From the perspective of someone who also worked at Maccas (in recent years) and is married to a manager - nope, no problem with you saying no. I reckon 3 is a bit young for a Maccas party, to be honest - even just the recommended games, never mind the food!
Sent from my iPhone so forgive the speelung misstacks
It's really your decision, if you don't want to go then don't.....you don't expose your child to that food etc until you are ready or want to.
Just wanted to really say that they shouldn't need to know why you are not going, just say nicely you are not free. I wouldn't go into why, I'm sure it will not affect anyone else opinon of you etc.
i had my birthday at maccas when i was 7 3 is wayy too young to be having a maccas birthday
my DS eats maccas but he also eats pizza and fish and chips we only have junk once a fortnight and yes everytime we go past he says maccas but we just say no and keep going yeah its a pain and it might not be something ur willing to put up with
DD1 has had Maccas, on car trips etc. We get her a happy meal with nuggets, apple, and water and she eats the apple and nothing else, lol. Although I would give it to her infrequently when I have to, I don't think I'd want her going to a party there either.
I have found in the past with CC that alot of parents tend to invite all the kids in the room and I would quite often turn one down as my kids didn't mention or interact with the kids.
That set aside...yes 3 is probably young for a Macca's party. An afternoon evening party would be a struggle for most 3yr olds I reckon as in overtired or just not in a party mood, it would be with my kids.
It's also possible that this child has older siblings who know of Macca's and he or she has had an early introduction to Maccas due to them having had it.
My DS1 went to a Macca's party when he was 3. It didn't end up with him asking for it afterwards, I just did not 'brand' the party so he really didn't think anything of where or what he is eating.
Macca's have come along way in food. It's probably better than a party pie, little boys and chips and sweets party that may be held at home or play centre that would also end up with a lolly bag.
Most of the kids parties will be a Happy Meal that would consist of either a cheeseburger or nuggets or wrap, choice of either fries or fruit, water or juice and toy.
The cake would more than likely be a Macca's icecream cake. I don't think they have any games as such, the kids would just play in the play area.
Hope that helps. Good luck with your decision.
Brace yourself. This year we've had a round of 4 y.o. parties and every single one of them (without exception) has been maccas/HJ's.
I loathe them. The food is usually nuggets/hamburger with chips and the nominated softdrink (just watch this because they do happily serve coke to kids this age). Followed by a lurid-coloured icecream cake. Missy E usually picks at the food, drinks all the fizzy drink then enjoys playing on the equipment. So I've come to accept that's what the experience is about for her. Like others said, the food served up at play centres and even at home parties can be just as bad. Yes an association forms with the brand, like it does with all the brands in our lives, it's about how you live the other 99% of your time. The weight you put on brands etc right across your whole life will determine how much your child is influenced by them.
Socially, it's not necessary to explain why you're not attending, just a polite 'sorry we can't make it this time' will do. And FWIW yes I do think you have the right to censor his experience at this age, in the same way you might choose to limit his television viewing or keep him away from other environments that you don't feel are developmentally appropriate.
My concerns/thoughts are: * if he goes, this will open his eyes to the food options and he will ask everytime we see the golden arches
My DS does ask for McDonalds as he has eaten there sometimes (Macca's is one of those 'good at the time, urgggh why did I eat that?' afterwards foods in our house and we will occasionally stop there on the way to my parents house which is 3 hours away). I just say no. As his mum, I make the decision on what he eats. He can ask all he likes, it doesn't mean you have to give it to him. We actually drive past one every day and 9 times out of 10, he will not ask but he sometimes see's those yellow arches and asks.
* if he doesn't go, will this mean that he is not invited to other kids parties because it will get around that he doesn't/isn't allowed to eat the food?
* if he doesn't go, will that mean I get labelled a weird uptight mum for not wanting him to eat there?
This is totally up to you and how you turn down the invitation. I would just say you are busy if you really don't want him to go, you don't have to say you don't want him eating McDonalds
* if he doesn't go, am I making it a forbidden thing (even though he wouldn't know at this stage) and therefore even more attractive? (thinking down the track here).
Not sure about this one. I guess it will be harder as he gets older, but you also make the decision to firmly say no to something. I guess it all ties in with the once off meal question
* Do I have the right to censor his experiences in this way? i.e. it's not harmful, IMO, as a once off meal and maybe I should be letting him make his own choice about it I believe you do have the right to censor. It's a great thing to be teaching so early about what are good foods. My DS asks every single day if he can have a lolly - the answer is generally no. He knows it's not great for him and he is learning that although it tastes good, he can't have them all the time. He can however have unlimited fruit and vegetables
Does anyone know what the typical food/meal is for a toddler party? To be honest, I think that the first few years of toddler parties (Mum's group so same kids parties for the last 4 years), there was always good healthy foods and as they have gotten a little older, there has been more of the 'fun party stuff'. At the 4 year old birthdays we have just been to, there was food there that never would of been at their 2nd birhtdays etc. It was more of the party pies, sausage rolls, potato chips and fairy bread. The best thing about kids parties is I find that my son never eats much there anyway. There is so much going on and he is much more interested in playing.
If it was my son (and this is totally just my opinion) I would weigh up how friendly he was with the child and if I thought he'd have a good time. I think 3 is a bit young to be holding a birthday there but that is the parents choice I guess. If I thought my son would have a couple of hours of fun, and I could meet some of the other child care parents, I would probably go.
I wouldn't. but then I'm also shocked at the sorts of things people put on at kid's b'day parties. so the food's about on par really. Exposure to teh brand would definitely be my bigggest concern.
if you don't really know them,then it's easy to make an excuse and not go if you're not comfortable with it. Turning down on invite shouldn't rule you out for all other parties - although if they're all at maccas you might have an issue
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