4 ways to have a child and adult-friendly summer party

One of the best parts of summer is the long weekends we get in Canada. From Victoria Day to Labour Day, there’s opportunities for days off to enjoy the sunshine and more time with your friends and family. If you’re like us, you love a good summer barbecue to relax, unwind and rekindle old friendships over great food and atmosphere. If you’re the lucky host of a BBQ this Civic Holiday weekend in August, we’ve got your top 4 tips for how to make the celebration child and adult-friendly. So if your kids are younger and love to help you out or even if they’re older and wish they were spending time with their friends instead, these tips are designed to get them involved and make sure you are the successful host of a great party!

Make a great playlist beforehand

Music is key for the atmosphere of any gathering, and making a playlist can be a great way to get your kids involved in the barbecue. If your children are older, they may even know how to get their own music onto a playlist, playing all the summer hits from Selena, Drake, and Bieber. If your kids are younger, you can still include songs on the playlist that they will like hearing, perhaps songs from their favourite TV shows like Fuller House. You can have final say on the playlist making sure there are songs the adults will know as well, like a few throwback tunes to get the conversation going about great music from yesteryear.

Keep the food (for the most part) neutral

You can definitely stick to your bread-and-butter barbecue items for the grill, like hamburgers and hot dogs, but when it comes to the sides, try something new. Leave the French fries in the freezer section and the chips in the freezer aisle and opt for grilling some vegetables to go with your main courses. Your guests will like that there’s a healthy option, and your kids can be encouraged to try something new, like grilled corn. Why not try green beans, peppers, or even tomatoes on the barbecue? Grilling makes everything tastes better, and hopefully your kids will feel the same about these veggie options.

Plan a fun game or activity

If you have some free time before dinner is ready, or you want to find a fun way to work off the calories you just ate after dinner, start up a fun game. Badminton is fun for kids and adults, and the equipment is inexpensive and easy to find. If it’s getting a little chilly outside, you can take the party inside to play a game of charades or Head’s Up on someone’s device. Make sure there is always something for entertainment, and your guests and kids will never find themselves bored. Are your kids extra creative? Ask them to make up their own game that they can teach to everyone else!

Make it a DIY dessert

When you hear barbecue, the words “ice cream” might not be far behind. Who doesn’t love this sweet treat on a hot summer’s day or night? Instead of trying to pick a flavour that everyone will enjoy, get some plain ice cream, or frozen yogurt, and then go wild with toppings! From sprinkles to cookie chunks to pieces of fruit and candy, your barbecue will become the place to be with its own ice cream bar. Kids will absolutely love being able to decorate their own sundae, and adults will appreciate the variety of options, especially if they have allergies or dietary restrictions.

BONUS: Get your kids to decorate

While you’re in charge of food prep during the day, why not ask your kids to make some decorations for the party later? It gives them a chance to get creative, it occupies their time, and they can feel like they’ve contributed something to the party. A great idea is to get them to colour triangle pieces of paper and design them however they want, then hang them all together on a string that can be hung up over your patio or in the trees in your backyard. Your guests will appreciate the effort of the home-made decorations and it will liven up the space for your party.