24 www.newsandstar.co.ukNews & Star Tuesday, June 2, 2009 yyoouurrffaa66
Celebrations for our
credit-crunch times
about the same in recent months
and it depends on the family, but I'd
say parents are looking to spend no
more than around �150 to �200.
Certainly not thousands! I don't
think parents feel any real pressure
round here.
"Most will give their children
parties for two or three years then
when they are a bit older take them
bowling or to the cinema."
One of the most popular choices
for parents of younger children in
Carlisle is the Magic Castle play
centre in Denton Holme.
Pauline Thompson is co-owner
and took over the business two
years ago.
"We are busier than ever, but we
are at the value end of the market,"
explains Pauline. "It is �65 to hire a
party for 35 children, they can bring
their own food or we can do it for
them. It's �2 for a food box or �1 for
a hot dog, cake and a drink. All in all
it's great value as a cheaper option.
"We are doing around 15 parties a
week. I think parents are always
looking for a bargain and this kind
of thing is always going to be
popular."
Rookies in Wigton is another
popular choice. As well as the soft
play area there are climbing walls, a
30ft tiger slide and a chance for
kids to make their own pizzas and
chocolate lollies.
M
any parents are choosing
to combine days out with
birthday parties. Walby
Farm Park at Crosby-on-
Eden near Carlisle opened last July,
and offers all-day admission to the
farm plus exclusive use of the party
room.
"Birthday parties are much more
popular than we had anticipated,"
says Katie Milbourn, who runs the
farm with her husband Neil.
"Children often invite the whole
class and that can be up to 30
children.
"That can be a large number to
have at home, and you can never
guarantee the weather so being out
in the garden might not be an
option. Here kids can enjoy their
party whatever the weather."
Alan Stockdale, a magician and
children's entertainer, says that he
has noticed many parents in
Cumbria are starting to go back to
basics.
"The majority of parents I know
are hiring community centres, they
are good value for money," says
Alan, who charges �60 an hour.
"Most centres are well equipped
and parents can bring their own
food, there'll be a play area and you
can sweep up the mess easily �
much more easily than in your
house.
"I often perform for people
working on a tight budget. They will
do most of the party by themselves,
it will be more hands-on.
"A lot of parties in the past have
had things like bouncy castles but
more and more now parents are
getting more creative and drawing
upon parties they had when they
were young, with simple, do-it-
yourself games like pass the
parcel."
That's not to say some parents
don't want to treat their children to
a new experience, and there are
more options than ever before for
something a little bit different.
Ickle Divas organises parties for
seven to 14-year-olds in their own
homes, complete with mini facials,
mini manicures and make-up
sessions.
Simon Lee owns Cumbria
Limoscene, which hires limousines
for special occasions including kid's
birthday parties, from �99 for a
cruise around the Carlisle area.
"This is the third year of the
business and it is very popular for
children's birthday parties," says
Simon.
"They enjoy the drive around
town and want to be seen. There is
music, DVDs, karaoke and a PS2
inside, and they get drinks.
"Hannah Montana and the like are
popular these days and kids want to
be pop princesses for a day, and
why not? They are not doing anyone
any harm."
But it seems traditional
entertainment is still in demand.
Stu Di Doo is a children's
entertainer who gave up his day job
to become full-time nearly five
years ago.
"I am busy with bookings but the
type of party children want can
change, and I have to keep on track
of current trends," he says. "I am
aimed at the four to seven-year-
olds market but I also now provide
magic workshops for older children.
"They have lots of options such
as the cinema or bowling, so I make
the workshops completely
interactive and teach the children
tricks they can take away with
them."
email RGibb@cngroup.co.uk
<< FROM PAGE 5
Value fun: Jasmine, seven, and Becca Thompson, five, at Magic
Castle in Denton Holme, Carlisle JONATHAN BECKER
Elton or Celine?
Choices, choices
When Jordan Smith � who has
been described as the most
spoilt teenager in Britain �
turned 16, his mum Suzanne
was determined to throw him a
bash to remember. Inspired by
MTV's My Super Sweet 16 she
hired a country house,
recreated an Ibiza nightclub
inside, complete with a red
carpet, famous radio DJ and
professional dancers, and
invited 500 guests to help
celebrate in style.
The Sultan of Brunei, one of
the richest men in the world,
has treated his 10 children to
lavish birthday parties over
the years, paying musicians
such as Elton John and Celine
Dion millions for private
performances.
A family in Gloucester
reportedly recently spent
�20,000 on a Willy Wonka
party for 30 children, complete
with a troupe of Oompa-
Loompas who performed every
half-hour, three huge
chocolate fountains and party
bags bulging with gifts.
Campaign group Birthdays
Without Pressure was formed
two years ago by a group of
parents in Minnesota who
believe parties have got out of
control, to offer alternative
ideas and advice on keeping
costs down.
Can you
T
hree-quarters of British children
don't know how to boil an egg,
research has suggested. Almost
half of UK youngsters (45 per cent)
never or rarely help with making the
evening meal, even though around a third
of parents (34 per cent) want them to take
part.
The poll for supermarket chain Morrisons
revealed that a third of parents learned to
cook from their own mothers and fathers,
and 80 per cent viewed culinary ability as
an important skill.
But it found that 37 per cent of children
preferred watching television or surfing the
internet to cooking, while 40 per cent said
they were too stressed about homework or
too tired to help.
Tired and stressed? Isn't that the
parents?
Grandparents should be given easier
access to their grandchildren after parents
separate or divorce, a new report says.
TV presenter Gloria Hunniford is
supporting campaign groups who have
produced a report calling for a change in
the law to remove the "unnecessary
obstacle" that requires grandparents to go
to court to ask permission to make an
application for contact.
Families Need Fathers, The
Grandparents's Association and the Family
Matters Institute said the role
grandparents can play must not be ignored.
Hunniford said: "It is time for the
Government to harness the love and
attention that grandparents yearn to give
to their families."
A survey of 211 people, carried out for
the report, found that before separation,
55 per cent of grandparents were directly
involved in looking after their
grandchildren.
But after separation, 42 per cent lost all
face-to-face contact.
Today's younger parents are less likely to
show their children how to garden than
older parents, a survey has shown.
Research by the Children's Society
revealed that almost eight out of 10 (79 per
cent) parents aged 55-64 had gardened
with their children, compared to six out of
10 (62 per cent) mums and dads under 35.
The Children's Society said the findings,
which also showed the children of younger
parents were less likely to have eaten
something they had grown themselves,
fuelled concerns that too many youngsters
grow up thinking food comes from the
supermarket, not the ground.
Even though the survey of 1,000 adults
showed that an overwhelming majority (92
per cent) believe it's important for children
to understand how plants are cultivated,
the Children's Society said it feared
horticultural traditions were not being
passed on to youngsters.
Just seven per cent of men w
prepared to stay at home with
baby if the Government replace
benefits with parental ones, ac
new survey.
Even fewer women (four per
wanted to give up their role to
father, while two-thirds of work
said they continued to work ou
necessity, not choice.
A survey of 1,000 people for
series The Trouble With Workin
found that 54 per cent thought
still the main breadwinners in f
although most people (67 per c
think they should be.
The programme also reveale
significant impact on women's
they have children.
It's the hardest job in the wo
don't get paid for it.
A look at the wacky a
of parenting by Lisa

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