Thread: Kids at a Cocktail Party

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Every year we host a perdominately adult Halloween Party that includes cocktails. No passing out or vomiting but there inevitably ends up being a couple people that I would describe as "drunk." Not beligerant mind you, just a little extra "jolly." Even my niece has been attending as regular guest since she was 12 without issue.

We never host the event on Halloween night, so that way everyone can take their kids trick or treating. Every year at this party I still hear from at least half a dozen of my parent friends that they cant find/afford a babysitter and therefore will not be attending.

There is also still 1 or 2 kids that end up coming with their parents and end up being VERY bored with all the "grownup" talk.

My idea was to set up a kids area this year, in another room from the adults, like a mini party. Some activity books, coloring crayons and kids games. I also had the idea of using my digital projector to show a family movie that fits the theme and I think the kids would be excited by the novelty of that. Maybe a "Scary Story" time? I would have someone or several someone's as attendant(s) for the kids. Then the kids could still participate in things like bobbing for apples and the costume contest with their parents.

I was just thinking that even if I paid a babysitter a group rate for my kids friends offsite, which I hear is not all that uncommon. I don't think everyone would be thrilled at the idea of dropping their kid off with some stranger, even if they came highly recommended and paid for by me.

Is the idea of these two concepts just too far apart to make work?

Thoughts? Ideas? Concerns?

How have you tackled this issue in the past?

Speaking from a work related view a kids area is pretty common. Since it's a halloween party there are many ideas for kids to keep them entertained. For example,paint pumpkins or carve if you have an adult that wants to supervise or even a ghost scavenger hunt. I'd be carefull with the coloring as kids tend to go off the page

A projector/movie is a nice touch and there are many you could chose from. Little snacks are also a hit among them.

If you need anymore help let me know. I work for an events center is this is a pretty common thing. As a party host, you and your guest should be able to enjoy your self without haveing to worrie about the children. Good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

Half of our friends have children, so when I first decided to have our Halloween party 5 years ago it was almost immediately decided that it would be a family friendly party. I serve no alchohol. We do nothing risque (sp). To us, thats not what makes for a fun time. Not implying thats what goes on at everyones party. lol

Now, if you are used to doing an adult oriented party and want to start incorporating children into the mix, it should be pretty easy. Designate a childrens area. Have kid friendly Halloween movies on the TV. Creative spooky treats. Games. Maybe pumpkin painting. A family ghost story time would be cool as well as it would give the kids a chance to share time with their parents at the party and not make them feel as if they are being pushed off.

I hear ya! We do however welcome kids to our parties and have a play/guest room upstairs. It is full of bean bags, mini-fridge, video games(Wii, Xbox and PS3), big screen TV and a huge library of PG-13 or lower DVD movies to be viewed as well. There is a restroom up there as well so they only come down to get food or soda/punch. I'm very fortunate to have this area for them and it solves all those problems in my home!

I'm curious if anyone without kids would find this a detriment to an otherwise good evening? I certainly understand the desire to go without them.

I will speak from years of experience. I do 2 Halloween parties a year; one for families and one for adults only. I needed to do the adults only because I found that when children were present, nobody drank even one cocktail! Also, when children are present, adults that don't have kids would not come. I guess they felt it inappropriate to drink around kids, too, and didn't seem to enjoy it as much. Adults that want to "party", want to party, and can't let their hair down around children. It really depends on your friends & guests...what do you think they would like better and tailor your parties accordingly.

Things are so different than from when I was a kid. There wasn't so many worries as to what the kids would think or do. If us kids got bored, we went off and entertained ourselves. The adults never seemed to have less of a good time just because we were around. It seems these days, parents either care/worry too much or not enough...there's no happy medium. Relax and have a good time!

With that said, considering people's feelings/wishes, having a seperate room for the munchkins with a little party of their own is a great idea. Maybe you could ask some of your friends' older children (teenagers) if they would be interested in making a few bucks in babysitting/party entertaining. There are so many activities that can keep them entertained: bobbing for apples ~ or to save your floors from water, tie the apple to a hanging string and they have to eat it without using their hands. They can decorate paper bags to make their own masks or you could purchase those plain eye masks to decorate. Make some Halloween shaped sugar cookies and they can decorate their own with frosting, sprinkles, colored sugars etc. Play 'Pin the nose on Jack' (Halloween version of pin the tail on the donkey) Using markers, draw and color in a big ole Jack-o-lantern on a poster board, leaving him without a nose. And then cut out triangles from black (or yellow) construction paper for the kiddies to use as noses. I'm sure you know how the rest of the game goes lol. Another great idea is to get a bunch of those little pumpkin candy pails (the ones that hold a couple pieces of candy), fill em up with some treats and hide them. Turn off the light and have the kids hunt for them with flashlights. I did this years ago when I had a Halloween sleep over for my brothers and all the kids loved it! You could also put some cold, cooked spaghetti in one of those plastic tubs, add a little water so it's nice and squishy and then throw in plastic eye balls. Pair the kids by two's and have them race against eachother to see how many eyes they can pull out with their toes. Of course there's always Musical Monster Mash (musical chairs), Mummy Wrap (kids break up into teams of 2 or 3 and have to wrap eachother up like a mummy with toilet paper) and decorating pumpkins with yarn hair and googley eyes. The possibilities are endless! All of the kids will be plenty entertained.

Originally Posted by Sublime Nightmare

I will speak from years of experience. I do 2 Halloween parties a year; one for families and one for adults only. I needed to do the adults only because I found that when children were present, nobody drank even one cocktail! Also, when children are present, adults that don't have kids would not come. I guess they felt it inappropriate to drink around kids, too, and didn't seem to enjoy it as much. Adults that want to "party", want to party, and can't let their hair down around children. It really depends on your friends & guests...what do you think they would like better and tailor your parties accordingly.

This is how we do it as well.
This year we will have a family and kids party on Friday. Then on Saturday we will have the adults only party. Many of those attending the adult only party will end up at our place both nights. The kids get to see the haunt and don't feel left out when the parents go to their party on Saturday. I don't think the adults can really relax and enjoy themselves with anyone's kids present. I've always put my kids first and spent lots of time with them but I do believe it's important for adults to have some kid free time as well. Even my grown children just make an appearance and then leave even with one of them being the photographer. Get there early if you want your picture taken.

Children are welcome at our parties.Of course they are the parents responsiblity.We don't get plastered but we do have a great time.
The kids enjoy it as much as the adults.
We do a hayride-pumpkin carving-pinate-lots of food-and the kids start the dancing.

Originally Posted by star_girl_mag

I'm curious if anyone without kids would find this a detriment to an otherwise good evening? I certainly understand the desire to go without them.

At my party no.The adults know there children are there resonsiblility.So the people without kids don't even know they are there.
I have some adults that arrange pickup for there children.
I always took my son with me.If he couldn't go I didn't go.Since we both worked and he was with a babysitter everyday I was not about to leave him with one when I was off.