Why can't birthday parties be closer?

[Anonymous]

It gets easier as the kids get older.

Be the change you want to see. I rarely do parties far away.

[Anonymous]

I noticed this starting in 4th grade. In the end, its not really a big deal to me. Yeah, its a little annoying but in the grand scheme of things, not worth wasting time being annoyed about it. We carpool, Dh and I switch off drop off/pick up, or I just go out for a bite to eat or go to a cafe and get coffee and read a book.

[Anonymous]

It’s a little inconvenient but in the end, the majority of these places are in the far burbs and there’s not that many of them. I would rather take my kid to a trampoline park or rec center 30 minutes away, drop him off, and maybe have time to grocery shop or just have Starbucks or something at a nearby shopping center vs. feeling like I have to stay and “visit” at a home party. Yes I know home parties start being exclusively drop off at some point but we’re finishing up 1st grade and it hasn’t happened yet.

[Anonymous]

Carpool or decline. It’s an invitation not a summons. If you don’t want to drive that far don’t.

[Anonymous]

Yea, you answered your own question: "junior really really wants to have all of his friends at this cool arcade". That's why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a little inconvenient but in the end, the majority of these places are in the far burbs and there’s not that many of them. I would rather take my kid to a trampoline park or rec center 30 minutes away, drop him off, and maybe have time to grocery shop or just have Starbucks or something at a nearby shopping center vs. feeling like I have to stay and “visit” at a home party. Yes I know home parties start being exclusively drop off at some point but we’re finishing up 1st grade and it hasn’t happened yet.

I was amazed at how many people just dropped off their kids at our kindergarten bday party.

[Anonymous]

Your kid is too old for Jumping Joeys/Busy Bees/etc., and other than a handful of escape rooms and bowling, which gets old, there really aren't any other options for older kids inside the beltway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please just decline the invite if it’s inconvenient.

This. It's an invitation. You are not required to attend if it's such an inconvenience.

[Anonymous]

On3 of the top most bizarre entitled things I have ever read. Written by the laziest most complaining people I have ever heard of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like there is a trend of getting invitations for kids' birthday parties that are like 30+ minutes from where the birthday boy or girl and classmates live. The days of parties at the local karate, little gym, or firehouse seem to be over. Now we have to trek to far off arcades, indoor basketball, amusement centers, zipline places, etc. I just got an invitation for a party that is 20 miles from our elementary school. Are parents thinking when they make these choices? I know junior really really wants to have all of his friends at this cool arcade, but most parents are squeezing these parties into busy weekends and really don't want to drive 60 to 90 minutes round trip to eat cake with the 6 year olds who live in their neighborhood.

It’s because those large venues need to be in places where rent is not prohibitive.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live and where is the party?
I’ve never driven that far but I live in moco so I feel like we have stuff close by. Farthest I’ve driven is Columbia for main event. ( 15 mins away)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a little inconvenient but in the end, the majority of these places are in the far burbs and there’s not that many of them. I would rather take my kid to a trampoline park or rec center 30 minutes away, drop him off, and maybe have time to grocery shop or just have Starbucks or something at a nearby shopping center vs. feeling like I have to stay and “visit” at a home party. Yes I know home parties start being exclusively drop off at some point but we’re finishing up 1st grade and it hasn’t happened yet.

I was amazed at how many people just dropped off their kids at our kindergarten bday party.

That was the norm pre-pandemic. I really miss it because it was healthier for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a little inconvenient but in the end, the majority of these places are in the far burbs and there’s not that many of them. I would rather take my kid to a trampoline park or rec center 30 minutes away, drop him off, and maybe have time to grocery shop or just have Starbucks or something at a nearby shopping center vs. feeling like I have to stay and “visit” at a home party. Yes I know home parties start being exclusively drop off at some point but we’re finishing up 1st grade and it hasn’t happened yet.

I was amazed at how many people just dropped off their kids at our kindergarten bday party.

Did you expect them to stay? In K I assume it’s a drop off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a little inconvenient but in the end, the majority of these places are in the far burbs and there’s not that many of them. I would rather take my kid to a trampoline park or rec center 30 minutes away, drop him off, and maybe have time to grocery shop or just have Starbucks or something at a nearby shopping center vs. feeling like I have to stay and “visit” at a home party. Yes I know home parties start being exclusively drop off at some point but we’re finishing up 1st grade and it hasn’t happened yet.

I was amazed at how many people just dropped off their kids at our kindergarten bday party.

Did you expect them to stay? In K I assume it’s a drop off.

For a birthday party at our house, maybe kinder would be drop off age. For a party at one of those big party complexes that are the subject of this thread, absolutely not. How is the host parent supposed to keep an eye on 15-20 five year olds who are running around the entire venue? And I don't think a five year old is mature enough to "stay with the party" on their own. Heck people dropped their kids off at the trampoline park for my 8 year old's birthday, and I told them, it's up to you, but I'm not going to be able to keep an eye on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a little inconvenient but in the end, the majority of these places are in the far burbs and there’s not that many of them. I would rather take my kid to a trampoline park or rec center 30 minutes away, drop him off, and maybe have time to grocery shop or just have Starbucks or something at a nearby shopping center vs. feeling like I have to stay and “visit” at a home party. Yes I know home parties start being exclusively drop off at some point but we’re finishing up 1st grade and it hasn’t happened yet.

I was amazed at how many people just dropped off their kids at our kindergarten bday party.

Did you expect them to stay? In K I assume it’s a drop off.

My k kid attended a different school for pk. All the parties in her old school community, the parents stay and socialize. All the parties in her new school community, they drop and run. All the parties have been a blast for her, just a different set of norms.