How to entertain
children at an adult party
If you are anticipating having children at your party, there are a
few things that you should keep in mind to ensure that guests of all ages have
an enjoyable time.
·
The Kids Table- You may have dreaded memories of being a teen and
still being banished to the kids table, but honestly, setting up a separate
area for those that WISH to use it, is never a bad idea. My biggest tip here, allow the guest to make
the choice of whether to sit with the grown-ups, or with the kids. Some precocious tots prefer adult
conversation and some toddlers are not ready to be separated from their
moms. It is all about where they are the
most comfortable. If they do choose the
kids table, they can sit in a height-appropriate chair, (be sure to rent a
handful of booster seats and/or highchairs when you order your other party
rentals.) Cover the table with white
butcher paper or chalkboard paper and give them something to draw with. If dinner is not to be served right away,
place a bag of crackers or pretzels at each place setting for the kids to munch
while they are waiting. Paper or plastic
plates and cups at this table are a must.
Even better, if you know that you will be entertaining toddlers, invest
in some cups with lids, your carpet will thank you for it later.
·
Food and Drink- When planning your menu, consider appetizer
selections that are popular with all ages- fruit and cheese platters, vegetable
crudité with ranch dressing, tomato soup shooters. Under-season your dishes to make them
appropriate for all taste buds and offer salt and pepper or other seasonings to
be added at the table. Alternately,
prepare two similar dishes, one spicy, with onions, etc and one plain. For larger parties, it might make more sense
to work in a separate kids buffet or kids plates to be served with kid-friendly
items such as macaroni and cheese and chicken fingers. Hey, I have seen picky adults indulge in this
buffet on many occasions as well! Will
you be having a champagne toast? Kids
don’t like to be left out. Remember to
purchase some sparkling cider for them and serve in plastic champagne
glasses. (Your non-alcohol drinking
adult guests will appreciate the option as well.)
·
Entertainment- Ok, you have gotten them through dinner, now what is
going to keep them busy? Set up a
seasonal craft table. Think foam Christmas
ornaments or gingerbread-scented playdough with cookie cutters. Hire a professional, well a professional
babysitter, yes, that would be highly recommended, but additionally, how about
a face-painter or a caricature artist?
Photobooths are also popular, with any age. DIY a photobooth area by making a backdrop out
of crepe paper streamers and supply guests with boas, glasses, mustaches and
silly hats. Have your teenage guests in
charge of taking pictures and upload the photos of all of your guests to
Instagram hashtagegd with a custom tag line for easy finding. Other quiet time essentials could include
books, puzzles, coloring books and board games.
Supply each little guest with a favor bag including items such as
bubbles, stickers and a small ball to keep them busy. *Be careful not to give any of the younger
children items that would be a choking hazard though.
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