Children at Biz Events & Home Parties?

Ravish30

What do you think about others bring their small children with them to do a home party? I am talking about a consultant coming to your home to do a party for you and your guests and she brings with her a small child or children under the age of 7 with her? Appropiate or Unappropiate?

What do you think about others who bring their small children to a business event or expo?

Do you think business is business and small children should be kept at home?
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Audrey · Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 631 Location: Santa Barbara

I think it very much depends on the child and what is being sold. If any type of adult item is being sold then NEVER under any circumstances should a child be there.

If a child can sit and self entertain then I'm perfectly ok with the child there. If the child can not self entertain and can not sit still then this is not the right place for them.
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taraburner · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 736 Location: Pembroke Pines, FL

depends on the kid
if mellow and sits quietly sure no prob
if unruly and loud.. GET OUTTA my house!
LOL
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Kathleen · Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 21

I wouldn't bring my children to a party unless it was a friend hostessing the party and she had kids who were expecting to see my kids. Any other situation would feel unprofessional to me.

Just my two cents. Smile

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BusyMomma · Posted: March 12, 2008, 3:30 am Post subject:

It depends on if you want to be viewed as professional or not. Would you bring your kids to work if you didn't work from home? Now if it is a necessity, then I'd make sure and contact the hostess first.

The problem I've always found is that the people with the unruly kids are the only one's that think it's ok. Laughing

So now I have to hostess my party, take care of any friends kids that may have been brought and NOW the woman's kids that is making money from my party? So not good and so been there. Laughing

But small children I don't think should be there at a home party. Too distracting.

Biz expo would totally depend on the event. I brought my daughter to help at a craft fair, it was small and I wanted company. lol I know she was under 10. Now of course at 12 she would be a big help with things and I could seriously put her to work.
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Ravish30 · Posted: March 12, 2008, 6:45 pm Post subject:

I personally would not bring a child under 7 to any party that I was doing. I feel it would be inappropiate. Business is Business, period.
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angienewton · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 1748 Location: IL

If I were a hostess, I would not want the rep to bring any children. I agree that business is business. As for an event, if their business is child friendly (like a toy or book company) I think it would be ok for older kids to help out.

If I had kids and was a rep I would not even think of asking to bring my child to a party. It's a business and I just don't see how you could focus on your presentation and customers while worrying about a child being there.

Just my thoughts Wink

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Anita · Posted: March 13, 2008, 6:00 pm Post subject:

Just my two cents here ...

I feel as though first of all, there are so many factors that need to be looked at first ...

First and foremost as mentioned, the child. I think this is one of the biggest factors - how well does the child behave?

The hostess - make sure you ask the hostess first.

Does the hostess have children and are they going to be there?

Does the hostess have older children? If you don't want the children in the same room / near the party, and if the hostess has older children, maybe you can make arrangements with her beforehand to have her children keep an eye on your children.

Your child's age. Is your child old enough to help out? I've had rep's bring husbands along to help unload/load the car. Maybe a child could do the same (again, depending on the age.)

If you do take a child along (and everyone is okay with it). Use the fact that you can bring a child as a recruiting tool. Can you bring your child to work?

Side note: IF this is used. I would make it LOUD AND CLEAR ... some of the very issues I'm bringing up here. Make a list of these question/issues and make sure they're noted at the party during the "recruiting session". You don't want to give the wrong impression that they can always bring the child.

As mentioned above, the type of company. If I had a rep bring a child to an adult party, I would be furious and wouldn't be afraid to say so. I could actually see me not even attending the party. I could see me taking the child to another room and entertaining them by myself. Another perfect reason why you should clear it with the hostess beforehand.

I personally think this is just another added benefit of having your own business and the aspect of being able to be comfortable with the home party atmosphere.

Think about the parties you've been to / have held. More often than not, all the guests are friends as well as the guests' children. It's often not a problem and welcomed that all the children are there.

Often not all the moms can get childcare and this would be a reason they don't can't attend.

Do you have an older child? Maybe this is something you can do to make your parties "different". Again, this would depend on the hostesses - but maybe you can arrange beforehand w/ the hostess if they have another room the children can go to. Your older child could take care of the other children.

If you really wanted to go this route and you don't have an older child and neither does the hostess ... do you know a teenage girl who might be interested in making a little extra money?

But, on the other hand, sometimes this is the one and only chance mom gets to "get out on her own" and the guests may not want children around.

See ... many issues, lol!

But I really think this is something that could really work or really not work and would depend on each party individually.

Val reminded me of a time I took my daughter. (She was actually more well-behaved when she was younger, lol) It was a bunch of my friends together and I had made arrangements beforehand with my hostess. And yes, Melanie was my "recruiting tool" and I referred to her as my "FWAHM" (Future Work at Home Mom). Plus I had mentioned that by taking her with me, I was teaching her some very important business skills. This for me went over very well.

Great discussion!

