Yahoo News Seven-year-olds have the most expensive birthday parties with parents shelling out £188
Seven-year-olds have the most extravagent birthday parties, with parents splashing out an average of £188, research has found.
The figure is more than £20 higher than the average cost of a children's party across all ages, which was found to be £166.
Children typically invite 12 of their friends to celebrate with them, but one in five mothers and fathers (22 per cent) feel obliged to host the whole class.
Girls apparently have more expensive tastes with their parties averaging £169 while boys' are £163.
By the time their offspring are 11, parents spend less, averaging a more modest £153, the research by Disney Party found.
Over half (58 per cent) of parents say cost is their main concern ahead of a children's bash, with many choosing to join forces with other parents to host a joint party to keep costs down.
Parties can also prove expensive for the guests, with parents typically buying nine presents for other people's children each year at an average cost of £10 per gift.
Londoners are the most generous, averaging £12.62 per gift compared to the £8.40 spent in the South West. The worst gifts received include used hairbrushes, drawn in colouring books and IOUs. Parents also pay an average £5.19 for each party bag they hand out at their own youngster's bash.
Just over half (51 per cent) of parties are held at home with the remainder at everything from village halls and leisure centres to soft play, bowling, trampolining, laser quest and karting venues.
Parenting expert, Anita Cleare commented: "Although it can be a stressful job, it's great to see that 53 per cent of parents still enjoy hosting parties for their children."
She added: "Parents feel pressured to not only impress their children but other parents too."
Researchers from Disney Party quizzed 2,000 parents of kids aged between four and 12-years-old.
