Sporting events such as the Super Bowl, Final Four, or the World Series are prime opportunities for get-togethers, as are special parties or even Olympic watches. Parents may envision everyone crowding around a large-screen TV to cheer on their favorite team or athlete while enjoying munchie food and even a libation or two. But what about the kids?
Not planning in advance for the young arrivals is pretty much a recipe for disaster. Young children prefer different types of food, typically have no interest in the adult's entertainment (not that you want them in the living room, anyway), and will become bored and restless, and as a result disruptive, without a game plan.
Here are tips for making a parent-and-child party combination a success:
- Hire a teenage babysitter to take charge of kids to help separate adult-time from kid-time. The money you pay for a sitter during a big game or party event will be worth every penny...and more! A babysitter can help keep kids occupied and well-fed, diapers changed (if needed), and even take them out on a walk or some child play in the back yard.
- Purchase kid-friendly foods that are set up in a children's snack area. Most kids don't want buffalo wings, spicy dips, or coconut shrimp. Instead, plan a menu that includes traditional kid favorites such as chicken nuggets or hot dogs, veggies with a favorite dip, potato chips, apples, etc. Try and keep the mess to a minimum by limiting hard-to-eat foods (even pizza can be hard to eat without muss for youngsters).
- Plan entertainment ahead of time. Rent a couple of new DVDs that kids will want to watch, have ready an age-appropriate board game that allows for multiple players, or even set up a hair and makeup session for girls. Let your kids tell you of things they would like to do with a sitter, and then put everything together ahead of time so they won't be bugging you about where everything is when little guests arrive.
- Set rules ahead of time and let adult guests know your plan so they can enforce them with their own kids as well. If there is no eating in the bedroom, kids need to know that. Or, if the rule is that kids can't keep coming out of the game room and into where the adults are, those rules need to be spelled out as well. Remember, if one kids gets an exception and goes to sit with dad, then EVERY kid will want to do the same and your party is pretty much a bust.
- Don't give your babysitter unrealistic duties that even you couldn't meet. Don't hire a 14-year-old sitter to watch after six kids, aged 1-7. You couldn't do it well; how could you expect a sitter to be successful? Hire the number of helpers that is appropriate. If the number of kids is too many, consider whether another nearby family might agree to have kids hosted at their house while you have your adult get-together at yours. Obviously, this only works if you are neighbors and parents feel comfortable. Another option is to find a drop-in child care service that could accommodate everyone and inform parents of this option ahead of time.
- Keep an eye out on alcohol consumption. While beer and football may go hand in hand for many get-togethers, alcohol and children can be a bad combination. AS host, you need to ensure that no adults become imbibed or begin to act inappropriately, and that there are designated drivers with any family who is driving home after an outing at your home.
- Set an ending time. Kids are only willing to be separated from their parents for a certain amount of time, and realistically, when kids start getting tired or whiny, they're going to hunt down their parents for comfort. A party shouldn't extend into the wee hours when kids clamor for their own beds. Most find it difficult to sleep at another person's house and unfamiliar surroundings. A good rule of thumb is to end a party within an hour after the "game watch" or event ends. If it will be getting late, you can always encourage parents to bring their kids in their PJs, so they can start to settle down for an evening. That way, when they get back into the car and then home, they are ready for bed!
