Good Morning Moms and Dads,
We are having a housewarming party with a blessing this coming weekend. We are so excited to finally be settled in our dream house, and are thrilled to be able to celebrate with our friends and family. There will be approximately 50 people coming, of which 15 will be kids, all 8 or under. We will be doing a Texas BBQ with fajitas, fresh fruit, and chips and salsa, along with hot dogs for the kids. We will also have cupcakes, and drinks, including juice boxes, for all. My question is, do we need to plan any activities for the kids to do, or can it be just a hang out and play kind of thing? There is a neighborhood playground a little over a block away, and my mom and dad and some of the older people have offered to take some of the kids there if they want to go play. It's very safe, and we wouldn't send them without enough adult supervision. We have a playroom in the house too, which will be ready for the kids to play in. I just wasn't sure if, like a birthday party, we need to have an activity for the kids, or if we can just let them play on their own (my personal preference), and have that be enough. Thoughts???
Thanks in advance! Have a spectacular day!
Thank you for the responses! I wasn't sure if I was over-thinking things, or under-prepared.
I really appreciate the ideas for the bubbles and the chalk. Those will be perfect.
SB and Isn'tthisfun: Thanks for the ideas to keep it outside only. I never considered the issues of having that many kids inside. Hoping the forcast stays the same for sunny weather!
Krista: The Slip and Slide will be PERFECT! My son just got one for his birthday, and we have a great space for it - Thanks!!
Mickey <3: Thanks for the advice on the food. We had the extra chips and water covered, but carrots and ranch will be a great addition.
Lee Lee: We actually have one of our babysitters hired to specifically keep an eye on our kids (3 and 5) so we can be with our guests.
Patty, Sherry, 2kidsmama, and SH: The park is on our side of the street, there is not even a street to cross to get there, so we were thinking walk there. The max that would go would be 6 kids (all the older ones), and it would be my mom and dad (who are there all the time, and aren't concerned with seeing the new house), the babysitter, and her friend who is also coming (18 and 19 years old). It is mostly a back up plan, but hopefully there will be more than enough play time to keep the kids busy. Thanks!
You should do a pinata half way through the party...after everyone has eaten. That would be really fun for the kids. Or give out bubbles or set up a bubble machine. But don't feel like you have to do anything. Kids can totally entertain themselves when there are other kids around. Have fun!
I think you can just let them play together, old school style :)
But if you are so inclined, you could hire a teenage babysitter who can keep an eye on them and coordinate fun games outside.
Congratulations!
We recently did a housewarming party as well with kids included. We didn't have planned activities, but we did have activities outside for them to do. We have a swing set, which was a big hit but we also put out sidewalk chalk, sporting equipment, bubbles, and the slip and slide. We put out sunscreen and plenty of juice boxes and little water bottles and let them go. They played for HOURS.
Just remember to put away any toys that your children would be upset if they were broken. We've gotten into that habit and it keeps us from having tears at the end of a party. I take a Rubbermaid container into my son's room and let him put away anything "super special" or "fragile". Everything else is "fair game" and he knows it!
We do a huge crawfish boil every year. Basically, we kick the kids out back and let them play. In fact, we even write notes for the doors of the kids bedrooms that say "We're playing outside today". We do that reminder because one year we let the kids play inside and my son's room was basically destroyed. Toys pulled out, pictures pulled down, things broken. It was ridiculous and we don't really have "destructive" friends.
We have a few balls, bubbles and outdoor toys, but it's all very minimal. I wouldn't plan anything, but have a few items available. The kids will make their own fun and have a ball together. COngrats on the new house.
As long as there are actual things for the kids to do I think you will be fine. Personally I would leave the park out of it as guests may feel obligated to take their "turn" with the kids at the park and away from the party - that may not be great. I would treat it like a Holiday gathering with the kids - things to do, but no schedules.
no you don't need structured activities but make sure there is stuff for them to do. Idle kids get bored and trash your house!
Don't plan on having someone take them to the park. I think that is a little odd.
