What’s the WORST birthday party experience you ever had?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A playground party for 5 y/os where the hosts thought that just the fact of being at a playground would be enough to keep them all engaged and happy for the duration of the party. I'm not saying that they needed professional entertainment, but it would have been nice if they'd organized some group games or provided sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and things like that.

For kids who love playgrounds I could see this lasting for hours. What went wrong? Was your child bored?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD had a classmate this year who gave out handwritten (by the child) invitations on a small piece of paper a day or two before the party. We weren't sure if it was a real invitation or not. We had to text other parents who knew the family better than us to figure out if it was real or not.

Hah I had that happen one time too. I get wanting to make your kid do their own work but this was 1st grade and the kid’s handwriting definitely looked it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A playground party for 5 y/os where the hosts thought that just the fact of being at a playground would be enough to keep them all engaged and happy for the duration of the party. I'm not saying that they needed professional entertainment, but it would have been nice if they'd organized some group games or provided sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and things like that.

For kids who love playgrounds I could see this lasting for hours. What went wrong? Was your child bored?

This was in NYC and with a group of kids who normally spend time on city playgrounds after school. Maybe they were disappointed that the party was just ice cream and cake at the playground? It was just a weird vibe that day and none of the kids were happy with it until one of the moms took over and got them playing interactive games. I think the host parents were counting on the fountains being on that day and they weren't, and the particular playground was small and did not have much equipment.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Honestly there shouldn’t be any pool parties for kids under like 8-9 years old. So many parents just drop off their kids who can’t swim. it’s truly unbelievable. But it’s also irresponsible to host a pool part for very young kids IMO. Just isn’t worth it.[/quote]

Pool parties make me nervous. A 6 year old died at a swimming birthday party at the same expensive indoor pool/fitness club where my oldest took his first swimming lessons. There were a lot of people in and around the pool and the girl wasn't noticed and quickly succumbed. She was alive when removed from the pool but didn't survive.[/quote]

Did they have a lifeguard?[/quote]

Yes. Possibly two. But younger people. There was a lawsuit. It wasn't a family that I knew. It was covered in the newspapers.

I've heard of at least one similar tragic situation at a kids' franchised swim school party.

My husband was a lifeguard. That's why I notice these things. I feel the extra excitement of a party in a novel space then adding water is a bit much. I'd prefer a bounce place party to a swim party. [b]And when my kids were small I stayed at the parties and got in the bounce houses with them. Because sometimes bigger kids like to knock the little ones down by jumping unpredictably.[/b] Then they get hurt and cry. [/quote]

Oh I know your type PERFECTLY. lol.[/quote]

Care to elaborate? You think enjoying a less dangerous party format and keeping little kids from getting smacked in the face by bounce house floor is weird?

Found the neglectful parent who doesn't mind crying preschoolers at birthday parties...

[Anonymous]

This was a party for a 3 year old from 11 to 1. The host family was very well off and they'd hired an expensive performer.

The kids were corralled on an outdoor deck from 11 to 12 during this performance, during which they were told not to leave and the gate was shut.

Meanwhile, down below the deck were tables filled with food and a bounce house just waiting.

The kids could not last the entire time of the performer and were hungry and begging for the bounce house.

It wasn't the worst party -- it just didn't feel very well thought out, and I thought forcing kids that age to sit through a performer wasn't ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A playground party for 5 y/os where the hosts thought that just the fact of being at a playground would be enough to keep them all engaged and happy for the duration of the party. I'm not saying that they needed professional entertainment, but it would have been nice if they'd organized some group games or provided sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and things like that.

For kids who love playgrounds I could see this lasting for hours. What went wrong? Was your child bored?

Every kid is different but I feel like this sort of parenting, where kids can't be bored and it's the parents' job to entertain, is sewing the demise of our society

[Anonymous]

Preschool home bday party. Extremely elaborate and you could tell the mom spent a long, long time planning and spent a lot of money. Honestly, it was out of a movie or something. She had hired various entertainers and activities that were on a schedule Which is great maybe for 6 and up. But she spent 75% of the party stressing out because the kids just wanted to run around or wanted to stay coloring their art project instead of moving on to the magic show. She had her daughter in tears multiple times from yelling at her, we overheard her screaming at her husband several times, and she just looked miserable. I mostly just felt bad for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A playground party for 5 y/os where the hosts thought that just the fact of being at a playground would be enough to keep them all engaged and happy for the duration of the party. I'm not saying that they needed professional entertainment, but it would have been nice if they'd organized some group games or provided sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and things like that.

For kids who love playgrounds I could see this lasting for hours. What went wrong? Was your child bored?

This was in NYC and with a group of kids who normally spend time on city playgrounds after school. Maybe they were disappointed that the party was just ice cream and cake at the playground? It was just a weird vibe that day and none of the kids were happy with it until one of the moms took over and got them playing interactive games. I think the host parents were counting on the fountains being on that day and they weren't, and the particular playground was small and did not have much equipment.

I've been to many playground parties in DC, some even at the very playground the kids play at for recess every day. They are never anything less than thrilled.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Honestly there shouldn’t be any pool parties for kids under like 8-9 years old. So many parents just drop off their kids who can’t swim. it’s truly unbelievable. But it’s also irresponsible to host a pool part for very young kids IMO. Just isn’t worth it.[/quote]

Pool parties make me nervous. A 6 year old died at a swimming birthday party at the same expensive indoor pool/fitness club where my oldest took his first swimming lessons. There were a lot of people in and around the pool and the girl wasn't noticed and quickly succumbed. She was alive when removed from the pool but didn't survive.[/quote]

Did they have a lifeguard?[/quote]

Yes. Possibly two. But younger people. There was a lawsuit. It wasn't a family that I knew. It was covered in the newspapers.

I've heard of at least one similar tragic situation at a kids' franchised swim school party.

My husband was a lifeguard. That's why I notice these things. I feel the extra excitement of a party in a novel space then adding water is a bit much. I'd prefer a bounce place party to a swim party. [b]And when my kids were small I stayed at the parties and got in the bounce houses with them. Because sometimes bigger kids like to knock the little ones down by jumping unpredictably.[/b] Then they get hurt and cry. [/quote]

Oh I know your type PERFECTLY. lol.[/quote]

Care to elaborate? You think enjoying a less dangerous party format and keeping little kids from getting smacked in the face by bounce house floor is weird?

Found the neglectful parent who doesn't mind crying preschoolers at birthday parties...[/quote]

DP but I have never seen a grown adult inside a bounce house and I think it would be a hazard? Bounce houses need to be regulated for safety but I don’t think that’s the way.

[Anonymous]

Science guy/magician came to somebody’s house and started setting explosive gases in fire. One spread up along the ceiling. Nothing worse happened but I would never let someone do that in my own house. I doubt he bothered to ask or even considered the potential consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A playground party for 5 y/os where the hosts thought that just the fact of being at a playground would be enough to keep them all engaged and happy for the duration of the party. I'm not saying that they needed professional entertainment, but it would have been nice if they'd organized some group games or provided sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and things like that.

For kids who love playgrounds I could see this lasting for hours. What went wrong? Was your child bored?

This was in NYC and with a group of kids who normally spend time on city playgrounds after school. Maybe they were disappointed that the party was just ice cream and cake at the playground? It was just a weird vibe that day and none of the kids were happy with it until one of the moms took over and got them playing interactive games. I think the host parents were counting on the fountains being on that day and they weren't, and the particular playground was small and did not have much equipment.

Because NYC kids are better than playground parties

Typical New York City parent. Go back to barycenter or whatever your NYC parenting website was.