The question of "how much is too much?" has come up a few times in our coverage of kids parties; it can be a sensitive issue and generally the answer is pretty subjective. We think that each family can decide for themselves. TLC has developed the show Outrageous Kids Parties to showcase over-the-top celebrations with 5-6 figure budgets. Ask us again, how much is too much? This, pretty much.
The production values are comparable to the network's Toddlers and Tiaras and the moms seem to be cut from the same cloth. They speak in superlatives and have a fierce competitive streak, determined to throw the biggest, best, craziest parties. There has been a princess party, but it seems that each episode gets zanier and more excessive than the last, with themes including 80s, Willy Wonka, Cleopatra and medieval magic. Most parties feature professional dancers and an original song written for the birthday kids and the children are typically primped by professional hair and makeup artists. Several episodes are devoted to preschool graduation parties.
Like the pageant moms, the moms featured on this show seem to be much more invested in the details than their kids, who often seem squeamish about the whole thing. It makes for interesting viewing, especially for many Ohdeedoh types who try to throw simple, child-centered parties with homegrown elements. Imagine the opposite of that and you'll have Outrageous Kid Parties. Check out the schedule at TLC.
Anyone watching?
(Image: TLC)

White Enamel Flatwa...
Reality shows like this are why we finally canceled cable...
Jamieson, us too. Can't believe the crap they show on tv.
I'm on board with you two... exactly why we canceled our cable.
ugh! why is this the kind of crap that we as a society put value on? These kids are going to grow up with such a skewed view of the world and will place no value on the things that really matter
Just watched one on youtube (I don't have television and anyway, I'm not in the US). It looks to me like it's as far from reality as possible. In the one I saw anyway (rock&roll star party), it really only can be (bad) actors. No real people would ever act that way.
I watched an episode here a few weeks back (the Willy Wonka one). It was awful. These people are just out for attention and what they're doing to their children is shameful (the Willy Wonka party's tag line was "Get Sugared Up").
A) Being so insecure as a person and a parent that you feel the need to create and televise events like this
B) Congratulating yourself on not being that vulnerable
I'm really not so sure one of these is any more unseemly (or thoughtless) than the other.
I'm so over TLC reality shows. For starters, they are mostly fake. Secondly, why do I want to watch messed up parents?
I know people love to watch train wrecks, but I prefer to not watch any show that encourages the worst in human behavior.
While many of these people are perfectly able to be horrible on their own, far too many are encouraged by these shows. Think of all the girls who got pregnant just to try and get on Teen Mom. If no one watched that crap, there wouldn't be a market for it, and fewer people out there would have been encouraged to screw themselves up.
Watch shows that uplift, not shows that sicken.
I'm not watching it simply because it's none of my business what people are doing with their money (as long as it's legal).
I have a friend who had a boob job after two kids, nursing, etc. So am I supposed to criticize and vilify because she spent that and I would not make the same choice?
If you can *afford* to throw these lavish parties -- the key word is afford -- it's none of my business.
Never watched it, but it sounds horrifying. I try not to judge things like this, because it is really not my place to do so. The big thing is, as you said, that the parents often seem completely wrapped up in the event and not the child. The excessive materiality is scary to me because we can all guess at the sort of life lessons the kids are taking away from such demonstrations. However, it's Reality TV. And reality TV is not reality at all. It's real people with cameras glaring at them, causing them to act out of character on film. THEN, said film is edited by detached professionals who pick and choose the most controversial, dramatic elements and paste them all together to create a completely inaccurate collage. When will TLC just give it up?
This may be the kind of show that is fun to watch when you are on a business trip and had a few glasses of wine. Then, it might be fun, in a sad way.
On a more serious note, I wonder if this kind of show should not act as a deterrent. It did for some of you. Does watching excesses cure us from our hidden desires, however small, to do the same ? How many of us clean and declutter after watching a hoarder show ?
Anyway, I'm sticking with simple parties where everyone has fun, and my son enjoys himself. As many of you pointed out so justly, this is the main goal.
Ok, so I watched the "medieval princess party" preview on youtube, and you can scratch the first paragraph above. This wouldn't be fun even then.
And, if I ever needed one, this is a deterrent for me.
"Think of all the girls who got pregnant just to try and get on Teen Mom."
really?! a reality show about teen mothers?
is that a pro-campaign "let's get all the teens pregnant, it's so much fun!"?
O M G
"Live and let live" with all its connotations and readings (do whatever you feel like with your money, don't watch a show you don't like, don't spend time and energy criticizing something if it's not constructive, etc.) has always been my mantra. One of the many reasons I haven't owned a TV for a decade, and not planning on changing that.
However, as a mother and a person who remembers her childhood very fondly, I'm horrified by most children shows. Both the subject and the show itself seem to be so... so demeaning for the children. Nightmare inducing, humiliating even.
Am I wrong? Am I just so far from it? Do these events (mega parties for children or any other show portraited event) impact positively in their personality shaping? Are we judgmental parents overrating and overcompensating and secretly jealous for not being able to provide our children with limitless resources?
I want to think I'm not... I am sure I am doing what I think it's best for my daughter, and one such party, even if it were within my means, is definitely not.
@stickyricemama I agree with you 100%. Their money = their choice to blow it on parties or boob jobs or whatever.
This is what's wrong with our country!
For the record, the Outrageous Kids Party show is 100% staged. The family on the show get a chance to be the "actors," acting out some outrageous plot or another. My child was invited to a party, and the entire event was completely concocted. The only real benefit was that my children got to learn, first hand, that what you see on TV is not real. Is not real. Has never been real. Will never be real.