5 Ways to Keep Kids Entertained at Your Wedding Reception

Kids at a wedding reception can be some of the happiest guests in the room, or the most restless, once the toasts run long and the dance floor isn't quite their scene yet. A little planning goes a long way. Here are five simple ways to keep the little guests happy so their parents can relax and enjoy the celebration too.

1. Give them their own seat at the table

A personalized activity booklet at each child's place setting signals that they were thought of, not just tagged along. Kids love seeing their own name on something.

2. Keep activities quiet and self-contained

Coloring pages, mazes, and word searches work well because they don't need batteries, don't make noise, and can be done right at the table during dinner or speeches.

3. Pack the essentials

A small set of crayons or colored pencils bundled with the activity book means nothing gets left behind or forgotten by a parent rushing out the door.

4. Set up a low-key kids' corner

A small table or a blanket in a corner with cushions gives kids a home base to return to between dances.

5. Let older kids help the younger ones

Pairing older children with younger ones for coloring pages often keeps both groups occupied longer than either would last alone.

A little bit of planning turns wedding downtime into one of the calmest parts of the day, for parents and kids alike.