Children's entertainment
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Children and events – an incompatible partnership?
‘Never work with children or animals’ is an old adage which we all understand. Similarly, ‘Never invite children or animals to an event’ could hold true. Whether you are planning a wedding, holding an exhibition or gathering people together for a family ‘do’ or a work outing, children can cause havoc if they are not well entertained.
What’s the problem?
Kids, unlike most adults, have no sense of occasion. They live in the here and now, and generally even the most angelic child will get easily bored if they are not stimulated enough. A church service which is emotional and beautiful to us is a bit like torture to a child who has to sit very quietly and not fidget for a full hour.
Children, on the whole, do not like big events. Think about it from their perspective – they have to get dressed in unfamiliar and probably uncomfortable clothing, are not allowed to play as much as they would like, and are subjected to a lot of attention from various people they ought to know, but probably don’t. Asking a child to behave at an event is a bit like asking a pushy mother-in-law not to interfere. It won’t happen, unless you undertake some careful preparation to make it as pleasant as possible for the kids you invite along.
How to get around the boredom factor
Despite the fact that many people these days choose to ban children from their big day, there is no reason at all why kids shouldn’t be the making of an important event. They are funny, bubbly, quirky and bright, bringing a new perspective on a special occasion.
The following tips are designed to make your younger guests as happy as possible, during your special event.
Provide fun things to do
One of the ways to alleviate event boredom is by supplying packs of activities for children to do, while the adults are celebrating. This could include coloured pencils or crayons, puzzle books and small (quiet!) toys. This lets your young guests know that they are welcome, and gives them something to keep them busy.
Hire some great props
No child can resist the allure of the bouncy castle, bubble machine or ball pit. By investing in one of these props, your event can be as pleasurable for a child as a day at the seaside. Bouncy castles are appealing to children of all ages, and with minimal setup and the right health and safety precautions, they should keep your children engaged and involved throughout the event.
Choose a venue with designated play areas
Many places that hold events such as weddings or family get-together have really good child facilities available to entertain kids. By choosing a venue carefully, you can make sure that there is a good play area with slides, swings and other child-friendly facilities that can take the edge off boredom and keep your younger guests occupied all day.
Choose a reliable children’s entertainer
There are companies available who can supply a wealth of entertainment for children, ranging from clowns, puppet shows and balloon sculptors right through to magicians. By choosing a good entertainer, you not only keep kids engaged and satisfied, but also potentially bring a lot of pleasure to the adult guests as well. Who can resist the allure of a great magician coming to the table and performing some spectacular tricks? Kill two birds with one stone, by selecting entertainment options which appeal to both adults and children alike.
Restricting children’s invitations to the day, or to the evening
You don’t have to invite children along to the full event, if it is easier not to. Many people these days opt to allow children at only one part of the event, for example having them attend the day, and asking for adults only in the evening. In this way, the children in your group are made to feel welcome, but you only have to cater for them some of the time.
It isn’t unusual for people to ask that kids are kept away from an event completely. It depends entirely on the type of event being held. For weddings, you can specify that you only want to invite adults but this can cause difficulties with family, if they feel that their children are being excluded. However, corporate events and other types of hospitality may benefit from keeping children away, to support strict health and safety requirements and reduce noise. Use your judgement wisely and you will navigate through the day beautifully by choosing just the right option for you and your event.
‘Never work with children or animals’ is an old adage which we all understand. Similarly, ‘Never invite children or animals to an event’ could hold true. Whether you are planning a wedding, holding an exhibition or gathering people together for a family ‘do’ or a work outing, children can cause havoc if they are not well entertained.
What’s the problem?
Kids, unlike most adults, have no sense of occasion. They live in the here and now, and generally even the most angelic child will get easily bored if they are not stimulated enough. A church service which is emotional and beautiful to us is a bit like torture to a child who has to sit very quietly and not fidget for a full hour.
Children, on the whole, do not like big events. Think about it from their perspective – they have to get dressed in unfamiliar and probably uncomfortable clothing, are not allowed to play as much as they would like, and are subjected to a lot of attention from various people they ought to know, but probably don’t. Asking a child to behave at an event is a bit like asking a pushy mother-in-law not to interfere. It won’t happen, unless you undertake some careful preparation to make it as pleasant as possible for the kids you invite along.
How to get around the boredom factor
Despite the fact that many people these days choose to ban children from their big day, there is no reason at all why kids shouldn’t be the making of an important event. They are funny, bubbly, quirky and bright, bringing a new perspective on a special occasion.
The following tips are designed to make your younger guests as happy as possible, during your special event.
Provide fun things to do
One of the ways to alleviate event boredom is by supplying packs of activities for children to do, while the adults are celebrating. This could include coloured pencils or crayons, puzzle books and small (quiet!) toys. This lets your young guests know that they are welcome, and gives them something to keep them busy.
Hire some great props
No child can resist the allure of the bouncy castle, bubble machine or ball pit. By investing in one of these props, your event can be as pleasurable for a child as a day at the seaside. Bouncy castles are appealing to children of all ages, and with minimal setup and the right health and safety precautions, they should keep your children engaged and involved throughout the event.
Choose a venue with designated play areas
Many places that hold events such as weddings or family get-together have really good child facilities available to entertain kids. By choosing a venue carefully, you can make sure that there is a good play area with slides, swings and other child-friendly facilities that can take the edge off boredom and keep your younger guests occupied all day.
Choose a reliable children’s entertainer
There are companies available who can supply a wealth of entertainment for children, ranging from clowns, puppet shows and balloon sculptors right through to magicians. By choosing a good entertainer, you not only keep kids engaged and satisfied, but also potentially bring a lot of pleasure to the adult guests as well. Who can resist the allure of a great magician coming to the table and performing some spectacular tricks? Kill two birds with one stone, by selecting entertainment options which appeal to both adults and children alike.
Restricting children’s invitations to the day, or to the evening
You don’t have to invite children along to the full event, if it is easier not to. Many people these days opt to allow children at only one part of the event, for example having them attend the day, and asking for adults only in the evening. In this way, the children in your group are made to feel welcome, but you only have to cater for them some of the time.
It isn’t unusual for people to ask that kids are kept away from an event completely. It depends entirely on the type of event being held. For weddings, you can specify that you only want to invite adults but this can cause difficulties with family, if they feel that their children are being excluded. However, corporate events and other types of hospitality may benefit from keeping children away, to support strict health and safety requirements and reduce noise. Use your judgement wisely and you will navigate through the day beautifully by choosing just the right option for you and your event.
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