's house.

Kid's seem to love those simple parties that are less structured and more real play than anything else.

Re: What is the going rate for a child's birthday part in your area?

Yardlie — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 19:17:54 GMT

On 10/16/2013 BonnieBelle said:
Why would you want to ""compete"" with that?? That is totally ridiculous.

I totally agree. Why does everything have to be competition?

Re: What is the going rate for a child's birthday part in your area?

hennypenny — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 19:48:19 GMT

I have no clue as we are fortunate enough to have a large house and garden and have had all the parties at home.

One thing that puzzles me is this. Last weekend we were at a shopping center. We were having lunch outside at a deli there. At the Italian Pizza restaurant next to where we were eating there was a very large birthday party maybe twenty-five kids plus parents.

The kids were having a great time. They had a man there making balloon animals and hats and the kids were adorable. What we found strange was that the little girls parents were carrying out all the still wrapped gifts to their car while the party was still in progress.

My question is (my kids are 43 and 26) Don't children open their gifts at parties any more? I felt it was a great teaching moment. How to be gracious, to thank for items even if they aren't your taste or you already have sixty matchbox cars. To thank each guest and do it in a way to make them feel special.

What we witnessed was a bit like, run with the loot and friends be damned.