Take care,
Anita Razz

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snols82 · Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 108

In my business, no children are allowed for obvious reasons! For other businesses, I guess it is up to each individual. However, if I were in any other home business, I wouldn't bring my child. Or when I go to someone else's party, I don't bring my child. You could always ask, but I am not the type of person who would want to bring my child with me. I love my son, but when I go to someone else's home party, it is for me. Selfish, I know. Lol. I just think bringing children would be a distraction and quite honestly, I would not want to put the hostess, rep, or other guests into any kind of awkwardness it could potentially create... Wow. That was a mouthful!
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Anita · Posted: March 16, 2008, 5:17 am Post subject:

Ravish30 · Posted: March 17, 2008, 3:07 am Post subject:

Great opinions and thoughts on this topic ladies and I appreciate you all sharing them!
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karadawn · Posted: March 19, 2008, 8:48 pm Post subject:

Here's my two cents on the topic......

My first answer would be no, it's not acceptable to bring children to shows of any kind. HOWEVER, there are exceptions to the rule.

For example, before my aunt got sick, she use to have parties for quite a few of the people she babysat for. At her parties (non-adult of course), it was always acceptable to bring kids no matter if you were the rep or the guest. My cousin did a pretty good job keeping all the kids in the other room and entertained. Plus the set up of the house was for daycare, so it was easy to keep kids of all ages entertained. The reps usually brought their kids because they knew at her house it was alright (plus the kids were well behaved to begin with, and someone other than the parent was able to keep an eye on them).

Craft shows we try hard not to bring kids, but when there is no other choice we try have someone else there to entertain them. Plus there's always two of us at the table to begin with, so one can watch the kid if need be. There are two shows a year we ALWAYS bring the kids, and that's at Prairie Days (my town's yearly event) and Old Settler's Days (my mom's town event). The events are on the square and my oldest can roam around as he pleases. These are small town events though, where everyone knows us already. They expect to see the kids, who are usually busy doing other things most the day. Again we usually recruit extra help to either stay at the table or keep an eye on the kids. In my town it's super easy because I know several other parents who will "borrow" my kids for awhile while we are at the table.

Now if I was alone doing shows, I would NEVER bring my kids to a stranger's house or to an event. I can't give my customers full attention when I need to be watching my kids. It's far too distracting and I'm afraid I would lose sales over it (or bookings if the guest was upset because I brought a kid). The only exception would be IF the child was older, well behaved, and helped out. Since mine are still little (5 and 7), it's just not acceptable.
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burnsootfree · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 15

I too have a varied opinion here.

I would not bring my children to a home party where I was a consultant unless they were expected (ie. friends/family) - as a guest I often bring my daughter as we don't have much time together as it is.

For an event, I have done both. My daughter loves to sell items, and is a great helper. She works very hard at an event to showcase products and the such (she is only 7). Now I often have a backup where my husband stops by for lunch and can take her home if she wants to go (which she usually does not). Now as for my son, he would not be any fun at all and knows he would rather not go.

When I deliver AVON, my daughter will often go with me, and she is a great helper.

So I guess I would say it would depend on the child, and where you were going.

Although I would not be offended if a consultant brought her newborn with her at all.

Louella Grindle

Sonja-DT · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

I sell Discovery Toys, I love bringing my kids to a party promoting my products I have a 5 yr old and a one yr old and they both are excellent marketers! Razz

Part of the reason for me to choose Discovery Toys was the possibility of bringing my kids with me to parties.

I always check with the hostess first but in my line of products it has not yet happened that there were no kids at a party. Guess I am a bit bias hehehe

Ravish30 · Posted: March 27, 2008, 5:52 am Post subject:

Hi Sonja

Welcome to the forums! I hope you post an introduction up in the introduction thread so we can get to know you better Smile

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Anita · Posted: March 27, 2008, 7:07 am Post subject:

Anita · Posted: March 27, 2008, 7:10 am Post subject:

Ladies, just a heads up ... we may get a few responses here from some "new people" because we featured this discussion in today's issue of Direct Sales News ( from www.DirectSalesHelpers.com ).

That said, if you're new here from DSH - welcome! And thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Take care,
Anita Razz

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Anita · Posted: March 27, 2008, 7:12 am Post subject:

Reply from DSH Subscriber:

"I may be biased because I don't have any children right now, but my first thought on this is to leave the children at home. In most cases...there is someone that can watch him/her/them for about 2 hours (which is how long a typical party is) while Mom enjoys an evening of peace & quiet and shopping with her girlfriends. As a consultant, it is frustrating to try and talk over kids who are crying or demanding attention. Don't get me wrong...I love kids, but there is a time and a place to shop with them."

Stephanie Hockenberry
Initials, inc.
Creative Partner # 1177
www.initials-inc.com/steph

Thanks for your input Stephanie!

Take care,
Anita Razz

Sonja-DT · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

Sonja-DT · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 6