how do i arrange a sitter at the reception

GLENNSEASE

we are having about 25 kids from 3-15 yrs old i want to get a sitter but i dont know where i could place them how does this work help??

xxstardust

Are you asking where to put the kids/sitter, or where to find a sitter?

Like PPs said, a seperate room or area at the venue, with some coloring books, toys,videos, etc would be perfect to keep them occupied.

As for finding a sitter, contacting a local university is often good; college students studying education are always looking for extra cash! But like PPs said - many parents aren't willing to leave their kids with a sitter they haven't personally vetted (for understandable reasons).

Simply Fated

I agree with pps and I just want to add at by 12 years old I was a paid baby sitter, so if you're expecting to annex those 15 year olds to the "day care center" please reconsider. ETA: I was staying home by myself at 9 years old, so please consider that some kids, while still "kids" won't want to stay with the kids lol.

Viczaesar

You're going to need more than one sitter for 25 kids.

aleighk1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_arrange-sitter-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:fa783b26-0811-4d63-a285-82b0ad031a8bPost:e0a24344-fa46-4884-b23f-f0fff978a0e7">Re: how do i arrange a sitter at the reception</a>:
[QUOTE]You're going to need more than one sitter for 25 kids.
Posted by Viczaesar[/QUOTE]

<div>Especially with that wide of an age range.</div>

kmmssg

Surely you aren't expecting tweens/teens to go with a babysitter.  I think you will find that most parents will not leave their children with a complete stranger, no matter how qualified they are.

We had a bride back in the Summer post that no one used the sitter she provided and she spent a lot of money for nothing.  In hindsight she understood that the parents were not comfortable leaving their children with a stranger, not to mention the children did not want to be with a stranger.  She felt it was money wasted.

jessicabessica

Keep in mind that you can't invite kids and then require them to go to a separate area with a sitter.  You could offer childcare if you have a lot of out of town guests with kids that you're not inviting to help out the parents (although, like PPs said, parents might not be comfortable with a stranger watching their kids), but don't invite the kids to the wedding and expect that they'll all go with the sitter.  

Grits8812

If you are going to require them to go to a sitter, why not just make it an adult only reception?  If I was around 9-15 I wouldn't want to be stuck with a sitter at a wedding, I would want to be part of it.

Not to mention you would need more than one for that many "kids".