Random Tips To Keep Adults Happy At Kid’s Birthday Party (14 items)

• 

  (#1) Don't Forget Food For The Adults

  At many children's parties, the adults are so concerned with getting the kids to stop and eat something that they forget about food for themselves. A spread of cheese pizza, potato chips, and cupcakes is great for kids, but it's not every adult's favorite lunch.

  Set up a table with finger foods grown ups can enjoy - cheese, grapes, nuts, olives, and veggies are great options. The other parents will appreciate having something substantial to eat while their kids play. The adult snack table is also a natural way for parents to gather in one place and break the ice! Win win. 
• 

  (#2) Make Introductions

  It sounds obvious, but take the time to introduce your guests. It's common for a party host to be so wrapped up in making sure everything is running smoothly with the kids that they forget to make sure the parents are getting to know each other, too. You might assume everyone has met before, especially if it's a class party, but make introductions where you can. It sometimes takes a little nudge to get parents off their phones and interacting, but once people start chatting everyone has more fun!
• 

  (#3) Create A Space To Relax

  Often at kids parties, all the chairs have been taken to the craft table or gathered up for games, leaving adults to stand for the whole party. Don't forget to set up a comfortable spot near the food and drinks where parents can sit and watch the kids play. This also creates a natural gathering area that will encourage parents to socialize and get to know each other.

  Don't have enough chairs? Get creative! Indoor stools, benches, or even loveseats can be pulled into the yard for an afternoon to create a cool, comfy, outdoor party room. 
• 

  (#4) Provide Adult Beverages

  If you've invited adults to your party, you should provide something other than juice boxes for them to drink. When you're throwing an afternoon gathering, offering up mimosas or other brunch cocktails is a great option. Set out a variety of juices, champagne, and plastic flutes. 

  If alcohol doesn't make sense for your party or venue, flavored sparkling waters or non-alcoholic punch can be great options. And don't forget coffee. If you've got coffee, everyone is happy!
• 

  (#5) Give Them A Heads Up

  When sending out your invitations, let people know what to expect. Everyone will have more fun if they are prepared! Sometimes parents aren't sure if they are supposed to stay for the party or just drop off the little ones and go. By making it clear on the invite that this is a party for both kids and adults, you can clear up any confusion. This way they can make plans to stay and enjoy all the fun! 
• 

  (#6) Keep Crafts Simple

  An interactive crafting activity always sounds like a fun idea but often just ends up overcomplicating things. When choosing a craft for your party, consider how involved the other adults will need to be in assisting their child. Keep it simple. The reality is that a three-year-old isn't going to thread all those tiny beads onto a string - their parent will. If an activity is going to end up being difficult to complete, skip it! There are plenty of crafts and games that are easy for little ones, and everyone will appreciate you thinking ahead. 
• 

  (#7) Hire A Sitter To Help

  A big mistake a lot of parents make is thinking they don't need help. You may indeed be a superhero and capable of handling everything on your own, but you certainly won't enjoy the party as much that way.

  Hiring your favorite babysitter for the afternoon is a worthwhile use of your party budget. Having an extra set of hands for set up, activities, and clean up means you have more time to socialize with the adult guests. The other parents can hang around the snack table and having a drink guilt-free knowing someone else is keeping an eye on the kiddos.  
• 

  (#8) Break Out The Nintendo Switch

  Having a Nintendo Switch set up somewhere at the party could keep kids and adults alike happy. When the younger ones head off to do something else, the adults could easily get in some more intense games of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart, or maybe let the swears fly – quietly – by trying some custom Mario Maker 2 levels.
• 

  (#9) Say Thank You

  Don't forget to say thank you! If you're a parent and have ever attended another child from school's party, you know it can take a lot out of you to buy a gift, get your kids ready, and get across town to attend. But when you see the excitement on a child's face when all their school friends show up for their special day, you realize it is worth sacrificing your weekend plans. As a host, know that all the adults in attendance are taking time out of their own lives for your child, and be grateful. Being truly appreciative goes a long way! 
• 

  (#10) Avoid Messy Activities

  It is a parent's nightmare to have to load a paint-covered child into the car to drive home. Keep the other parents happy by planning activities that don't involve getting kids messy! Glitter seems sparkly, fun, and innocent, but when it comes time for clean up, it is incredibly frustrating.

  There are plenty of mess-free crafts for kids that you can do instead! Want extra parent points? Let the babysitter run the craft table completely so the adults can hang back and relax. 
• 

  (#11) Play Games Everyone Can Enjoy

  Pin the tail on the donkey can be fun, but let's be honest - after so many parties, it gets a little old. There are a lot of new, creative party games out there that can be enjoyed by all ages! Look for a game the parents can play too, instead of just watching the kids.

  Games that get kids and parents interacting together, like "Right, Left, Eat" are a great way to include the adults in the fun. But you don't have to forgo all the classics completely - a three-legged race, Jenga, or musical chairs can also be winners depending on your crowd! 
• 

  (#12) Bring In Princess Reinforcements

  If you really want to step up your game, bring in princess reinforcements. Character entertainer companies, like Princess and Me in Los Angeles, bring the activities to you. The kids can enjoy a sing-along story time, face-painting, princess makeup, a magic show, themed games, dancing, and even take pictures with their favorite character.

  There are a ton of options out there at different price points, but they all have this in common: they take the pressure of keeping the kids entertained off you, so you and the other adults can relax. Also, don't underestimate the ability of a princess to keep kids in line. When Elsa tells everyone to sit down and be quiet for cake, they listen. 

   
• 

  (#13) Goodie Bags For All

  It's customary to put together goodie bags for kids to take home at the end of a party. But what about the grown-ups? It doesn't take much effort to put together a little goodie bag for them as well, and they will appreciate the gesture. You can easily pop some useful grown-up goodies from the Dollar Store in a bag, like Chapstick, hand sanitizer, and packs of gum.

  Have more time and want to get creative? Send them home with a Mini Bloody Mary Kit so they can enjoy the rest of their Saturday while the kids nap post-party. 
• 

  (#14) Offer An Uber

  If you live in a city or crowded neighborhood, it can be difficult to accommodate parking for a lot of guests. You can avoid the stress (and countless calls from parents asking where to park) by suggesting your guests Uber or rideshare to your location. This also allows adults to plan ahead if you are offering adult beverages. 

  If you really want to step it up, UberEVENTS makes it easy for you to pay for the rides your guests take to or from the party. Talk about making parents happy! 

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking