Sophie Mccartney & Daz talk about the stress of kids parties

The Big Afternoon Show

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Thursday, 16 May 2024 - 12 minutes

Sophie McCartney, writer of Tired and Tested, comedian, and mum of Three

& Daz talk about the stress of kids parties.

Behind the balloons – parents party panic trumps the stress of the 9 to 5

· Three quarters of parents find planning a children's birthday party more stressful than their day job (74%).

· Spiralling costs (36%), accommodating for endless dietary requirements (36%), invitation politics (34%) and competing with other parents to host the best party (18%) …are just some of the reasons behind the stress involved.

· On average, parents in the UK spend £345 per children's birthday party.

· Author of Tired and Tested Sophie McCartney is on hand to share her tips on how to navigate planning a children’s birthday party in order to help parents keep their cash and their sanity!

Planning a children's birthday party should be a joyous occasion, but for many parents, it can be a source of stress and anxiety. According to a new study, nearly 4 in 5 parents agree that planning a children's birthday party ranks among the most stressful tasks they face. This is echoed by almost 3 in 4 who find it more stressful than their day job (74%).

From deciding who to invite to managing post-party cleanup, parents mention various aspects of party planning as sources of stress. Specifically, 45% of parents find planning the party itself stressful, while 31% struggle with creating the guest list. Additionally, 47% of parents dread the post-party cleanup process with nearly 8 in 10 (78%) parents wishing they could simply hand the reins over to someone else.

In nearly half of families surveyed, mothers (48%) take charge of organising the party, while 40% of families share the responsibility between both parents. The majority of parents (87%) start planning their child's party over a month in advance, with some starting as early as 12 weeks before the actual day.

The cost of throwing a children's birthday party remains a significant concern for many parents, with 36% saying it is the least enjoyable element of the planning process. On average, parents in the UK spend £345 on their children's birthday parties.

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