5 Tips for Hosting A Memorable Family-Friendly Holiday Party

December is here, which can only mean one thing: holiday party time.

As a parent, you want your holiday party to be as fun for kids as it is for your adult guests. But you don’t want to spend the whole night washing sticky hands and trying to keep your little guests from breaking all your good plates.

Don’t worry. We’re here to help you host the perfect family-friendly holiday party that will have guests of all ages eagerly waiting to do it all over again next year.

How to Host a Holiday Party for Kids and Adults

These five tips will help you plan and host a party that everyone will love.

1. Hire a temporary nanny

Don’t take on the role of a babysitter or assume that some other parent will. Instead, hire a temporary nanny (or two) for the evening from At Ease Flex Care Solutions.

A nanny is different from a babysitter in several ways. Most importantly, a nanny will do more than ensure the kids aren’t hurting themselves. They will engage with the kids by doing crafts, helping them serve their plates, and providing engaging activities they can enjoy.

Hiring a temporary nanny for the evening ensures that you and your adult guests can relax and enjoy the evening. Make sure to inform your guests of your plan, so they don’t pay for their own childcare.

2. Consider timing carefully

Adding kids to the party mix can be a lot of fun – until bedtime hits, and you find yourself surrounded by a chorus of crying, overly tired children.

So, think about the ages of your young guests when timing your party. If there will be a lot of younger children (i.e., toddlers and preschoolers), consider starting the party in the late afternoon and wrapping up by evening. If there are school-age children, you can start early in the evening and wrap up by 9 or 10.

3. Have some help with cleaning before and after

One of the most time-consuming parts of hosting a party is cleaning, especially if you have young kids. Don’t take the work on all by yourself. Instead, consider hiring a housekeeper who can help prepare your home for the holidays and assist with cleaning up the day after the party.

You can hire a temporary housekeeper. If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, At Ease Family Solutions can help!

4. Simplify the menu

An exquisite five-course meal will likely only get picked at by your younger guests. Save that for another time when you will be hosting a smaller dinner party.

Instead, create a simple menu that doesn’t require much preparation. Strike a balance between hot and cold foods that can be easily plated.

You can also hire a caterer to manage the menu, serve, and clean up. This is by far the easiest option and will give you the most time to spend with your guests instead of being in the kitchen, away from all the fun.

5. Consider a theme

For some, “holiday party” is enough of a theme, and that’s great! If you are looking to add some pizzaz to your party, consider doing one of the following:

• Holiday cookie theme: Everyone brings a plate of cookies to share (homemade or store-bought)
• Festive sweater party: Everyone arrives in their most festive holiday sweater.
• Gingerbread house decorating: Allow guests to decorate a gingerbread house they can bring home at the end of the party.
• Book donations: Ask every guest to bring a new copy of their favorite book that will be donated to a local charity.
• Christmas around the world: Add food and decorations that recognize how different cultures celebrate the holidays worldwide.

Happy Holidays from At Ease Family Solutions

The At Ease Family Solutions team wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to working with you to find the best childcare solution for your family now and in the new year.

If you are looking to hire a nanny in South California, we can help! We serve families in Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Cruz, Marin, San Joaquin, Monterey, North, Los Angeles, and San Francisco counties.

Fill out a form on our website to get started.