What to do with the children!

[Tiredprobably]

We are hoping to have a low key relaxed wedding next year and fingers crossed for nice weather for an outdoor reception afterwards. We have a 2 year old and lots of our friends have children, we want them all to come and have fun so I'd like some ideas to help the parents out but also make the children have a nice day too? I know it's a long day for children so maybe an entertainer for a little bit or games?? Any ideas very welcome thanks

[SuperSlattern]

How about an activity table with lots of cheap tat toys, colouring books and pencils (not felt tip pens)

Balloons always go down well, maybe keep a stash for when they get a bit cranky.

How about a sweety hunt? Hide little bits and pieces around so they can "find" the treasure

[SuperSlattern]

Oh and a bouncy castle goes down well

[iscream]

Giant bubble wands.

[pingdriver]

we did similar. Had some cheap sparkly balls for them to throw around, colouring books and washable pens. We also hired a magician and entertainer for adults and children. He did magic for adults and other stuff for children as well as magic including balloon animals (you know where they blow balloons up twist them to make things???............). went down well. Good on you for thinking about the kids as well as many don't!

just a thought but they can get bored at the ceremony itself so if you want to try and manage that bit, maybe worth thinking of something to keep them quiet then, books or something else? we didn't and children caused chaos :)

[Gapants]

If you have a toy library near you, you can borrow lots of toys. We did that and we had a good selection of large outdoor toys.

I also paid for 3 girls to be sort of casual babysitters. They didn't come to the service but to everything else and were on hand to play with the children. It was money well spent, we had blocks and balls and a sandpit and they played with all the kids. They also organised them into a treasure hunt too.

We did party bags for all the kids with--
Lego
A shaker
play doh
colouring pencils
note pad
bubbles

We also made the kids a packed lunch. The kids had their own table that was covered with balloons, streamers, toys etc which they could opt to sit at together, but we also laid them a place next to their parents.
Cheese/Ham sandwich
Innocent Smoothie
Little bag of chopped up carrots, cucumber
strawberries/apple
chocolate buttons

[iscream]

Croquet, horseshoes.croquet, horseshoes, lawn bowling.

[iscream]

I must like horseshoes a lot.

[Tiredprobably]

Ooo all really good ideas! There might be some little crawling ones there as well, if I have playdoh and stuff is it too stressful fir parents to have to keep their babies away from this stuff? I know you can't please everyone. I think a bouncy castle is a good idea and il investigate the toy library. We are having a hog roast so think lunch bags are a good idea too! Thanks guys, let me know if you think of anything else!

[Tiredprobably]

Il get onto the horse shoes asap iscream! How much did you pay the girls gapants, trying to keep the costs down, but had kind of been thinking something like that might be a good investment.

[nickelhasababy]

balloons, definitely!

we had a pack of stuff for the kids during the service- it had activity book, felt-tips, chocolate, toy.
and they were allowed to run around the church while we ate (it was a buffet, which i think is better for kids cos it's not so boring!)
and they loved the disco in the evening.

but big games like floor puzzles, or even any of your own child's toys. dump them in a heap on a big blanket and let them get on with it.

[melodyangel]

Friends had a bouncy castle at their wedding was great until the DS2 hurt his ankle and we had to leave so missed half the reception and all of the dancing.

We had party bags and toys but mainly the kids ran around with sticks, we had an outdoors wedding, hardly saw them all day.

[kys]

Do you have a college nearby that might have students doing NNEB ar NVQ in childcare? Friends of mine contacted our local college and arranged for some NNEB students to entertain the children as experience for them and peace of mind for them. They were very very good.

[WMDinthekitchen]

Good idea re Lego, colouring etc. and would second trying to find some suitably qualified people to supervise (otherwise, you could have the little ones eating the Lego etc!!). Unless you have a lot of supervision, I wouldn't go with the bouncy castle (sell melodyangel's post above)

I recently had a family party at home and the children who came played happily with the Lego etc the whole time.

You could get in touch with your local toy library to borrow items for all ages. Make sure you have someone to return them if you are off on honeymoon. Hope you have a fabulous day!

[Gapants]

We gave them £40 each and a box of booze at the end! They were all over 18 I must stress. We had lots left over so sent them home with a couple of bottles of wine and some beers. I think they would have been happy with just the booze. They started at 2ish and left at dish They were local to the village and friends of friends kids. It worked really well for us.

You could get a big job lot of lego maybe second hand off ebay or freecycle

[Gapants]

would give the bouncy castle a miss...someone might get hurt and someone mitt sue! I know that sounds outrageous but it does happen.