INSTA PARENTS TAKE CAKE
GOLD COASTERS FOLLOW KARDASHIANS ON EXPENSIVE KIDS’ BIRTHDAYS
INSTA-FAMOUS families are forking out thousands for elaborate birthday parties for their kids, to keep up their social media appearances.
Spending thousands on catering, games and outfits is a growing trend among social media influencers, who are also using their kids parties to spruik their brand, as well as the companies whose outfits their kids wear, or the bakery who made their cake.
Gold Coast’s biggest social media influencer Tammy Hembrow threw her daughter a second birthday which would have cost nearly $1500 for what “an intimate family day” in the park.
For the money, Mrs Hembrow got a stylish picnic setting, a floral number ‘2’ platter table, personalised cookies and a marble cake.
Tammy Hembrow’s managing director Sam Managan did not return the Bulletin’s calls yesterday for comment.
It’s a case of Keeping up with Kardashians, according to Professor Paul Herman from the University of Queensland who said there appears to plenty of competition between families when it comes to birthday parties.
“Extravagant birthday parties have always existed, but now it’s being able to say who did what, who wore what and who was there all on one platform heightens the whole ‘keeping up with the Jones’s’ status,” he said.
“Parents want to make their kids happy, but it very much is because we want to project the view that we can afford these things as well.
“Social media influencers have the ability to accelerate their publicness and the importance of the narrative around ‘my life is great and I am doing well’.”
He says it can be tough for parents to know where the line is.
“Although there is nothing inherently wrong in providing lavish presents or parties (if you can afford it) it is also important to teach children the value of money.”
Dr Divna Haslam, clinical psychologist at the Parenting and Family Support Centre, said: “I have heard of kids (parties) involving party planners, multiple entertainers and generous gift bags for attendees.
“The days of party pies, fairy bread, lolly bags and an Australian Woman’s Weekly cake are over.
Vanessa Killian, a cake maker from Cakeable, said she once did two cakes with the works for twins turning one, costing the father more than $1250.
“When I get these orders, it really surprises me to the point I struggle with my pricing. I don’t want to overcharge but so much time goes into making them,” she said.
“Times have changed and I think if you can afford to do it then why not?”
Alisha Marshall and Monique Bathie, from Deluxe Grazing, recently provided a spread for Coast Instagram influencer Emilee Hembrow’s gender reveal party.
“We wouldn’t think twice about spending money and creating amazing extravagant events for our own children, and think most parents would be the same,” they said.
THE $5 mud cake for children’s birthdays is becoming extinct as image-conscious parents try to out-do their online mates by throwing elaborate parties.
Social media experts and psychologists say it can create a fake presence and further fuel an already plastic society.
Elsewhere in today’s paper, child experts are lamenting kids starting school without the core strength to make it through the school day, triggering behavioural and attention problems. It follows the report in Saturday’s Bulletin which revealed the number of state school students being suspended or expelled had ballooned nearly 50 per cent in four years.
Given that, perhaps the best present parents can give young ones is a dose of reality. Afterall, money cannot buy everything.