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Now, this doesn't mean you have to serve hot dogs, cupcakes and hire a clown to keep the kids fed and entertained. But if you employ a bit of a kid-like mind in your party preparations, you'll be able to throw a fiesta that everyone will enjoy.
If you're having a holiday party for families, check out these tips to make your shindig more kid friendly.
- Food. While you don't want to make kid-appealing food the focus of your menu, it helps when you can add a few dishes to the table and know they'll be sure-fire wins with the little ones. It also helps when those foods are really easy to eat. Veggie sticks and finger foods (chicken tenders, mini quiches, the entire frozen-appetizer section at Trader Joe's)are always a hit. And if you're hosting more of a sit-down dinner party, try fondue for the kids. Even older kids can't resist the appeal of dipping food (carrots, sliced hot dogs, sliced gourmet sausage, blanched potatoes, broccolli and carrots) into a pot of yummy melted cheese. Plus, there's always chocolate fondue for dessert!
- Have a "kids' table." I'll
never forget the first time my boys sat at a kids' table. We
had a little slice of bliss as five boys -- ages 2 through 7 --
remained in their own seats, ate their meals and
chatted with each other. We know there will come a day when our
children will hate the idea of kids' table, but for
now...it's cool. And we'll use it to our
advantage. If you do set up a kids' table,
make it appealing. Dress it up with a nice (but durable)
tablecloth. Use pretty dishes. Shine user kidsmartmom
wrote a post with awesome
ideas to make the kids' table the best seat in the
house. Note: Some favorite memories at parties are
when kids move from their table to the grown-up table to sit with
their folks. Let your kids know know they're welcome to hang
out...but only for a little while!
- Turn a room into "movie theater." When the kids are done eating, you can set them up in the movie room for the featured presentation. The key is to make the movie room in a spot where they are away from the central party zone. They feel grown up and hopefully will stay focused on the movie. Meanwhile, their parents will feel like they can sit down and take a break. In our house, we use our office/playroom and throw some beanbag chairs on the floor along with sleeping bags and big pillows. Since we don't have a television, we hook a laptop up to a projector and the kids watch flicks on the wall. But you can just move a television into the room of choice. Tip: Make sure the movie is age appropriate. For the holidays, you can't go wrong with "Home Alone" for kids in grade school. I try to break out old kid classics like "Mary Poppins.")
- Hire a mother's helper or babysitter to help out. If you have lots of younger children attending your party, consider hiring a mother's helper or babysitter to monitor the kids. It's always nice when you can let your friends know they can truly relax because you have an extra set of eyes and hands to help out.
- Create a few activity areas...but don't overdo it. Put games and puzzles on the floor in a spot where the kids will hang out. (Conversely, if you don't want thousands of Lego bricks on the floor, hide 'em. Fast.) If you're daring, you can try an art table. But I've found (days later) that little kids find the niftiest of places to use those crayons and markers.
I'm certain you all have your tried and true tips for hosting a family-friendly holiday party. Spill it!
Related links on Shine
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