I want kids parties to be on Facebook!

Family Friday

I know in my reality at least, if you're having an event you invite folks on Facebook. Depending on the event, you might not put out paper invitations at all. The sellers of all things party might not appreciate it much but just look at the newspaper industry - your days are numbered, too.

Of course, most of these events still happen in the real world. You're expected to attend and interract with other people. Mostly, I'm ok with that. I run a sci-fi meetup that brings me into physical contact with other humans, in addition to other related events. 

When it comes to kids' birthday parties though, my shoes fill with lead. 

Let's face it - unless you're perhaps one of those moms living vicariously through your child, just about everyone I've ever ran into at a kids birthday party would rather be anywhere else. The running, the screaming, the expense. Even Christmas doesn't compare for most people unless they have a giant gift-giving swap with all the relatives on Christmas morning. 

The kids have fun, it's true. They see their friends, they play, sugar is consumed in mass quantities and they (hopefully) run around and play some more. For them, it's a giant holiday. With presents. And cake.

For us, it's a bottle of excedrin and/or a few alcoholic drinks of choice. 

But fear not! I have a solution. Social Media.

'But the kids won't be able to play together!' You say. If they are old enough, they are probably on Facebook, too. If not, they might all play the same online game - let them play it together. If your kids are of a toddler age, well, there's Clara Beane to help you feel just a little bit better about yourself. 

If you belong to the tech elite, you probaby have a Google+ account. Great! Just start a hangout with those you want to invite and get the party started. Everyone can be involved and no one has to complain about not having their preferred flavor of cake.

Of course, I realize this will probably never happen. Unless global warming and climate disaster force us to live entirely indoors, humans will still have the desire to venture out into the world and connect with each other in person. Struggling as they might be, we still have malls. Parks are visited quite frequently. And though I try very hard to avoid the place, our Chuck E Cheese here usually has a pretty full parking lot. 

So, invite me. I know you will. I'll even accept, if only because my daughter is always in the mood to run around and ingest as much sugar as her diabetic body can handle on special occasions. 

Just don't be surprised if I have my iPhone in one hand and a wine glass in the other.

Comments

[Facebook for Kids]

Friends want to be share to their friends birthday on the Facebook with a cake, so that is the very interesting.

[EitanSchwarz]

Raising good children in our digital age is a challenge because of all the temptations technology media brings. I invented ZillyDilly to childproof the Internet, limit time online,  and organize over 1500 best sites according to growth opportunities like values education and family relationships. It is now still free.
itunes.apple.com/us/app/zillydilly-for-ipad/id492673037?mt=8

Thank you