Home from the worst birthday party EVER

[HelenePA]

Okay maybe not ever but the worst one I've been too! Why would you have your childs birthday party at home and have NOTHING and I do mean NOTHING for the other kids who are coming to do? Nada zip zilch! There were about 15 kids there in a yard with nothing to do.. its 90+* out. It didn't take long for all the kids to start complaining they were bored and I honestly can't blame them!! There were no toys in the yard just some chair and a table. We came home and got the kids toys to play with! We brought scooters, chalk, big trucks, a frisbee (sp?) and some other stuff. I hope I didn't offend the mom but she really thought they'd want to run around for 3 hours in the yard for his party.. this was her "plan"

 

[Ceila]

Okay maybe not ever but the worst one I've been too! Why would you have your childs birthday party at home and have NOTHING and I do mean NOTHING for the other kids who are coming to do? Nada zip zilch! There were about 15 kids there in a yard with nothing to do.. its 90+* out. It didn't take long for all the kids to start complaining they were bored and I honestly can't blame them!! There were no toys in the yard just some chair and a table. We came home and got the kids toys to play with! We brought scooters, chalk, big trucks, a frisbee (sp?) and some other stuff. I hope I didn't offend the mom but she really thought they'd want to run around for 3 hours in the yard for his party.. this was her "plan"

Wow, that's one clueless mom! How old were the kids? Even just turning on a sprinkler would have helped.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

If the cops didn't have to be called it falls short of the worst birthday party ever. Stinky, boring, but not the worst.

 

[HelenePA]

The kids were 7,8,9 hot and boring was the perfect description for it!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

My son got invited once to a "Superhero" birthday party. All the kids were asked to come in costume. I had a tough time finding a costume in June (the invite didn't give me time enough to order online).

The day of the party the kids were asked to go in the backyard, around, not through the house. The father was in back with a question mark drawn on a t-shirt. He told the kids to chase him. The yard was bare, no trees, etc. It took all of 2 minutes to tackle him.

The father played this game until the kids didn't want to chase him anymore. lol That took all of 15 minutes. That left about 2 hours to stand around.

Cake was served a hour earlier than planned. The kids were a sticky mess, but the parents did not allow any kids in the house to wash up or go to the bathroom.

Of course my kid was one who had to go so I told the mom we would have leave if he couldn't use the bathroom. I think she was relieved when everyone left early. They should have called the party a present collection rather than a party. The parents even asked if it would be okay for the birthday boy to open his presents later so nothing would get broken or go missing.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Okay maybe not ever but the worst one I've been too! Why would you have your childs birthday party at home and have NOTHING and I do mean NOTHING for the other kids who are coming to do? Nada zip zilch! There were about 15 kids there in a yard with nothing to do.. its 90+* out. It didn't take long for all the kids to start complaining they were bored and I honestly can't blame them!! There were no toys in the yard just some chair and a table. We came home and got the kids toys to play with! We brought scooters, chalk, big trucks, a frisbee (sp?) and some other stuff. I hope I didn't offend the mom but she really thought they'd want to run around for 3 hours in the yard for his party.. this was her "plan"

The kids were 7,8,9 hot and boring was the perfect description for it!

Sorry, but I have to ask, what was wrong with the kids?

15 7,8 and 9 year olds could not come up with anything to do.


Last Saturday I had a big BBQ for my BF's birthday. We had a bunch of kids here of various ages. It never occured to me to come up with things to keep them busy. I just provided food, drinks and music.

The kids did what kids do, they ate, drank, danced and played. They ran around for hours playing tag, hot peas and butter, hide and seek and freeze tag....

Wow, 15 kids outside together and not one could come up with something do.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Sorry, but I have to ask, what was wrong with the kids?

15 7,8 and 9 year olds could not come up with anything to do.


Last Saturday I had a big BBQ for my BF's birthday. We had a bunch of kids here of various ages. It never occured to me to come up with things to keep them busy. I just provided food, drinks and music.

