Birthday party expenses done right

In this century there is not a thing that children do not have. Children of all ages have iPads, iPods and the most extravagant things one can imagine. Of all these things, what can parents truly do to give their children any more happiness?

Parents go through a whole lot of expenses for toys, clothings, birthday parties and much more. According to the BBC, some parents in the UK spend more than $100,000 on their child’s birthday celebration.

John Over, a teacher at Clark Magnet High School, said that paying $100,000 for a child’s birthday is ridiculous and that he believes hosting an outrageous birthday party for a kid is just for show. “Some parents need to understand that they should do something with their child’s birthday party that the child would actually like instead of spending so much money on entertainment that would please the invited guests,” he said.

According to the BBC report, one family had an ice-skating rink placed in their home with Disney characters dressed up skating so it would look like the real Disney On Ice. Amir Ghavam, a math teacher at Clark Magnet, was shocked when learning about this extravagant birthday party. ”This action is way over the top for a child who is just turning five years old. If a parent does this for their child now what other way is the parent going to give happiness to the child when they are older,” Ghavam said.

Alisa Karakozian, a junior at Clark Magnet High School, said that if parents do huge birthdays for their little children then the children will grow up spoiled and it would be harder to please them. “This is so sad,” Karakozian said. “Not only will the child be spoiled for their whole life but they won’t have anything to work for. They will always know that they will continually receive the top of the top gifts and birthdays.”

Steven Duggan, the founder of a corporation where one can call to receive such extravagant entertainment opportunities for their children’s birthday parties, told the BBC that many of the customers who have considered Duggan’s corporation have children who are three years old and younger.

People have asked for this company to bring petting zoos; carnival rides; ice-skating rinks and indoor-themed birthdays that included an indoor lawn set with trees, slides and swings. If one wishes to have a great time with carnival rides, dressed upped character and food, then Disney World is the place to go because Disney World offers great packages for large groups of peoples, such as birthday parties. As seen in a recent issue of LA Parent Magazine, Disney World in Orlando offers discounts and many extra complimentary prizes such as fast passes and a show to those celebrating a birthday.

There are also less expensive approaches for those who do want their child to have some entertainment at their birthday parties, such as hiring Little Artist, a Los Angeles-based company that comes to children’s birthday parties with ceramic craft activities.

Little Artist comes to birthday parties with ceramics, and each child receives two ceramics that they can paint and doodle on. The package also includes glitter tattoos, face painting, two helpers, and a whole table filled with different types of crafts that they can use to decorate their ceramics. When these ceramics dry, the children will be able to take them home and have a remembrance of whose birthday they attended.

Most of these parties at Little Artist cost between $200-$350, depending on how much time one wishes for Little Artist to be present at the birthday parties. Arsineh Hoonanian, the owner of Little Artist said, “I love being able to make children smile. By taking their own made crafts home with them, the children will have a memory of what they did at a certain event.”

I have been working at Little Artist for about a year. The job itself is not really difficult, but you have a lot of responsibility on you to get the crafts arrived at the party at the exact time and set the table up quickly so the children can begin to paint.

I most enjoy doing glitter tattoos on the children. The way their face lights up in sheer joy when I remove the sticker is pure bliss. Many children get excited when they see me opening up the glitter tattoo box and immediately form a line next to my chair. The children get to choose from different types of tattoos from dragons and ninjas to fairies and crowns. Whatever the tattoo may be, the children are always in a rush to receive a glitter tattoo.

The list of crafts that Little Artist Party offers at their parties includes wood, ceramic, plastic, paper mache and foam crafts. My favorite craft would have to be the flower pot. Children decorate their flower pots, then when they are finished the Little Artist helpers place a marigold in the flower pot that then can take home. No matter what crafts children make they always take them home after it dries.

Helen Haronian, a coworker of Hoonanian, said that the joy in this business is the children. “Working at Little Artist is so much fun,” Haronian said. “My favorite part is the children. I love working with little kids and their reactions to the finished craft that they made is priceless.”

At a recent party in La Crescenta, children decorated flower pots, butterfly jewelry boxes, Spider-Man and firetrucks. Leah Hoonanian, a child attending the party, said, “I loved painting the flower pot because after I was done a marigold was put in there.”

Parents often say they are happy with the services provided. Anna Simonian, a mom whose child’s birthday I attended, said that she believes that a Little Artist Party is a great way for child to spend their time. “It isn’t your usual jumpers and cake,” Simonian said. “When the children paint the crafts it is a way for them to settle down and enjoy the party rather than running crazy and playing tag.”

Hoonanian said that she has a lot of pride and commitment to the events that Little Artist Party goes to. “Little Artist Party is unlike these other expensive lavish parties,” Hoonanian said. “By having a lot of entertainment and lavish gifts there isn’t any bonding time for the children. I’m very proud that this business is going strong. Just the ability to put a smile on a child’s face is worth all the hard work that was put into this business.”