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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Entertaining kids
All of our friends have kids, which we love, but we find ourselves never asking our friends over for dinner. We'd like to, and have hosted them a couple times in the past, but we're so hesitant to ask on a regular basis because we're not quite sure how to keep their kids entertained. I have a stash of bubbles and coloring books that I bust out for them but that bores them after a few minutes. We usually end up sticking in a DVD for them while us "big kids" sit outside and talk story. Our friends are good about bringing over some toys for them but I'd like to be a little more prepared. We have a big backyard but our house isn't the most kid-friendly - we don't have a playroom or room for them to spread out in the house. The keiki range from 2 years old to 8 years old. How do you go about entertaining your friends' kids? And if you're a mom, what do you suggest?
Re: Entertaining kids
If you're giving them coloring books, I think that's awesome, and I don't see anything wrong with a DVD. I'd also probably expect the parents to bring some of their child's own toys if they were different ages to my own kids (since a teething ring is unlikely to entertain 2-8 year olds lol).
If you reeeeeeeally wanted to have a stash of toys, you could maybe get some Legos and a couple dolls or something (or maybe a board game like Hungry Hippos?), but I wouldn't go all out and buy an entire toy store lol. And as a parent, I certainly wouldn't expect my friends to whip out a box of goodies to entertain my kids and I would think you rocked just for providing the bubbles and coloring books.
I would always expect (as a parent) to bring the toys I know will keep my kids occupied. Right now Jack is so small that he often sleeps though our dinner parties but when he is older I will bring toys (or a dvd) that I know will keep him busy or, depending on the situation, I would leave him with my parents so that we could enjoy some adult time.
I think what you have is great but if you did want to add a few self play things think of items the kids may not have at their own house - new = super interesting...
My grandparents that haven't had "kids" around in quite some time (youngest cousin is already 16) have a small box of toys that seem to keep all the random kids that do stop by happy - an old gameboy (this is a big hit, haha), some toy dinosaurs and an old transformer, a doll with a small selection of clothes, some interactive books, and maybe some legos.
I think it would be different if they were family that you entertained on a regular basis - I remember my aunt and uncle were my primary babysitters and they had a toy closet even before they had children of their own because I went there at least one afternoon a week. But since it's so random I would ultimately leave it up to the parents.
You're the best friend ever. I would never expect a friend to have stuff to entertain my lil monster.
... but, since you asked...
Plan A
Here is the cheapest end of the spectrum. ALL kids like to create. Let them build a fort. They can call it a castle. They can draw all over it.
1) Cardboard boxes (moving boxes, furniture boxes... free from stores, craigslist, freecycle... or buy them from a storage center)
2) Old sheets and blankets... or cheap tulle from the fabric store
3) Non-toxic, washable markers (crayola), streamers or any other decorative items that they can glue/tape on their boxes.
Plan B
Consider this mid-range. Invest in some small things that the kids can use every time they visit. I will leave the 2 year old out (sorry, but they are in a range of their own. Many toys are labeled ages 3+ for safety and ability). I would fill a rubbermaid container with
1) Art supplies - markers, pads of paper, construction paper, kid scissors, elmer's glue, tape, stickers.
2) Playdough (although, if you have carpet, set them up outside)
3) Water guns
4) Flashlights
5) For girls, they love to dress up. If you pulled out some of your old clothes, jewelry and shoes, they could be busy for an hour.
Plan C
Ready to drop some money? This would be the over-achiever end of the spectrum. Plan a theme! Go to a party supply store and pick a section - buy a bunch of coordinating things - decorations, favors, toys, pinatas, games. They have it all from cartoon characters, movie themes, pirates, princesses, jungle animals... you name it. Pick what you like, set up an area of your house (outside is fine) and load it up!
Newlyweds since 2007
Thanks for all the great advice! Love the fort idea and the idea of collecting toys that will be new to them. The new part must be key because everything I've busted out so far has flopped.
Our friends do bring over toys to keep their kids entertained. May be it's a Maui thing but the keiki are always included. They're part of our ohana and we love to see them. I guess if we were hosting a formal party or sit down dinner, we'd suggest getting a sitter. I just feel like I want the parents to feel relaxed and that's kind of hard when your kids are hanging on you or interrupting conversation frequently. Hence the reason for putting together a kick a$$ toy box - after all, we want to be the "cool" Aunty & Uncle as well as make the house fun for everyone, big or small.