The kids did what kids do, they ate, drank, danced and played. They ran around for hours playing tag, hot peas and butter, hide and seek and freeze tag....

Wow, 15 kids outside together and not one could come up with something do.

If you host a child's birthday party, then yes indeed, it is YOUR responsibility to have games and activities PLANNED for them to do! A birthday party is different than a BBQ. There is an expectation at a birthday party that the kids will have things planned for them to do. It is not a free for all.

 

[hulagirl87]

.

The kids did what kids do, they ate, drank, danced and played. They ran around for hours playing tag, hot peas and butter, hide and seek and freeze tag....

What is hot peas and butter? I read this post to DH and we both had this face

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Sorry, but I have to ask, what was wrong with the kids?

15 7,8 and 9 year olds could not come up with anything to do.


Last Saturday I had a big BBQ for my BF's birthday. We had a bunch of kids here of various ages. It never occured to me to come up with things to keep them busy. I just provided food, drinks and music.

The kids did what kids do, they ate, drank, danced and played. They ran around for hours playing tag, hot peas and butter, hide and seek and freeze tag....

Wow, 15 kids outside together and not one could come up with something do.

While I do think it's the responsibility of the host family to provide some form of entertainment, I do agree... what's going on with these kids that they can't find something to do? A bunch of my friends and I growing up spent endless summer days making up wacky things to do, or playing traditional games such as tag or hide-n-seek.

 

[HelenePA]

They played tag for an 1/2 hour it was hot, no shade in the yard at all. There was no place for hide and seek because there was nowhere to hide it was a square of fenced in grass. No even a rock. My kids have no problem playing with anything and having fun with it but there was nothing besides grass. I talked to her earlier in the week she said she had water guns and water balloons for them to have but they were mia at the party in the end after we brought the scooters and stuff everyone had a good time ;-) music would have been a great idea! They would have danced and had fun

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

IMO There's a fine line between absolutely nothing but a bare backyard in 90 degrees and re-creating Disneyworld. I think this family crossed it. But without considering this particular party, it does worry me if we've gotten to the point where 15 kids can't figure out a way to entertain themselves. (Not that you'd necessarily want them to without at least checking up once in awhile ......)

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Of course my kid was one who had to go so I told the mom we would have leave if he couldn't use the bathroom.

That's just crazy and rude! Don't host parties if your "guests" will not be able to use the restroom. I'm sure you won't be attending next year's festivities!

As for OP, I agree that children's birthday parties need something to keep them busy. Kids can play outside, but give them something to work with. Sounds like this backyard was just fenced in grass. All they needed was some cheap squirt guns, water balloons and some dollar store junk toys and they would have probably been happy.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Maybe the folks that wouldn't let anyone in to use the bathroom were hoarders.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Maybe the folks that wouldn't let anyone in to use the bathroom were hoarders.

Ooh maybe! She did say nobody was allowed in the house at all.

 

[maxiesmom]

The next thing that should have been said was 'So what patch of lawn do you want my child to use as his toilet?"

Some people are so clueless.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I just returned from a similar situation last weekend...
A reunion, in triple digit heat index, with absolutely NOTHING kid friendly planned AT ALL.

As a matter of fact, the dinner/picnic was scheduled to last for a full four and a half hours, in triple digit heat, NO shade whatsoever.... My son was almost having a heat stroke... I helped cool him down with some cold water, and we just left and went back to our hotel.

All he wanted to do was play with his buddies and have fun.
He was bright, scarlet, red, overheated, and near tears.....

One can sit and reminisce and talk about how they passed the time, 'what's a matter with kids today', etc... But, that doesn't change the reality that a large group of kids, fenced in, with no shade, and NOTHING to do is just one, miserable, BAD, idea.

I agree with you OP!!!!

Vent away!!!!!

 

[disneyjunkie]

What is hot peas and butter? I read this post to DH and we both had this face

It's a hidding game. The person who is IT hides an object. When he is ready, he calls out "Hot peas and butter, come get your supper!" Everyone runs around trying to find the object. As the others search, the person that is IT will say if you're hot (close to the object) or cold (far from the object). The person that finds the object is IT.

