would you pay $8 to attend a 3 year old party instead of bringing gift?

[lizzymcfizzy]

HI

My DD loves going to our local playcentre (hype), it has a huge play area and jumping castles and so on.

They do birthday parties and I would have to buy their food platters but we can bring our own cake.

Thing is people will still have to pay to come in - $7 for an under 3 kids and $1 per adult. I couldn't afford to pay for them myself.

Do you think this is too much to ask? I was thinking I could tell people not to bring a present instead. then would DD be dissapointed at lack of gifts?


I am going to be due for baby number very close to DD1s birthday (9th May) so will be having it about a fortnight early but will still be heavily preganant so thats why I am looking at the easiest option possible.

Any thoughts would be great. I know an at home party is an 'easy' option but even with family help cleanup and organise it can still be time consuming and I don't know if I have the energy for it all.

TIA!
Liz

[Nowhere]

I would be happy to pay for DD to go to another chlds party, But I would also buy them a small gift even if it was just a lttle thing if it was on a tight week.

[crazymuma]

I agree I wouldn't hesitate to pay for my kids and myself but I would also take a little gift.

Don't be stressed about asking people to pay - these days not many can afford to put on a birthday party like that

[JasmineLouise]

It wouldn't bother me, provided i was told about the entry fee before the day.

I think you are doing the right thing by informing people beforehand and stating the entry fee is in lieu of a present. I would personally still bring a gift regardless.

Hope she has a wonderful birthday party :)

[our3boys]

i would pay for my child to get in and buy a gift also i think it is not to much to ask at all.

[MimiGrace]

it wouldn't bother me, provided i was told in advance. I'm not sure if i would still buy a present if the invite said not to (probably not unless it was a very close family friend type situation)

(and if she doesn't get a lot of presents, i'm sure she won't be bothered. They haven't come to associate birthdays with presents at her age yet :p)

[MummaFug]

I ticked YES BUT ..

If someone wanted me to pay $8 for a party - I would STILL buy a present for the child.

I think it is perfectly fine to ask people to pay entrance to a fun centre. If you provide food and drinks - then I think it is not a problem.

[Billy]

I ticked YES BUT ..

If someone wanted me to pay $8 for a party - I would STILL buy a present for the child.

I think it is perfectly fine to ask people to pay entrance to a fun centre. If you provide food and drinks - then I think it is not a problem.

:iagree:

[JabberJaw]

I would. I would still give a gift too. People know times are pretty hard at the moment anyhow, so i assume most people would not have a problem with it.

[meggs]

I would pay the $8 plus buy a pressie....

Im in the same position as you lizzy! Im thinking of just doing cake at a park with a few close friends...

[kimbo]

It wouldn't bother me, provided i was told about the entry fee before the day.

I think you are doing the right thing by informing people beforehand and stating the entry fee is in lieu of a present. I would personally still bring a gift regardless.

Hope she has a wonderful birthday party :)

:iagree: Same here :)

[TripleTime]

Id be happy to pay, providing i was told when the invites went out. I would still by a present, just adjust how much id spent on the present.

[ElizaDoLittle]

I am in maitland too Lizzy and I got an email the other day saying that Hype was moving away from the child orientated play and expanding the adults gym, even taking down half the climbng gym and no more jumping castles. It would be simply a creche for the kids of adults going to the gym section. Our family was shattered! especially with the new gym in town, why on earth would they do it?? and bugalugs has closed and play cafe leaves a lot to be desired...
SO better check when that all happens, it may not be a party option anymore. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news :o

[OJandMe]

I would. I would still give a gift too. People know times are pretty hard at the moment anyhow, so i assume most people would not have a problem with it.

:iagree:

[JosieJo]

Yep I am with the others I'd pay but still get a small gift - maybe just a colouring in book or something - but definitely something :-)
I would be happy with that as long as it was on the invite something like "Please pay your own entry fee but no present required" (and then I would feel happier that you weren't 'expecting' both, but I would still do it if that makes sense). And also those that are a bit short of money wouldn't feel obliged.

[TripleTime]

I am in maitland too Lizzy and I got an email the other day saying that Hype was moving away from the child orientated play and expanding the adults gym, even taking down half the climbng gym and no more jumping castles. It would be simply a creche for the kids of adults going to the gym section. Our family was shattered! especially with the new gym in town, why on earth would they do it?? and bugalugs has closed and play cafe leaves a lot to be desired...
SO better check when that all happens, it may not be a party option anymore. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news :o


There is a new one in Gateshead, if you ever want to go for a drive.

[lizzymcfizzy]

I am in maitland too Lizzy and I got an email the other day saying that Hype was moving away from the child orientated play and expanding the adults gym, even taking down half the climbng gym and no more jumping castles. It would be simply a creche for the kids of adults going to the gym section. Our family was shattered! especially with the new gym in town, why on earth would they do it?? and bugalugs has closed and play cafe leaves a lot to be desired...
SO better check when that all happens, it may not be a party option anymore. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news :o

thanks, I got that email too. Turns out it was the Toronto centre that is doing that, not rutherford :)

thanks anwyay :D

I'm glad you read it that way too, I didn't keep the email and we visited hype the other day and I mentioned it and found out it was about Toronto. I'm positive they didn't say that in the email! silly gooses, cutting off their own profit.

[Ana Gram]

Sure, and I'd be the odd one out and not bring a present. I figure that the child would get plenty of presents anyway.

[Mummyoftwo86]

I would be more than happy to pay and bring a gift :D

[beaniebabez]

I would pay for my child to get in to the playcentre and I would also buy a gift.

[Luna Lovegood]

I think it is a great idea-

1. It's fun, and your DD will have a great day with her friends, and you will have a great day without worrying about money.

2. It's a good lesson that some of the best gifts you can get are not material items.

3. It's great for the environment- no wrapping paper, no toy packaging, no toys being thrown away in a year when she is bored with them.

Personally I am a big fan of 'experience' gifts like play centers, zoo's, ect.

[Pinkzy]

I would have no problem at all with paying the $8 as long as this was specified on the party invitation. I'd also buy a small gift too...I mean I'd probably spend $15-20 on a present anyway so I'd just deduct the $8 from that :) Wouldn't see it as a problem at all myself :D

[MummaBear03]

For a child that young I would buy something small as a gift still. For an older child who understood it's one or the other I would not buy a gift. DD isn't getting gifts this year, we're going to the aquarium and she's setting up a donation box for the aquarium and for coral bleaching research instead of presents, but she's turning 7 and understands that her decision will mean no presents. I think for a very young child there could be disappointment. But then it depends on the child, too. DD hardly even noticed her presents because it was just all great fun having her friends at the park playing together with her.

[Theophania]

I voted no, but that is because I would pay to attend and buy a gift also :)

[twotrunks]

I would happily pay the entrance fee, and bring a gift too. Even if you word it as "join us for a play at such n such" rather than an "official" party invite, which could be viewed as a paid for invite IYKWIM.

However at that age I don't think parties are needed. Being heavily pg, i would just do a small family cake, or even invite 1 special frined for a play and cake. No need to do a big production, you will have enough of them requested once they get to school :)

TT