Themes, packages and crafts rule at elaborate kids birthday parties
A sheet cake in the backyard and burgers on the grill just aren’t cutting it these days. For many families, birthdays mean elaborate parties that include full meals that match the theme and expensive decorations.
Many mothers strive to host the most creative, the coolest and sometimes the most expensive party in their group of friends.
For many, the sweet 16 party has become an American tradition that involves renting a hall and throwing a wedding reception-like party. The TV shows aren’t exaggerating anything, either, said party planner Lori Morrison.
She’s been in the child birthday party business for 26 years and has seen the industry grow more extravagant. She’s also seen unspoken obligations grow as children expect big parties and guests arrive with thoughts of favors and big cakes being delivered.
The economy has scaled down many parents’ budgets, but she said the average child’s party costs about $500 for 16 children, while a sweet 16 affair can cost thousands of dollars, much like a mini-wedding. Sometimes, it’s not even all about the children getting what they want.
“There is competition among families. A lot of it is about the parents. Some of these kids are really more down to earth and the parent sways them,” Morrison said.
She got into the business when she moved to the Philadelphia area and was wowed by a birthday party that her son attended.
“We went to these unbelievable birthday parties. In Havertown, they had hired ponies and taken over the street and had a petting zoo in the other corner. It was extravagant,” she said.
Morrison opened Krafts 4 Kids and provides a craft activity and favors.
It’s also a must to have a theme for most parties, she said. Popular themes include princess parties, pirate invasions or sports teams.
Some companies send actors to a girls party dressed up in character, such as Cinderella or Snow White, and provide a dress-up segment and tea party.
Almost all parties these days are thrown outside of the home. Parents don’t want to clean up their house or have the burden of entertaining in their home, so they defer to kid-friendly places such as the YMCA to have a pool party, or facilities that offer blow-up jumping palaces or obstacle courses and take care of it all for busy moms.
Chuck E. Cheese’s offers a package that includes food and game tokens for $14 per child and an upgraded package for $19 per guest.
Morrison said that packages that include everything are attractive to parents because they are so busy and don’t want to dedicate time to party planning.
“Most of them are working and they can’t handle entertaining 16 kids for two hours, and they don’t have time to plan all the games and decorations,” she said.
Many mothers strive to host the most creative, the coolest and sometimes the most expensive party in their group of friends.
For many, the sweet 16 party has become an American tradition that involves renting a hall and throwing a wedding reception-like party. The TV shows aren’t exaggerating anything, either, said party planner Lori Morrison.
She’s been in the child birthday party business for 26 years and has seen the industry grow more extravagant. She’s also seen unspoken obligations grow as children expect big parties and guests arrive with thoughts of favors and big cakes being delivered.
The economy has scaled down many parents’ budgets, but she said the average child’s party costs about $500 for 16 children, while a sweet 16 affair can cost thousands of dollars, much like a mini-wedding. Sometimes, it’s not even all about the children getting what they want.
“There is competition among families. A lot of it is about the parents. Some of these kids are really more down to earth and the parent sways them,” Morrison said.
She got into the business when she moved to the Philadelphia area and was wowed by a birthday party that her son attended.
“We went to these unbelievable birthday parties. In Havertown, they had hired ponies and taken over the street and had a petting zoo in the other corner. It was extravagant,” she said.
Morrison opened Krafts 4 Kids and provides a craft activity and favors.
It’s also a must to have a theme for most parties, she said. Popular themes include princess parties, pirate invasions or sports teams.
Some companies send actors to a girls party dressed up in character, such as Cinderella or Snow White, and provide a dress-up segment and tea party.
Almost all parties these days are thrown outside of the home. Parents don’t want to clean up their house or have the burden of entertaining in their home, so they defer to kid-friendly places such as the YMCA to have a pool party, or facilities that offer blow-up jumping palaces or obstacle courses and take care of it all for busy moms.
Chuck E. Cheese’s offers a package that includes food and game tokens for $14 per child and an upgraded package for $19 per guest.
Morrison said that packages that include everything are attractive to parents because they are so busy and don’t want to dedicate time to party planning.
“Most of them are working and they can’t handle entertaining 16 kids for two hours, and they don’t have time to plan all the games and decorations,” she said.