If you don't have any play structure in the backyard, have stuff for them to do. Like chalk, bubbles, some kind of fun and EASY craft etc. Check your local dollar store. Chalk, bubbles, punching balloons and hula hoops are cheap and fun and best of all NO MESS. I would try and keep the kids outside as long as it's nice out!!!
I would have outdoor things available but not structure any specific activity.
Like several others mentioned, have a stash of sidewalk chalk, bubbles, a ball or two of some sort to kick around or toss around, and then don't worry.
Kids are amazingly creative--when we let them be.
I would not plan on anyone having to march them to and from the park, either... And I love the idea of "playing outside today" notes on the doors. I, too, have hosted get-togethers where stuff magically was broken or ransacked. Then it is a lot of work for the kids to try to put their rooms back together again. Really not worth it. If it was one or two kids, then fine. but 15?? No way. That's inviting a ransacking, in my opinion.
I wouldn't have anyone take them to the park. That's too hard on you.
Just let them play outside.
It would be good to throw some toys outside like kickball, bean bag toss,
sidewalk chalk etc.
The food sounds great. I might add a few things:
-a different chip besides the plain tortilla chips you dip into the salsa
-I would have some bottled water on hand (get the mini ones for the kids)
& stick them in a tub filled w/ice out back.
-Love your idea of cupcakes & juice boxes.
-You could even have some frozen chicken nuggets on hand for the younger kids under age 8.
-You could add some carrot sticks & Ranch
-For little, little kids, you could have building blocks, leggos, dolls & a kids
shopping cart
-Let them play on their own w/toys out back.
-I think your indoor playroom will be great, too.
-You won't need to have any structured activities for the kids because it's
not like a birthday party. Just have toys out & about!
Congratulations on your new home! Have a fun party!
I think if you have a playroom, you're set. Kids should be fine. If most adults will be outside, though, you might go to the dollar store and pick up something like bubbles that will give them an activity.
No you are good to go. Have fun and congrats on your new home. The park is a good idea as long as they are all not little ones. It is good for the older kids like 4 to 8.
Nope, no need to plan anything, they will have a blast just being together I'm sure. Congrats on the new house!
If you feel like getting something for the kids to do, how about some stepping stone art. tempera paint, stepping stones and brushes. Have them do the craft outdoors. the paint will wash away, and wash out of clothes, their hair, your fine patio furniture etc.
Congrats and good luck,
F. B.
It sounds to me like you have plenty for them to do.
all i can think about is cupcakes in your new carpet! lol
i would not trust grandparents to handle the energy it takes to watch 15 young ones! i would hire a couple baby sitters or some teens to help with the grandparents.
a bounce house would be fun as i would not allow my kids to leave the house with out me (5yrs and 3 yrs). Or other outdoor activites they could play. ring toss, hoola hoops jump ropes , bubbles.
You are fine. You don't need any special activities for the kids. Congratulations.
you don't have to have special activities but if you can have some stuff outside for the kids to do. like that bean bag toss game or the ladders type thing. maybe some sidewalk chalk and crayons. adults will offer to take the kids but aren't they there to visit with you in your new house? I would just have some lawn games set up so your new house doesn't get trashed by so many kids and so the adults don't have to take off to keep the kids occupied.
Maybe just chalk and bubbles
If the kids and older adults will be going to the park over 1 block away... how are they going there?
Walking? Driving? (if driving they will need car seats etc.)
How many adults to how many kids?
If the older adults are elderly... are they physically able-bodied and can move fast and are alert and have good eyes?
Can they run after any kids that run... ahead of them, while going to the park?
Once, my daughter and her friend and her friend's brother... were walking to a park near their friend's house. Just 3 kids, and the friend's Mom. There were two 10 year old kids and the other kid is 6. Safe neighborhood. Well, when they were walking to the park nearby... the 6 year old, was ahead of them, as he is an active fast boy. He was within eye sight, but had jogged up ahead of them... about 15 feet away...with the two 10 year old girls just behind him, and the Mom. Well, all of a sudden, a car came driving by fast and almost hit him. Fortunately, a neighbor man was there taking out his trash... and he grabbed the boy and stood between him and the car.
