How do people celebrate kids' birthdays these days?

[Buenchico]

Knowing that Sherrardk's family has an 11th birthday around now, I was wondering how people celebrate youngsters' birthdays these days. (The last time I was asked to help with an 11-year-old's birthday was 15 years ago. Young James opted to celebrate by taking a day boat out on the river, from Ely, so that he could show off to his Mum what a good 'captain' he was!).

When I was young (yes, when I had a pet dinosaur!), I had traditional birthday parties (with games, jelly, etc) up until around the age of 9 or 10 and then, as I recall, nothing (other than a birthday cake and candles) up until the age of 14 (when it was a few friends round to our house for a limited amount of booze!).

More recently, there seemed to be a time when younger kids had a party at McDonalds (or similar), while those who were slightly older went ten pin bowling or go-karting.

These days, I'm totally out of touch!

So, does anyone know how families currently celebrate their children's birthdays? Or does anyone have any interesting memories of their own childhood birthdays (or of their children's birthdays)?

[maggiebee]

My 13 year old grandson and 5 of his friends went to the indoor BMX track then had a McDonalds. 10 year old had a "Tubing" party - whizzing down a hill on large inflated tyres - certainly tyred them out (pardon the pun) followed by the inevitable McDonalds. 6 year old grandaughter had a traditional party in a local hall with games and lots to eat and drink. Found out none of the young ones knew the traditional games so spent 2 hours teaching them farmers in his den etc. 3 year old had a wee family party at home!

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your post, Redcrx. I'm glad that your little lad had such a great day.

Thanks as well, Maggie. I don't seem to see so many kids' parties in McDonalds as I used to, so I thought that they might have gone out of fashion. Apparently not!

[redcrx]

thanks, Chris, he did have a great day (well apart from the drive home when we wouldnt let him nod off in car, aparently that ruined his day lol) and never once asked for a party. Next year he will get a party with 30 kids and some entertainment and his sister wont. Once they get to about 10 i expect parties will have changed to a couple of friends and an activity day or something lol

[wolf63]

My 'twins' didn't get a party for their birthday on the 29th of June - they were 6 years old - hitting middle age in the cat world.

Bringing up human children seems much too stressful.

;-)

[Buenchico]

Thanks again, Redcrx.

Wolf:
I've never known when my cats birthdays have been. (One came from a rescue centre. The others have simply turned up on my doorstep!). So they always get salmon on MY birthday ;-)

[funnygirl]

When my boys were younger we had parties at home with the usual jelly and icecream.
As they got older, the venue was Mcdonalds or Pizza Hut.
For their 21st they each got a party held at home.

Now days we just go out for meals.

[Buenchico]

Thank you, Funnygirl, but don't mention 21st birthdays to me!

I had to return to college, at the end of the Easter vacation, on my 21st birthday. As I got on the train, my mother pushed a substantial amount of money into my hand and said "Have a great time with your mates tonight".

But when I got to college I found that half of my friends had arrived back early and were already too p!ssed to be able to drink any more (even though I was paying!). The other half arrived back after 'closing time'. So my 21st birthday celebration consisted of having one drink with a guy who I hardly knew (and I didn't particularly like) in the college bar :(