How To Keep Kids Entertained During A Wedding 

For adults, weddings are times of overt celebration. Old friends and family members are seen, drinks are shared and the married couple are celebrated. For kids, however, a wedding might be more of a long slog. Think back to the times when you attended weddings as a small child. The chances are high that you were bored stiff up until the age of around 16 – when your irresponsible uncle snuck you alcoholic drinks under the table and you threw up in a bush. Keeping kids entertained at a wedding does not have to be hard. Always keep younger people in mind when planning a celebration. Here are some top tips for keeping kids entertained at a wedding. 

Set Up A Crafting Table 

Making children happy at weddings should be quite simple. One tried and tested method is to set up a crafting table suitable for primary school children. Painting, and paper mâché mask making are always popular with children – if a little messy. Mess is, in fact, one of the most important elements of play. Weddings can often be overly stiff and clean. Children generally enjoy exploring the world around them in a tactile and interactive fashion. A crafting table is one way to facilitate this exploration in a relatively controlled environment. 

If that all sounds too messy then why not provide some crayons and a coloring book at each child’s dinner place? A small lego kit that they can make? Tailor your idea to the age of the child and ask their parents for ideas if you’re struggling. 

Dance! 

Set aside some time on the dancefloor for kids only. Nothing tires out a group of children more quickly than half an hour of intense dancefloor madness. Be sure to play the latest hyperactive pop hits. Interestingly, researchers have found that children instinctively love to dance. Infants may even find rhythm and dance more compelling than speech during their early development. 

Hire An Entertainer 

Hiring a children’s entertainer is a great idea to keep kids happy and occupied during a wedding. Kids entertainers can take some of the weight off the parents’ shoulders – allowing them to get on and enjoy the party. Clowns and magicians are adept at keeping kids entertained. It seems that children have more in common with medieval kings than they might initially appear to! 

Hire A Bouncy Castle 

Let the kids work their energy out in a (relatively) safe environment – a bouncy castle. Bouncy castles are sure to keep kids thrilled until they just want to take a rest. It is important to keep a responsible adult on hand at all times, however. Adults obviously love bouncy castles too, but it is important not to let them crowd out the kids – especially if they have had something to drink beforehand. 

Include The Kids 

Kids can often get bored in part because they are essentially outsiders to the party atmosphere and ceremonial pomp of a wedding. Counter this by including children as much as possible in the essential fabric of the wedding. Allow children to give speeches, eat with the adults, stay up later than usual and even carry the rings. Kids won’t be nearly as bored if they are actually involved in the day’s proceedings.