How to Survive a Kid’s Party as an Adult

Since it’s officially Spring (even though the weather is making it feel more like late fall), the seasonal influx in children’s parties is about to begin. From birthday parties, midweek get-togethers to spontaneous pool parties, there won’t be a shortage of children’s parties wherever you look. As an adult, kid’s parties can seem boring and loud, but there are ways to make the most out of these get togethers. Here are my tips for surviving a kid’s party as an adult!

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If you’re watching what you eat…

When you first learn of a kid’s party/get-together, rarely will you be kept in the dark of what kind of food will be served. Food is usually disclosed early on to warn those who may have food allergies, but use that to your advantage. You can approach this scenario one of two ways. (1) Plan to have a “cheat meal” at the party and bring your own health snacks and beverages. Or (2) bring your own small meal with to the party. If you choose the second scenario, I highly suggest eating a meal before you leave for the party and bring your usual snacks. Be mindful of the type and amount food that you do bring because you don’t want to offend the host.

If you don’t know anyone at the party…

I’ve found this is the most difficult scenario to deal with in the context of a kid’s party. If you’ve ever worked with kids or have younger siblings, then you know that most kids are completely comfortable going up to another kid they don’t know and playing together. They make it seem so effortless and easy. However, as an adult viewing this at a kid’s party, I usually find this intimidating. The easiest ways to say “Screw it!” to this uncomfortable feeling are to either begin mingling with other adults at the party or by joining in on the activities that the children are doing. Often times, especially if you’re with a very young child (1-5 years old), the child will want you to help them with the activity and also participate.

If you feel down-right uncomfortable…

We’ve all been there. In the morning, you realize you’re attending a children’s party later in the day and the dread slowly, but surely begins to creep into your mind. If you find yourself in this type of situation, it’s time for some power-introspection (“power” because it’s usually the night before/morning of and there’s not a lot of time between figuring out the root of your feelings and the party). Are you nervous that you don’t know anyone? Have you heard he-said-she-said stories about some of the other children? What is the source of your feelings of dread? Once you get to the root of your feelings, it’s time to deal with them. If you realize that your feelings are caused by one of the scenarios above, BAM! You have a potential solution. However, if your feelings are caused by something else, I recommend asking the host if there’s anything you can help with. The host can then help introduce you to people or you two can chat.

Whether you dread children’s parties for one of the reasons I’ve listed above or a reason of your own, my biggest piece of advice is to relax. Kids have very few inhibitions and find joy and at least an ounce of fun in almost everything they do. I’m not saying completely embody these characteristics, rather embrace the silliness of the children and the celebratory nature of the occasion.

How have you been able to survive kids’ parties as an adult?