Coming from a big family and having lots of friends there is always a funeral, a holiday, open houses, a wedding or other formal event to attend. With baby number five, you can only hope we have it down! After all, we’ve had a mid-wedding-ceremony head bonk on the church pew, a bloody nose mid-reception, and the non-kid-friendly wedding menu meltdown.
Here are my tips for surviving a formal event with kids!
Before the Event
Help your kids understand what they are going to – a formal event. Have them help pick out their outfit. We love using church clothes because our kids associate button-down and collared shirts as something they need to be calmer when wearing. Have a backup outfit in the car for “oops” moments.
Formal Event Bag of Tricks
I have a large purse I use as a diaper bag for more formal events. My sister calls it my bag of tricks. I carry paper, crayons, pens and stickers to do at the table. I have bubbles for playing outside between the ceremony and reception. There are snacks and treats in there for during the ceremony {check if they allow food in the hall before pulling it out}, baby wipes for cleaning sticky fingers after dinner, and a Tide pen for stains. Recently, we added the kids tablets, simple snacks, Uno cards, a kid’s camera, and a hair brush. Oh and one more – M&M’s or chocolate chips for toddler & preschooler bribes during family photos.
Make the Event Fun
No one wants to be bored at a wedding or other formal event. Plus, attending something with bored kids is 100 times worse. Liven it up for the kids! We let them use their camera to photograph the event {keep the flash off}! We have coloring or activity sheets printed for the kids to do at the dinner table. My uncle carries a sharpie or two, to let the kids doodle on tossable table clothes.
Surviving the Formal Dinner
We have had our share of non-kid-friendly dinners. My brother-in-law took one look at the buffet, walked out to his car to grab a 40 pack of chicken nuggets {still hot} for the ten nieces and nephews at our table to share. Normally we will have the kids eat what they want from the buffet or plate and then get them food from the cooler in the car during the dancing or on the way home. The best advice I can give is to encourage them to try everything. I’m not ashamed to say I bribed my older two boys, age 6 & 9, to eat stuffed mushrooms last summer. Now they love them!
Leave it on the Dance Floor
Time for fun! Explain the special formal dances. Then, take the kids out on the dance floor to dance the night away! If they start to get too rowdy like playing tag, take them on a “calming walk” outside or to the lobby.
The Ride Home
Have drinks in the car for the ride home. If it is a late night and a long drive, have the kids change into PJ’s or comfy clothes for the car. Give them their drink and a blanket and they will probably be asleep before you hit the highway.
I’d love to hear your survival tips for long formal events like weddings with kids! Share them below!
