Alan's first birthday party invitation

[lesliepear]

Alan got invited to a 3rd birthday party at Chuckie Cheese on the 17th for boy/girl twins in his daycare class.

I have few questions as we are new to this:

- How long are these parties usually?
- Do both parents stay or just one?
- What do people usually spend on gifts? I'm thinking of either books or somethings from Target with a gift receipt (because it is so close to xmas - I could unintentionally duplicate something)

I am also going to ask his teachers if his classmates have any favorite toys etc. I know if someone asked that about Alan, she'd reply Thomas the Tank Engine.

Comments

[livemockingbird.livejournal.com]

I think that parties are usually for parent to stay at unless otherwise advised. They generally last 1.5-2 hours.

As for the gift, I'd go for a gift certificate, too. It is a yucky time of year for that stuff. I think $10-15 ($20 if you know them well) is a good gift. Just remember when buying that it will all come back to you when it's time for Alan's birthdays.

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

I was figuring on gift with receipt not a gift card (3 year olds won't appreciate it alas) but perhaps I can think of something?

[chained2u2.livejournal.com]

How long-usually one to two hours. Neither parent is obligated to stay but one is good. Don't spend more than $15 on gifts. I have done $7 clearance gifts before. The big deal is the kids getting to play with each other (sort of) and the parents not having to do the prep or clean up. Get anything Alan wants for both the girl and boy. That age, they are pretty much into the same things.
dj

[samati.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd have to say that at least one parent should stay. There's no "birthday insurance" and even if you just hover in the background, the host parent will appriciate you being there. Besides, as a mommy, I don't leave my kid anywhere and I've never heard anything nice about parents who do. Not in this day and age. ONLY if the party was in my home (or thiers) and the parents and I were actually friends would I leave the Boy. Maybe.

As for toys. Three? A boy? Books. Not enough kids get books, IMO. Gosh, I am trying to remember the Boy's 3rd, a scant 3 years ago, lol. He LOVED dinosaurs and Dollar General sells really good, big ones for $1 each. You could buy ten and look like a hero!

[chained2u2.livejournal.com]

Age three, yes, I would stay hovering but not in the thick of things. I would probably have gotten another table and sat apart in case of being needed but not enough to distract or intrude unless necessary.

[caravanserai.livejournal.com]

Have you ever BEEN to Chuck E Cheese? You need about six adults to keep track of one child in that place. It's insane. Parties run a couple of hours. Expect the kids to be very wired by then :) Here birthday gifts run around $25 which is painful. The only way to find out is to ask.. or wait and see what other people give!

[catyak]

I'd keep the cost low. I went to one party where all the gifts were plastic bats, clubs, etc. that cost a few quid from the grocery store. I think we gave a plastic lunchbox full of stickers for that one. The parents liked ours best because it was good for travel and quiet. Books are good, several times I've given a sketchbook and something to draw with. Little cars, balls, that sort of thing are fine too. And it seems to usually be one parent who stays, but sometimes both.

--S