Thread: How to split a party between adults and kids...

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Considering 90% of our guests have kids arount the same age as ours, we hire a couple of teenagers and have a separate kid's party in the "dungeon". If you want to bring your kids to the party, it's $2.00 each for the night to pay for the sitter team. We set up a separate buffet table, movies, games, Wii, and kid-friendly decorations downstairs. We also have several huge beanbags and an inflatable mattress for them to crash on for the night. Most of the kids have to come upstairs at some time during the night to check out the other decorations but generally keep to themselves. They have too much fun to hang around with the adults.

yes, a babysitter is a great idea - I should have said in my post - we have good range of ages - 8-15 year olds. So, my 3 that are 14 and 15, are the sitters kind of. But all the kids are like family, and they all know I beat their butt if they get rowdy!! LOL No, they are all really good kids, we are all very close, so I have no problems out of them.

My concern would be the parents driving the kids home after the parents have been drinking. I would do a separate party for each group.

im with bev, we have mix parties a lot for holidays. the key is to have some lvl headed teens (thank their mom) that watch the younger ones while the old people have their fun outside. On halloween, we let the kids stay up late, watch movies, games or w/e, and crash all over. Of course thats what we all do at the end of the night, but we're always careful to keep the upstanding adult image while they're awake

edit.... u have too much fun, u stay

badgirl has the right idea. Hiring teens to corral the younger ones is the way to go. I did this for 4 years and it worked great. I provided crafts for the little ones. Later, I did a trick-or-treat "pumpkin trail" using the adults in costume to give out the candy. I've also done a carnival using the parents/hired teens as carnies. Kids area was in my basement, adults upstairs with the food, and alcoholic beverages outside.

If you want your party to go on much later, invite people with no small children. Have them come to the party later (8pm or so), while the people with small children come at 6.

I'm planning to put the keg of beer in the back yard and use clear plastic cups for kids, blue and red cups for adults. That way it will be conspicuous if a kid is drinking something out of a non-see thru cup. The keg will be monitored anyway. At the end of the party, I am taking the tap with me.

Good idea Sir!

We have tons of room for peeps to stay. I usually pop our large tent up outside - let the kids crash out back - that even adds to the spoooooky atmosphere, after they've stayed up watching scary movies!!

That gives us 2 more beds then, to let adults crash on. My friend brings their large travel trailer - that sleeps 8.

Then the next morning we all get up - and I have help cleaning up even! BONUS! LOL

We usually have one party but invite family and people with kids over earlier and then the big partiers and people without kids at a later time.

That way there's some overlap everyone gets to see everyone else but everyone's on their best behaviour still. The parents & kids plus those who don't like to stay late can leave early and then the hardcore partying lasts on into the night.

My daughter is 12 and my son 10. There is no way I could plan a party and not invite them. They would never forgive me! The last two years I hosted a Pirate and Vampire party. I never saw the kids except when we played bobbing for apples, or did the Mummy Wrap game with both kids and adults. On the invitation I put " kids are welcome, but not encouraged". I knew a few would come and that was enough to keep mine entertained while I entertained my guests. The youngetst kid, however, was 8 years old which makes a big difference. The kids played with each other and ran around in the backyard and had a spooktacular time! This year it is all about Zombies! I say if the kids can handle little guts and gore and not have nightmares when they get home then let them come!