Party Hardly

Again from the Australian Christian...

When Did We Go Past Pass The Parcel?

By : Ron Buckland

A recent article in the ‘Melbourne Age’ looked at what has happened to children’s birthday parties (one suspects it is not solely a Victorian development).  A recent poll by the parenting magazine ‘Melbourne's Child’ found that 47% of parents intend to bring in the professionals for their child’s next birthday. ‘An army of princesses, fairies, wizards, pirates, superheroes, DJs, face-painters and clowns are doing the rounds of suburbia each weekend for about $200 an appearance.  More lavish affairs costing up to $60,000 (!) are arranged by children’s event managers.’ If you find that figure unbelievable, Melissa Nixon, founder of Millie Melisse Children’s Celebrations said that her upmarket bashes for under-10s cost from $1,000 to $60,000 for a birthday spectacular with ferris wheels and acrobats.  The average is between $1,000 and $5,000, though ‘you do get a lot between $10,000 and $15,000.’ This trend towards such extravaganzas horrifies Kathy Walker, whose recent book ‘What’s The Hurry?’ emphasises the importance of giving children a childhood. She finds the booming children’s party industry exploitative and immoral. ‘To me, $50,000 parties are nauseating and they are about an adult perception of a designer party that is usually completely inappropriate for the age of the child.’ You have got to be kidding!  Kids need to be kids! Parents need to get a life and stop living in via their kids!

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