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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask how to occupy a 10 year old at a wedding

28 replies

buzzmoon · 25/02/2017 16:19

Planning on making little kids packs for my wedding. Will have things like colouring book, bubbles etc. I've got a few older kids, both boys and girls and don't know what things I could put in for them that's not too kiddy, or do you think they're too old for the whole thing? Don't want them to feel left out, or bored. I've no idea! Thanks :)

OP posts:

LapinR0se · 25/02/2017 16:21

I would make a zone with beanbags and a DVD player and stick on the minions and finding dory

StealthPolarBear · 25/02/2017 16:22

I think they'll be in their element! Eating, chatting, dancing, what's not to like :)
I have an almost ten year old and I hope someone gets married soon as he'd love a wedding.
that said they're not too old for stickers, match at tax cards, bubbles, maybe a little disposable camera - mine would love that

minionsrule · 25/02/2017 16:22

How old do you mean by older ones? Past 10 I would say they don't need anything - sure parents will pack gadgets or they will have phones.
I would also re-think the bubbles for the younger ones - if they are dressed in their finest then I can see spillages . Maybe yo=yo's as an alternative

Sleeperandthespindle · 25/02/2017 16:22

My DD and DNiece were 6&7 at a family wedding last year. They didn't need any entertainment at all - they just played together. DS was 4 and just made friends with everyone he could find. I can imagine my DD at 10 just taking a book along if she thought she'd be bored. Do you know these children well?

Barbie222 · 25/02/2017 16:23

That's a lovely thought for the little ones. The older ones will watch screens sort themselves out though surely?

StealthPolarBear · 25/02/2017 16:23

Good point about bubbles.
also do disposabe cameras still exist??
Are loom bands so 2015? If not a little kit wpuld be good

PurpleTraitor · 25/02/2017 16:24

Ten year olds don't really need occupying, I'd expect them to be polite enough to deal with a wedding (though I'm not sure you can entirely prevent boredom)

If you wanted to give them something - top trumps, loom bands, scratch art, Moshi monsters, shopkins, that type of thing is generally acceptable for all the 10year olds I know.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 25/02/2017 16:26

Most weddings I've been to the over 10s are able to occupy themselves quite well and love the food, music, drunk adults. Most will probably bring something with them like a phone or tablet. If you are having anything like a sweet cart or photo booth this will also entertain them. If you really wanted to an area with ano xbox in would be a hit but might cause more problems than its worth with kids getting into arguments about turns etc.

bigearsthethird · 25/02/2017 16:33

I wouldn't have thought 10 year olds need occupying but a poster above mentioned a disposable camera. I can imagine they would absolutely love that! And bubbles, I don't know any 10 year olds who don't like bubbles. Balloons are always good, make sure there's some of those loose to be kicked around. Congratulations btw

Original poster

buzzmoon · 25/02/2017 16:33

Oh cool! That's good to know, thank you for your responses!
I've seen the disposable camera idea, think that's lovely. And point taken on the bubbles! Will rethink that.

OP posts:

Emboo19 · 25/02/2017 16:55

At my parents wedding, we did a kids activity table. Colouring books, bubbles like your thinking, also glow sticks, those little led lights that go on fingers, silly dress up joke things, stick on moustaches that kind of thing, magic wands and tiaras, disposable cameras. We also put out the little boxes of Harry Potter jelly beans, the kids found it highly amusing trying to get you to eat one of the yucky flavours!

Helbelle75 · 25/02/2017 16:59

We had kids between 2 and 11 at ours and had a toy box with various games in, giant bubbles and some colouring stuff.
They all played together, but as soon as the band started they were all dancing!

RhinestoneCowgirl · 25/02/2017 17:03

DS was playing giant Jenga at my brother's wedding last yr. He also spent quite a bit of time tearing around the garden with other boys his age.

Come the evening he hit the dance floor with the rest of us, it was fab!

UpWithPup · 25/02/2017 17:04

I agreed they'll probably entertain themselves pretty well, we did give the kids at our wedding puzzle books for during the speeches though.

Astro55 · 25/02/2017 17:07

Bouncy balls - skipping ropes - like the dressing up idea - make it wedding focused!

lalalalyra · 25/02/2017 17:09

We were at a wedding last weekend and DS (8) and DH's nephew (10) were given disposable camera and a photo challenge. The bride had set them a list of 15 (I think) photos to get throughout the afternoon/evening. They had a great time tracking down the bride's grandma and someone with glittery shoes etc. The bride's SIL got them printed during the week and they got a set for the couple to keep and a set for the boys and DS is absolutely delighted.

Also some of the photos are brilliant. Not like professional photos obv, but people are really relaxed with kids and with their extra photos left they've taken lovely photos of each other.

ProfYaffle · 25/02/2017 17:09

A few outside toys might be helpful for letting off steam. We went to a wedding a few years ago which had space hoppers - went down really well with the kids and drunken adults

AVY1 · 25/02/2017 17:16

We gave DD (4) and DNephew colouring books and also had board and garden games for everyone. They didn't really need entertaining though. They just joined in and had a lot of fun. At a friend's wedding recently she had a sketch book and pencils and by the evening was tearing up the dance floor!

Emboo19 · 25/02/2017 17:22

Don't re think bubbles op! Bubbles are great, so what if kids get a bit messy.
My mums best friends, two year old was a flower girl for her and by the end of the night her dress had, ice cream and chocolate down the front, bubble mixture spilt on and she'd added some decoration with a felt pen. She looked adorable and most importantly she had fun!!

TheTartOfAsgard · 25/02/2017 17:25

They'll be too busy sliding around the dance floor on their knees for colouring in won't they?

My dc were 7 and 8 at my sisters wedding and were dancing and playing with the other kids.

OverthinkingSpartacus · 25/02/2017 17:37

I'd say 10 and over shouldn't need any amusing. I usually take DDs iPad or phone or something but tbh it's never been taken out as she takes part in conversations and dancing and just the general socialising and being with family type thing.

My sil once had a printable scavenger hunt thing for the older kids.

Over the course of the event they had to look out for specific items and pop them in the bag and check them off the list. Like a blue piece of confetti, a plastic spoon, and then had a disposable camera as a prize, was very popular and the photos from the disposable camera were very funny.

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 25/02/2017 17:51

GLOW STICKS! ...last wedding I went to I took glow sticks, from pound land, we were just at the post wedding do, Country House type do, running on into the evening.

Kids were just getting a bit antsy as it started to get dark so I checked with the bride's mother, and she was all for it....the kids all had a fab time lurking in dark corners
It was the ones with connectors to make necklaces/bangles....I had LOADS as they'd been having a sale and shoved them in the car as a last minute idea

MrsNuckyThompson · 25/02/2017 17:54

I disagree on bubbles. I went to a wedding recently where they had bubble guns for all the kids to play with. They were such a hit and my 3 year old was just as happy as the 12 year old boys!!

Chimchar · 25/02/2017 18:01

You can get cheap 'selfie' prop kits....hats, glasses etc. They might go down well with the disposable cameras for older kids and drunk relatives.
Love the scavenger hunt idea.

Original poster

buzzmoon · 25/02/2017 22:53

Okay bubbles are back on!! Absolutely love the space hopper idea!!

OP posts:

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