Build A Bear party

**Chocolate Lips** · 19-02-2012, 09:57pm

Originally Posted by mrsdunny207

Maybe 5 was too young but the bears were looking very ropey without adult intervention - lots of overstuffed bits / understuffed arms & legs...

Mine was 5 when she first went. Didn't they have a member of staff there with them guiding them? I suppose it could depend on the store.

**alex** · 20-02-2012, 11:33pm

My dd2 had one the year before last for her 6th birthday.

She invited 3 friends plus we had dd1 and dd3 so that was our 3 girls (I was pg with dd4 at the time) plus dd2's 3 friends so 6 kids in total.

A member of staff was in charge of supervising the stuffing of animals and party games.
Dh decided to let them choose whichever animal they wanted plus an outfit and he footed the bill

we didnt take them out to eat afterwards though - it was just the Build A Bear and then the girls got collected by their parent/s.

***kate*** · 21-02-2012, 07:35am

Thanks.

I'm really trying to scale parties down in terms of numbers (hassle!) so I thought 4 friends plus Jose for a BAB party and then back to ours for a bears tea party. Which ticks my box in terms of numbers and ticks J's box for something "special".

I think the kids she'd like to invite would really like stuffing a bear and sewing it, I can see it wouldn't appeal to some though.

The usual party place want £10 per child (minimum 10 kids) the church hall wants £50 before catering/entertainment and the farm is a whopping £13.99 per child so I don't think BAB is miles off price wise given that we are only taking 6 kids (although yes I agree anything in that price range for a party is hideously expensive). We've always tended to do very small parties in the house for a couple of friends after age 6 (if at all) so this is probably the last costly party she will have until teenage years!

**mrsdunny207** · 21-02-2012, 08:26am

Originally Posted by Chocolate Lips

Mine was 5 when she first went. Didn't they have a member of staff there with them guiding them? I suppose it could depend on the store.

There were about 12 kids (joint party of 2 school friends) and only 1 official helper. He did show the kids what to do but they all forgot after about 2 minutes or got bored of stuffing. They all seemed to enjoy writing on the T shirt though...

**katkinn** · 21-02-2012, 09:14am

Originally Posted by Chocolate Lips

That hasn't been my experience at all and I've been to about 6

The children have done all the stuffing etc led by a party host.

I agree. We just stand around and chat (actually I usually escape

) and the kids get on with it with the helpers. They love it. It's probably H's fave party actually (may have something to do with the lack of boys......)

I'm sure ours has a minimum of 8 for a party though? (maybe it's 6) The ones i've been to, they've just bought the bear and the sound thingy you put in. One party they recorded messages to each other which I thought was really sweet. They all get the same bear. (cheapest!) No arguing. And NO accessories. Every party i've been to has always been the same format. I think it works out to £12 per child.

And then we've always been to McDonalds afterwards, again which the kids just love.

So price wise, £12 for a small group and then McD's, I don't think in the scheme of things it works out badly. No party bag to sort either. And minimum hassle (as opposed to hall/entertainer/food or god forbid, the dreaded sleepover. i'd spend that much money on vodka just to get me through)

Only downside for us here is that it's been done so often

Although I have to say I do personally quite fancy a trip to get the Muppet toys

**Chocolate Lips** · 21-02-2012, 12:12pm

Originally Posted by katkinn

Although I have to say I do personally quite fancy a trip to get the Muppet toys

Good luck with that one, I went on Saturday and they were all sold out. Two very disappointed children

***kate*** · 21-02-2012, 12:17pm

I was going to steer Josephine in the direction of the muppets too

CL you'll just have to have another Florida holiday to get the kids Muppet memorabilia!

**katkinn** · 21-02-2012, 01:36pm

Originally Posted by Chocolate Lips

Good luck with that one, I went on Saturday and they were all sold out. Two very disappointed children

Apparently they were sold out everywhere as it had been half term week/muppet movie release week (no shit sherlock!)

But they're getting more stock in

**Chocolate Lips** · 21-02-2012, 02:03pm

Originally Posted by katkinn

Apparently they were sold out everywhere as it had been half term week/muppet movie release week (no shit sherlock!)

But they're getting more stock in

Yes, there's not going to be many of them though so if you see them, don't dither