family

Are These Children's Birthday Party Games A Thing Of The Past?

Image by Georg H. from Pixabay

Modern children are snubbing games of pass the parcel and jelly and ice cream, in favour of professional DJ’s, posh restaurants and sushi platters.

What were once considered fun factors for a child’s birthday bash, including serving crisps in bowls (26 percent), ham sandwiches (25 percent), cheese and pineapple hedgehogs (22 percent) and party hats (19 percent) - are now considered old fashioned and outdated.

Instead, today’s youngsters are demanding private cinema screenings (7 percent), professional photographers (9 percent), wall climbing (22 percent) and Lazer Quest (25 percent)

One in twenty parents (5 percent) have ordered a sushi platter to keep their kids happy, while pizzas (45 percent) and burgers (35 percent) are on the menu - leaving rice crispy cakes (29 percent) and sausage rolls (33 percent) on the list of party foods of old.

Almost nine in ten (89 percent) of parents polled said hosting kids' birthday parties has become extremely competitive, with 57 percent saying there is more pressure than ever to throw the perfect party.

In fact, according to the study the average birthday now costs £524, including decorations, venue hire, food, gift bags and entertainment.

Overall, one in ten parents said they wouldn’t even consider dressing up as a fictional character, while nine percent thought it was inappropriate to offer wine or beer to parents at the party.

Almost half (45 percent) of parents said trying to organise a birthday party was one of the most stressful things they have done, with the kids having high expectations (26 percent), different food requirements and allergies (38 percent) and having to invite their whole class (43 percent) all proving a nightmare.

So much so that one in three (36 percent) admit they have had a real nightmare while trying to organise their child’s party.

Stephen Wilson, CEO at Oxygen Activeplay, who commissioned the research said:
“It’s clear that parents are passionate about throwing their children fun and entertaining parties that they will remember forever. However, it seems that, along with navigating changing tastes, there are numerous pressures that go alongside organising a fantastic party.

“Throwing the ultimate modern birthday party doesn’t need to be stressful though! Finding a place that has multiple activities to keep the children entertained is a great way to cut the pressure and tick the boxes on what kids want to do.

“Our team of dedicated party hosts have got all the bases covered, from food and activities to music and balloons, so everyone can just focus on the special day and having some big-time fun”.

Find out more about Oxygen’s party packages, or book at: https://oxygenactiveplay.co.uk/

20 PARTY TRADITIONS WHICH HAVE FALLEN OUT OF FAVOUR WITH MODERN KIDS

1. Musical Chairs 36%
2. Hiring a clown 35%
3. Pin the Tail on the Donkey 34%
4. Sausage rolls 33%
5. Rice crispy cakes 29%
6. Pass the Parcel 28%
7. Sausages on sticks 28%
8. Crisps in bowls 26%
9. Sleeping Lions 25%
10. Hiring a magician 25%
11. Ham sandwiches 25%
12. Fairy cakes 23%
13. Cheese and pineapple hedgehogs 22%
14. Musical Statues 22%
15. Hosting the party at home 21%
16. Big bottles of fizzy pop 20%
17. Ice-cream and jelly 20%
18. Party hats 19%
19. Face painting 13%
20. Hiring a village or church hall 13%

20 MODERN DAY KIDS PARTY TRADITIONS

1. Soft play centres 57%
2. Trampolining 50%
3. Ordering pizzas 45%
4. Bouncy castle 36%
5. Going for Burgers 35%
6. Theme parks 29%
7. Inflatable assault courses 26%
8. Laser Quest 26%
9. Go Karting 24%
10. Ten-pin bowling 23%
11. Swimming 22%
12. Wall climbing 22%
13. Hiring a restaurant 16%
14. Hired a professional DJ 14%
15. Ice skating 12%
16.High rope course 11%
17. Professional photographer 9%
18. Private cinema screenings 7%
19. Pottery classes 5%
20. Sushi platters 5%