Hosting a festive gathering at home: tips for involving your kids in the preparations

That said, even though we have several children, I like my house to be tidy and clean when we have people over; in other words, I want everything just the way I like it! To get there, I make to-do lists (the housework, the food to prepare, and so on); there's so much to think about to have everything ready on time!

And while we're busy with the preparations, what do we do with the kids? Looking after the little ones, meeting their needs, stepping in, handling conflicts... all while tidying, cleaning and cooking; multitasking moms and dads though we may be, it's often nothing short of a feat! We often send them outside to play or put a movie on to keep them busy, but my reflections led me to question this approach... Why keep them busy that way? Why not involve them in the preparations? They're still little, but if I start including them in the tasks early, it will become (I hope!) second nature. We just have to take the time to do it!

What if we took up the challenge of involving our little ones more? In this article, I'll share some small ideas to put in place at home.

• Pitch in

If your child can read, you could assign them a recipe to make: the appetizers, for example! They'll have to read the recipe to follow the steps and will develop their ability to measure ingredients properly, which will help them build several new skills. They can also prepare a lovely veggie platter with dips, working on their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Your little one will be so proud to tell the guests what they made and how they went about it! Finally, why not have them decorate the cake? I bet they'll be very proud of it!

• Knife, fork, spoon

Does your child know how to count? Wonderful! Ask them to put the right number of utensils (forks, knives, plates) on the table. That way, they'll practice counting without even realizing it. You could also ask them to make sets (a knife, a fork and a spoon) or to prepare a tray of condiments.

• On the menu tonight...

To let your guests know what meal will be served, why not ask your child to make a poster with the menu? Even little ones in kindergarten who are just starting to write can do this job. The child who makes the poster will work on their handwriting and spelling, but also on spatial and artistic skills. How will they arrange the text on the page? How will they combine the colors? If you have a bulletin board set up for this purpose, now's the time to let your little one use it. Kids usually love it when we let them do tasks that are normally reserved for adults.

• A place for everyone and everyone in their place!

Just like the menu, place cards for the guests and hosts are a way for your child to work on spelling and handwriting. You could also ask them to draw a simple picture that goes with each person, next to their name.

By involving children, we let them develop their sense of responsibility, but also their self-esteem; they're so proud to be able to help us and to hear that they did a great job. Imagine the impact on their self-esteem when the guests congratulate them on their work! Don't forget to thank them for their help, too. By showing our gratitude, we work on their intrinsic motivation, and next time they'll surely be very happy to take part in the preparations again!

Happy hosting!

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