How to Keep Kids Entertained at Parties: A Parent's Guide

If you are "lucky" enough to be preparing to host a party for your child, whether that be a birthday, a special occasion, or simply because it is your turn to host a kid's event of whatever kind, the first thing likely to be on your mind will how to keep them entertained. Although you might just think that you can sit them in front of the TV and throw in various snacks and treats, this will only keep their attention for so long until they rise up and start to demand more! Additionally, other parents may not be overjoyed to hear that their kids have spent the past few hours feating on a heady mixture of sugar and various Netflix shows. Instead, you can use the tips in this post to create the kind of party that will be memorable, keep parents and children happy, and allow you to walk away satisfied with the knowledge that you made an effort to give them a great time.

Hire A Professional Entertainer

One sure-fire way to make sure your child's party is one to remember is to hire an entertainer who specializes in kids' parties. This can be almost any kind of entertainment (as long as it's child-friendly, of course), including clowns, puppeteers, and magicians. In practice, you should take into consideration the age of your children as it will really depend on the age of your child and those whom you are hosting since some acts may be too advanced or too basic. Nonetheless, if you opt for a magician who adds a little extra to their show, you will find that they can be age-appropriate for almost all audiences (obviously, perhaps not for toddlers and under!) According to magician Alan Hudson, who combines elements of comedy into every show he performs, the audience will become the stars of the show, which, suffice it to say, children are going to absolutely love. Outside of magic, you have a plethora of other options, and you will have to decide which are best suited for the age group you are hosting and whether or not they will go down a storm or be ignored in favor of a Transformer movie.

Set Up A Craft Station

Kids love to make stuff (and break stuff, but that's another story), so setting up some kind of craft station can be a real coup and will help you move them away from the more mind-rotting activities like TV and video games towards something a little more nourishing for the mind. Craft stations also have the added benefit of being perfect for a broader range of ages and can be successful, really all the way up to the pre-teen stage, where they still have some interest in making and experimenting with stuff. However, if you want to avoid a massive clean-up operation once the event has concluded, you should place the craft station in one area and try to dissuade the children from moving things around, which is easier said than done, but with the right attitude can be achieved.

Organize Fun Outdoor Games Outside

If the weather is excellent, why not set up a selection of outdoor games that have the combined advantages of providing them with fun activities while also letting them burn through their excess energy? However, this tip comes with a few caveats:

1. Make sure to have plenty of drinks available to avoid dehydration
2. Ensure there is enough shade for them to relax in
3. Understand that accidents might happen, so inform parents beforehand what you're planning so there are no nasty surprises when they come to pick up their children.

Offer A Variety of Snacks

We all need food to survive but getting a bunch of overactive kids to sit down and eat a proper meal while they're all high on excitement can be a task in itself. Instead, you should offer a broad range of different foods that they can snack on throughout the day. If you really want to be the star parent, double-check with the parents of the kids who will be attending if they have any dietary requirements and make sure to provide them in order to cater to all and ensure no one is left out.

Set Up a Movie Corner

Yes, I know I said that TV isn't the greatest activity in comparison to others, like having real magicians or craft corners. But let's be honest: There will be a time when the kids start to become weary and tired from the other activities. When that time arrives, you will be happy that you thought ahead and set up a corner where they can all drop down in front of an age-appropriate movie until they get picked up.

Entertaining children during a party might seem like a straightforward task, but if you want them to have a great time without resorting to the less wholesome things in life, you need to do a little pre-planning. This post has offered a few ideas to get you on the right track, but with a little more research, you can find plenty of other amazing things to add, depending on the situation.

Nanny to Mommy