Simply but fun game

 

[minkydog]

That's just crazy and rude! Don't host parties if your "guests" will not be able to use the restroom. I'm sure you won't be attending next year's festivities!

As for OP, I agree that children's birthday parties need something to keep them busy. Kids can play outside, but give them something to work with. Sounds like this backyard was just fenced in grass. All they needed was some cheap squirt guns, water balloons and some dollar store junk toys and they would have probably been happy.

I agree. It's ridiculous to expect 15 young kids to just run around in 90 degree heat for 3 hours. Would you want your kids to be forced outside in that heat? Its just asking for some heat exhaustion.

In our family we don't "do" parties away from home. I loved to plan kids' parties, so we always had them in the backyard. Everyone in the neighborhood looked forward to our parties because we always had crafts and games and music. Never had a blow-up thingy or ponies--never needed them. I always kept the parties to 2 hours. Leave 'em wanting more, that's my motto. Sure my house was a mess when they got through, but it wasn't awful.

With even a little bit of planning, anyone can have a great home party. But you have to provide some form of entertainment--dress ups, water guns, a sprinkler, sheets and clothespins to make forts by the fence, markers and paper. Heck, we even broke out "Pin the tail on the donkey" and "Duck, duck, goose." I miss those parties It's not to same with teens. Now it's pizza and a horror movie, followed by a same-sex sleepover.

 

[moon]

Sorry, but I have to ask, what was wrong with the kids?

15 7,8 and 9 year olds could not come up with anything to do.


Last Saturday I had a big BBQ for my BF's birthday. We had a bunch of kids here of various ages. It never occured to me to come up with things to keep them busy. I just provided food, drinks and music.

The kids did what kids do, they ate, drank, danced and played. They ran around for hours playing tag, hot peas and butter, hide and seek and freeze tag....

Wow, 15 kids outside together and not one could come up with something do.

ITA. I don't have kids, but when I was little most birthday parties were about cake and soft drinks at someones backyard. No entertainent, clowns etc. We (the children) would come up with stuff to do and always managed to have a good time.

Things have surely changed!

 

[HelenePA]

I just returned from a similar situation last weekend...
A reunion, in triple digit heat index, with absolutely NOTHING kid friendly planned AT ALL.

As a matter of fact, the dinner/picnic was scheduled to last for a full four and a half hours, in triple digit heat, NO shade whatsoever.... My son was almost having a heat stroke... I helped cool him down with some cold water, and we just left and went back to our hotel.

All he wanted to do was play with his buddies and have fun.
He was bright, scarlet, red, overheated, and near tears.....

One can sit and reminisce and talk about how they passed the time, 'what's a matter with kids today', etc... But, that doesn't change the reality that a large group of kids, fenced in, with no shade, and NOTHING to do is just one, miserable, BAD, idea.

I agree with you OP!!!!

Vent away!!!!!

My brother is having a 4th of July party tomorrow. He doesn't have kids. I dont expect him to have anything to keep them occupied tomorrow. I plan on bringing some of their stuff and yesterday we went out and bought silly string and glow sticks for them to play with. I just can not stress that there was nothing in this yard to make you even think a child lived there besides the birthday table cloth on the table. Not a matchbox car, not a bike, there was nothing. I wasn't expecting a full on birthday party but music would have been nice, sidewalk chalk, I mean something. anything even a stick to keep them busy for 3 hours. Heck even a ball. In the end the kids had fun. It had a tough start but they came home happy.

ETA maybe it was the first time she hosted a party with kids not just family? I'm not sure. She was inside most of the time doing something.. what I'm not sure. All of us parents were outside. I couldn't go in since one of my kids, the youngest there is 1 (and yes he was invited) It was just odd. I've been at home birthday parties before. The kids always had a blast. This time was just different. It was strange.