Are kids' birthday parties getting out of hand?

I think they've gotten way out of hand. In my day, it was a party at home with party hats, some pin the tail on the donkey, and cake and ice cream. Now, you're considered cheap if you don't at least take a whole gaggle of kids out to some expensive activity. It's another example of our over indulgent society.

Everyone wants to be "original"... they don't want to have the same McD's party or bowling party or Pizza Hut party that many other kids have already had. Parents drive themselves insane trying to have "the best" party, only to be topped by another family the very next Saturday, it seems. In our town, there just aren't enough "venues" to have original parties anymore. Everything's been done, so people are either having parties out of town or are slowly reverting back to home parties (which I'm actually glad to see). The stretch limo thing disgusts me on so many levels. I heard about kids' parents renting them a limo for 6th grade graduation here and little girls are now getting fancy dresses to graduate from kindergarten. WHAT are they learning from this? At one party my younger daughter had, I baked and served the birthday cake, along with vanilla ice cream. There were only 4 girls at the party, including my daughter, and 2 of the guests told me, point blank, "oh... we don't eat REGULAR cake... we thought it would be ice cream cake." Trying to find an ice cream cake in my town at the end of October is impossible -- the only place to get them is DQ and they close for the winter in early October. The two of them ended up just eating bowls of ice cream and we had a LOT of leftover cake. I would be upset if one of my daughters acted that way in someone's home. The party that I consider my biggest horror story involved an invitation my older daughter received when she was maybe 7 or 8. She was invited to a "Sailor Moon" theme party (it was a very hot kids program at that time!). Here's the thing -- the children had to arrive in full costume and each child was TOLD what character they had to be. It specified, right in the invitation, that NO ONE was to show up dressed as Sailor Moon because ONLY the birthday girl would be Sailor Moon. One boy was hand-picked to be the male character (I forget the name) and it was a boy that the birthday girl had a "crush" on. My daughter was "assigned" to be Sailor Venus. My reaction was, naturally, "WHAT is a Sailor Venus?!" LOL We managed to find the program on tv and I saw the color scheme and all and I tried my best. My daughter and I found a picture of her recently, dressed to go to that party, and she said, "You know Mom, I remember that. It wasn't much fun at the party because we were constantly told what to do... but you tried really hard on my costume and I was happy about that part." I truly believe that these over-orchestrated events take the simple FUN out of having a birthday party!

I really think that these types of elaborate parties have gotten way out of hand. I think it sends the wrong message to children. The MTV show "Sweet Sixteen" is an awful example of excess, too, and I hate that it's on all the time and kids see it and want to emulate it.

Yup, I'm convinced that the parties are not actually for the children anymore, they are rather for the adult, who has some inner need to give the impression of grandeur and importance. Celebration of their child's birth and the joy of having the child, has long been forgotten by the adult. In exchange, the adult is enjoying mastermind and orchastrating a big show, in hopes of being viewed as one of importnace and popularity. I find it repulsive and actually insulting to the child. Of course the child, being a child, is marveled by the wonderment, and grows up with the wrong set of values. Seems to me, that a mother who might say, "I'm so glad you were born that I want to go to the kitchen a make a cake for you, to celebrate the day God gave you to me" or "lets invite a few of your close friends over to celebrate the day you were born, I'll bake a cake and we will play games and remember happy times" has more respect for her child than one who plans these elabore events which are nothing more than narsastic shows! Okay, I'm off the soap box now! I better run and start making some phone calls, I have booked Justin Timberlake for my daughter's birthday party next Saturday, and I still have some details to iron out! Hope to see you there!

I think it is getting way out of hand. What ever happened to FUN birthday parties where all the kids just had a blast? Heck with all these expensive themed aprties that cost parents so much money and time. My kids always enjoyed their parties even if we did have it about one of their favorite things. Do the kids really care how expensive it is?

i love birthday partieS! i know im only 15.. but i still get them!! haa! im not spoiledor anythng.. i just want somthing where i get to see mi whole family!!! wow.... lol

Bong didn't have a party this year, the extra money went a long way towards his new bike so he had a lot of extra presents, he seemed perfectly happy and as he didn't ask for a party it worked out better for him really.

