Children's Parties - Unwritten Rules!

Saw this on the BBC News Website and wondered if there were anymore Unwritten Rules out there regarding Children's Parties?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-30876360
One of my favourites is most definitely the belief that all children like balloons and clowns and should join in with party games!
I also really enjoy finding out from children what they think the Unwritten Rules are and the safe ways they find to break them. Looking forward to hearing what other people think.

Thanks Sally Ann, I saw this too - though felt too incredulous at the other parents 'invoicing' the family to actually think through the PB angle. Unwritten Rules and children's parties, yes I'd agree, I think there are loads!

How much to spend on a gift? What to buy if you don't know the child? Whether to stay or drop your child off (this is a biggie up until about age 7, in my experience)? And for the birthday child, when to send invites? Individual thank yous or a 'photocopied generic' thank you?....it goes on endlessly, in my opinion.

A prominent one for parents, I think, is "Inviting the whole class." I have never been a fan of this, preferring the children who live in my house to choose who they want to share their special day with. Last year, both girls only chose to invite three close friends and on both birthdays, only one of the three could come; the celebrations felt a really special treat shared with best friends.

Thanks again, Sally Ann! Lots to consider, as ever :huh:

Hi all
This is a great one for discussing Unwritten Rules in general.
Some of the ones I see are giving all the guests a bag of sweets to take home. Why I ask myself? :huh:
My rule for Emma was, she could invite who she wanted up to the number of her age.
It all seems to have become so competitive as well.
Have fun
Di

Slightly different, but similar to Sally Ann's first examples:

Punch and Judy shows are funny !

I vividly remember my brother and I being taken to a beach performance of Punch and Judy (Mum and Dad left us there and went to get an ice cream i think!), sitting on the sand and fairly quickly turning through 180 degrees so my back was to the stage because I thought it was so violent and awful and horrible. Perhaps that was what started my life long abhorrence of all things aggressive and violent? Why would anyone think that was entertaining or funny... I just don't get it... no shared meaning at all.