Our youngest, Anand, had his birthday party on Saturday. Eight or nine friends, a game of football in the park, followed by cake and in the garden. The whole thing was over in two hours. We normally do it that way. No bouncy castles, no entertainers, no goody bags. And no complaints either (at least not to our face...) Why so many people think they have to mount the equivalent of the Oscars is beyond me:
Competitive parents are making themselves ill with worry about whether the parties they organise for their children's birthdays will be as much fun as those thrown by other parents...Party goody-bags are now stuffed with DVDs and the latest expensive toys and it has become a major faux pas at the parties of the young of Middle England to send guests home without an impressive collection of gifts...
Yet read on, and the statistics tell an interesting story:
Nearly two thirds (65 per cent) of adults fret about what other people think of their child's party, but three quarters (73 per cent) of children simply feel excited and two thirds of youngsters shun over-complicated plans and care more about having fun...
The majority of adults think their child would prefer to hold their party at a large hired venue such as a swimming pool. But children would actually rather stay at home, with 59 per cent wanting their best friend around for some fun rather than a big organised party with the whole class.