I could not agree more with that feeling that parties are getting out of hand! I have always wondered if was being a horrible mom for not throwing a party for my kids. But when I have seven children, inviting more kids that would expect more would cost way too much! Party baggies, decorations, larger cake (as if the cake we have to have isn't large enough), games, snack foods, and much more. Why go through all that? This past Halloween, my kids wanted a party. We gave in and threw a party. And I couldn't help but be upset that a parent that came wanted to tell me that she was taking her kids to another party after ours that she went to every year because they have hay rides and corn mazes. Umm, yeah, that's nice. So if you want to go, then go! Don't let me stop you. I like the simple things in life. Did I say this, no. I was nice. But I really wanted to speak my mind and ask her if she really thought if I gave a crap! That does not mean that I am going to try to out-do anyone. This year again, if the kids want to throw a party because they are too old to trick or treat, that's fine. But I am not going to go all out and try to be better than anyone else. It is a gathering to have friends and family. Not a contest. So, for my kids birthdays. They get a cake, a present, and their siblings and parents all around them singing happy birthday so the candles can be blown out. That's it! And you know...they seem like perfectly happy kids to me!

Its kinda difficult as a lot of the rich kids get extravagant parties and the kids who cant affoird it sometimes really pressurize their parents for one. Also some families think that it is a good chance to show off! I still loved the parties with just a few friends and more games and food than anything extravagant. We'd all go back laughing till our sides split!!

Yep, I have met a few parents that wanted to out do the other kids B-day party. That one with the 2 hours gift opening, I think I was there LOL. It's sad, B-day is a celebration of your child's birth, not an opportunity to out do the Jones. Some people are just too superficial.

I agree. I think that people are teaching their children to be selfish and materialistic. My children would never be allowed to attend something like that.

What are kids going to have to look forward to when they grow up. they have done everything as a child. I think this is just plain silly.

Some parents do go way out of control when it comes to their child's birtday. It's outrageous and unneeded. When I was little my mom used to give me a birthday party at the local park. She'd invite people she knew and their kids. I was allowed to invite only one person from school. We'd all play, eat cake and icecream, then open presents. After I opened all my gifts mom would hand out the 'gift bags' she made for the kids that came. They were filled with candy and cheap dollar store toys. It was cool, because we were all kids. Who cared? The guests just loved the fact that they got stuff too.

I think they're getting way out of hand. When I was little, half of the kids didn't even have one, if they did it was usually a cake, a picnic table with crepe paper streamers, a couple bottles of Faygo, and some ice cream.

Yes, I really think they are. My three year old daughter was in a total panic because she didn't think any of her friends would show to her party. Her father and I actually had a nice long conversation about how much parties have changed since we were kids. What is up with party favors???? I spent more the favors than I did on anything else. What ever happened to kids just coming and hanging out and dancing an playing games. What is up with these themes.

Your right, people do get out of hand for their childrens parties. Parents need to remember that it is not about how much gifts they get or if the theme is right , it should be about showing love to the child and letting them know that this is an important day because the child came into our world that day,not that child has an excessive or extravagent party.

Oh man, I remembered my kids' birthday was so fun, but also so messy. They were playing hard and wild, but can't help it. I love them so much that I will throw another party like that for them. They will turn 4 next year, and I can't wait to throw a big party for them.

Actually I rad the article yesterday, I think it also mentioned a child be maulled by a cougar or panther that someone hired to come to the party. When my son was little, I was a single Mom, our parties were simple...he played hockey, so we went for an open skate at the ice rink, followed by a pizza party sleep-over. Hectic -yes, over the top - no. When he got older, he started going to these Sweet 16 birthday parties, most of his friends were very well-off, gift wise he could not compete. So we frequently made special personalized gifts, which the young ladies loved since they were personalized and very one of a kind. Some of the parties were formal affairs where the girls wore gown and the boys wore a tux, catered in halls, I saw that and shuddered, glad I had a son and not a daughter. I wonder how people will top these parties when these kids get married. It is over the top.

I'm 38 yrs old, and I didn't have my real official BD party until I was 15. Until then and after that it was just a family event. With my two children ages 6 and 9 it has remained a family event. I see so often how a BD is a bigger event than Christmas morning. (Not to mention the fact of younger kids tossing some gift aside because it's clothing, etc. or saying "is that all???", "what else?".

Teenagers birthday parties are out of control. Have you ever seen my Super Sweet Sixteen on MTV? There are loads of rich, spoiled kids who just stomp their feet and get high-level entertainers, $70,000 cars and everything else that they want. When I have kids and if I ever have a lot of money, I would teach my kids the value of a dollar.