Asking Parents to Pay Admission to Party

I wouldn't hold a party somewhere if I couldn't cover the cost. I never feel like anyone should have to pay to come to an event I'm hosting. So I would find a way to pay for one parent per child and then put on the invite that it's $12 per additional guest.

Maybe find something a little cheaper for a 4 year olds party, because I know I wouldn't drop my 4 year old off at a zoo without staying. I would absolutely offer to pay my own way, but I would also expect the hostess to say it was covered, because that has happened to me 100% of the time.

At 4 yrs old, you cannot expect people to leave their child at a birthday party, especially at a zoo. Yes you have to pay for at least one parent to stay....but you already know that.

this question keeps coming up, and yours has a nuance. since the kids are so small, it seems to me as if you are feeling, probably correctly, that the parents will want to stay with them.
so while i do not feel that party-givers are obliged to pay for parents under most circumstances, in this one i think you need to have a party in which the parents can stay, and that means not a super-expensive one. zoos are great, but if you are having lots of kids with not a lot of herders, you many need to rethink it.
most parents would probably be fine with paying their own way, but if it's going to cause a lot of angst and hard feelings to set it up, just do something else.
4 year olds are very easy to please.
either have a lot of kids at a free venue, or just take 4 of them to the zoo.
khairete
S.

You invite = you pay. If you can't afford it, then change the venue so you can afford it.

I believe you should at least pay 1 parent admission. It would be a different story if the children were 6+ in age and old enough to be dropped off.

You can't ask a parent of a 4 yr old to leave them with 9 other children and 2 adults at a zoo. If you do, I bet you'll have a few bail out on your party when they realize the plan.

I think you already know the right thing to do when it pertains to invitations. Make sure your invitation states that admission will be paid for 1 parent and the party attendee.

I would never have a party of any kind, invite people and not pay 100% of the costs. You are asking them to YOUR party, they should not be inconvenienced with paying anything.

Have you considered scaling back the party to something you can afford? There is no way you can watch 10 children in a huge venue like a zoo, with all the hazards. It's already an overstimulating environment for young children, and then you add in the birthday, the gifts, whatever cake you are having, and having them separate from their parents. I think $27.50 per child is extremely expensive for 4 year olds anyway!

Children this age need some small play space (like a family room or back yard), extremely limited entertainment (they are not able to follow a lot of games, for example), and many of them don't even separate all that well from their parents except in the daily routine of a preschool - and even then, some of them don't do well. If they all want to run off to see different zoo animals and the parents are reduced to saying, "Stay here. Don't go look at zoo animals," it's not going to be too much fun for anyone.

I think there is great pressure on parents to "make memories" by holding parties at big venues, and then each successive parent has to "out-do" the last one by finding a new place. The bounce places and the McDonald's play spaces and the Chuck E. Cheeses and the zoos make a lot of money off this reality, but it's really not good for young kids or for the parents.

We followed the "age rule" (5 years old, 5 guests) and held parties at home until our son was about 9. Even then, it was candlepin bowling and 6 kids plus 2 adults to supervise. Everyone had a wonderful time, every time. Simple decor, simple "theme" (like putting out all his dinosaurs on the table), and simple games or crafts but with the emphasis on running around.

I think you have to give the type of party you can afford. You really can't go to people and say, "I'm paying for a party where you and I both know that I can't supervise your children, but you have to help subsidize it by paying your own way." No matter what your intent, that's how it will appear. For parents with several children, this sort of thing really adds up. I don't think you'll be pleased over the years when you keep getting hit up for birthday gifts and admission charges.

As a parent I always assumed if I wanted to stay somewhere where I would be paid for, I would pay. No hostess had to articulate that.

You may want to contact the zoo though. A lot of times when it is somewhere not really safe without more supervision they let the parents in free. Much easier than explaining how a four year old was eaten by a lion.

or you could do this.. invite HALF the amount of kids... and then you can pay for the adults... not sure that is feasible.. but it is something worth considering.. quality and not quantity... 10 kids is a lot to wrangle... even when parents are there.. a nice group of five might be nice and cozy... and too.. can a four year really spread her time between that many kids. you know, they have fun even with just one..
just something to consider..

good luck in whatever you decide to do.. :) happy birthday !!!!

Personally I think two adults is sufficient supervision for 10 four year olds. I often supervise that many children on my own. As long as all the children are self sufficient in the washroom they should be fine. If you really think the parents won't be comfortable with that ratio then recruit a couple more adults and pay for them to be supervisors. I would avoid asking the parents because if one comes they might all want to.

I'd have asked a couple of my close friends that had kids coming if they'd join the party and help supervise and pay their own way. If they are friends they know money is tight and they should offer anyway.

I think if you are asking parents to stay you need to pay for their admission. (FYI...I planned a skating party when my daughter was in kindergarten. Parents did not even stay to help their child get their skates on. It was shocking and eye opening to me.)

If you can't afford their admission, I would find something else to do or cut the guest list down to 5 children with 1 parent.

Totally agree with TF Plano, personally i think it is tacky to ask a parent to pay for admission to get into a bday party. If you cannot afford the zoo, look for another venue. If they have a park nearby, have the party at the park and then head to the zoo for a train ride or something.
good luck

I don't think asking should be a problem, just tell the truth and if the parent wants to be there they will find a way to get twelve dollars. I read the other posts though, are you asking the parents to go or are you expecting them to go? Then I'd pay.

Yes, parents pay their own way in.

Have a party you can afford both kids and parents. How about an at home party. Parents don't need to stay for that. I would never ask a parent to pay

Before the party, check with the parents to see if any of them have memberships. About half of the kids in my son's preschool class had memberships, so the parents got in free when we did our zoo party, and the other half of the parents could get in as guests of the members! Worked out really well for us :)

I agree with Mom2KCK.

I think you kind of you have to pay - but one parent is sufficient. Could you cut back elsewhere, save on another area of the party? (and check with zoo to see if they have a discounted rate for party supervision)

That being said, at parties where kids are old enough to be dropped say at a movie party (school age), but the parent wants to stay (maybe child isn't comfortable) - then I would expect the parents to pay for their own ticket.

I would word it clearly (child and one parent) to avoid confusion.

Good luck and have fun at the zoo :)

J.

Sorry - but when you invite someone? You pay. If you can't afford it? Either cut the guest list down or find another venue you can afford.

Does the Zoo have "memberships"?? I know our small, local Zoo does. Ask the parents if they have a membership so they can get admission.

Have you bothered to ask parents if they will be dropping off or staying? I realize 4 is young, however, it's still doable.

I would ask parents if they are dropping off or have memberships. If you can't afford it? Find another location.

Happy Birthday to your daughter!