Parents are spending superfluous amounts on parties for their children, from paying for limousine services that deliver friends to the child's party to holding private parties at expensive stores.

According to Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg's article, "The Importance of Play," which was published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Children don't need toys that do everything for them and it is much better to get back to the basics and to have parents engaged with their children."

William Doherty of the University of Minnesota has partnered with a group of educators and concerned parents in St. Paul in a campaign to stop out-of-control spending on parties. Doherty, the creator of the phrase "overscheduled kids" and advocate of family nights, is not saying that parties are not "good," but that they should be kept in line with the age of the child. For instance, paying for a stretch limousine to transport seven-year-olds to a birthday party might be a bit exorbitant whereas a stretch limousine for a prom or graduation might be more in line. His website is: www.birthdayswithoutpressure.org.