Research shows that the vast majority of today’s consumer market values quality experiences over material items, even when it comes to consumers with children. Surveys suggest that nearly 90% of parents in America believe that family experiences are more precious than toys or games. If you are in the events industry, this means that making your event family-friendly could lead to more gain! Now is the time to make your events fun for the whole family! 

You’re ready to plan your family-friendly event. You’ve thought about games, activities, food- you’re good to go! Slow down there. Read on to make sure you’re covering all the bases for your wholesome family festivities!

• Invitations

Your website and invitations should clearly reflect when your event is open to families and children of all ages. Parents are so busy that they don’t always have the time to read a long email or get in touch with the team and inquire if it would be appropriate to bring their kids. The more concise and clear your invitations are, the better! If you want families to feel welcomed at your event, your promotional material should scream ‘kid friendly!’

• Diaper Changing Stations

It’s 2022. Make sure there are diaper changing stations in both women AND men’s restrooms. Or better yet, all gendered bathrooms! In this day and age, parents share child care responsibilities. We guarantee that there will be fathers, uncles, grandpas, and same-sex parents who need a place to change their babies. Create spaces that welcome all parents and guardians and make sure they have everything they need to enjoy your event.

• Selling Alcohol

We know that beer and alcohol sales can be crucial when it comes to the financial success of an event. In that case, of course it’s okay to sell adult beverages, but avoid creating an atmosphere that encourages drinking and rowdiness. Happy hour specials, two-for-one drink deals, and other incentive-driven discounts are for another time and place, when children aren’t present.

• Accessibility

It is so important to have an inclusive event that is fun and enjoyable for everyone. Every corner of your event should include ramp access for parents with strollers and folks in wheelchairs. In addition, make sure you have a location to store unoccupied strollers safely. If you don’t, your event could be littered with empty strollers and disoriented parents trying to figure out which one belongs to them!

• Activities for All

Family-friendly events should be fun for the whole family, right? Make sure to have multiple activities for all kids and adults. More specifically, children have very different interests and play styles based on their age group. Include age appropriate games and/or rides for both the big kids, the little ones, and even the babies. 

• Event Staff

Focus on hiring a team of professionals who enjoy working with children instead of intimidating nightclub bouncers. Find a large group of well-qualified, kid-friendly chaperones in addition to security. You’ll need more staff than you would for an adults-only event. Even with one or more adult chaperones per child, kids can so easily get lost in large crowds. Your extra staff is there to keep everyone safe and having fun!

The best way to set your family-friendly event up for success in 2022 is with the help of an experienced event planning and production company. Contact the experts at Wizard Studios to get started on an event that’s sure to be fun for the whole family!