Birthday party...do you let the kid decide...

For a 5 year old do you give them complete autonomy over where to have a Birthday party? Within reason, I mean. I had one thing in mind and he has another. It's tough to tell whether there will be a price difference b/c that depends on how many people RSVP yes. I think he will love my idea but he is not picturing it b/c he has not been to a party like it. So, he wants a place where he goes to a lot of parties. I want him to look forward to it and with my option I am not sure if he really will.

Re: Birthday party...do you let the kid decide...

Have you met a 5 year old? They can be little dictators! They are still the kid that threw themselves on the floor when you put the ketchup in the wrong spot on their plate. Sure they've matured but give up control to the little megalomaniacs? Never!

I ask for input with what kind of thing they want to do but I'm the one who decides. I do try to do the things they want within reason. For any conflicts, I'd say let's try it at x & if you want it at y, then we could try that next year. In a year's time, they'll be on to something else.

They also can change their mind daily. I remember being told they wanted a movie party. Then they went to a pet party, & wanted a pet party. Then a bouce party, the a plastercraft part, then a make your own pizza party, then one at someone's house. It's like when they're deciding on a halloween costume.

Re: Birthday party...do you let the kid decide...

I ask my kids for input but at this point I still have final say. Last year my son wanted a train themed party. I bought all of the decorations and then he wanted a cars themed party. I ended up getting a few cars things that I had yet to pick up in a train theme otherwise it would have been to bad, so sad. I was not going to return/rebuy everything.

Re: Birthday party...do you let the kid decide...

I have let DS decide since he was 4. Obviously if he picked something silly or too expensive I would veto his idea, but so far so good. At 4 he had a bowling party, last year he had a sports party and this year he wants Chuck E Cheese.

Re: Birthday party...do you let the kid decide...

Yes, especially since he has a place in mind.

ETA: I don't think it's bad if you have the party you want though. He will still have fun! You can tell him if he still wants to, he can have it at the place he likes next year.

Message edited 7/10/2012 10:57:57 AM.

Re: Birthday party...do you let the kid decide...

DS is 5.5 and the past couple of years we have let him decide what type of party to have. He also decided what he wants his party to be this year. So far all of his ideas have been reasonable (bowling, karate, ice skating). If his idea was not reasonable, we would suggest something else.

Birthday party...do you let the kid decide...

I try and give my daughter a few selections and let her pick from those. It's worked pretty well so far!

Re: Birthday party...do you let the kid decide...

Well this year we combined the boys parties so I really made the decision. However, I did give Ben, since he was turning 5, a choice of places. Ultimately, I was going to go with whatever I thought would work best. Ethan turned 3 and just didn't care about anything but having fun with his friends. I could have put cardboard boxes, balloons and cake in the back yard and he'd have a blast.

Re: Birthday party...do you let the kid decide...

I have let them decided since they were 4 or 5. The tirick is getting them both to agree on one place.

Re: Birthday party...do you let the kid decide...

I give a few ideas, but I let DD choose (within reason).

She said shewanted a bowling party then about 2 months ago chaged her mind and saidshe wants a Snow White party. Once we started getting stuff for the snow white party I told her should couldn't change her mind any more and she had to be really sure.

As much as I love party planning for her, at almost 5 she's old enough to start having some input.