At school, at home, in a leisure centre or on holidays, children always need discovery-based activities. Organising a workshop for kids is a good way to get them to have fun and learn while using their boundless energy. These 5 tips will help you support them and give them a time an experience they will never forget.
Contents
- Pick a theme
- Comply with the law
- Communicate strategically
- Make bookings easy
- Hire the right people to facilitate
1. Pick a theme
After defining the age range of the children participating in the workshop and their number, choosing a theme is a crucial step. There is an infinite number of them, from the most traditional to the most unique, in the following categories: nature activities, creative hobbies, arts and crafts, music, theatre. If possible, ask the children or their parents about the activities they have already done in the few months before the workshop. Then, it’s up to you to decide if you want to stand out so that children discover new things, or if you prefer to please them with a theme they love. If you go for the latter, imagine a workshop that would allow them to explore the theme from another angle.
2. Comply with the law
Due care
When you organise a workshop for under 18 year-olds, you are obviously responsible for their safety, and all the more so in the eyes of the law. This requires you to do what is necessary to ensure the safety of children. Your contractual civil liability is engaged in the event of non-compliance with this obligation.
Supervision duties
From the moment the children enter your premises, you are obliged to constantly supervise them with the greatest care. This obligation no longer applies when children leave your premises. In the case of more mature and independent teenagers, a certain degree of freedom may be granted. However, it is important to be vigilant and make them accountable. In the event of an incident, it is indeed the public or private association that is responsible.
Suitability of the venue and equipment
Standards are required for public places. Therefore, pay attention to the health and safety of the different venues where you organise events. For more information, go to www.hse.gov.uk.
Insurance
All the above mentioned risks can be covered by special insurance. Comparisons providers and get insurance to protect yourself from the most common risks related to your activity.
3. Communicate strategically
You don’t need to be a communication genius to attract as many participants as possible to your workshops. Simply communicate in strategic locations: schools, small businesses, supermarkets, etc. Give them a small stock of flyers or ask them permission to put up some posters promoting your workshops.
Local newspapers, town halls and local Facebook groups should also be targeted. Don’t try to get exposure everywhere, rather think about the effectiveness of your actions. A message seen by few people who are likely to be interested is always worth much more than a message seen by thousands of people who are not interested at all.
It is also important for all your communication material to clearly mentions your contact details. The parents of the kids who will attend your workshops will first need to be reassured. Keep in mind that they entrust you to take care of what is most important to them.
4. Make bookings easy
Make it easy to book remotely! Parents, with their busy schedules, may not have the opportunity to travel to register their children for your workshops at the times when you are available. Make their lives easier by offering online bookings using a specialised tool.
In your custom registration form, you will be able to ask key information such as the child’s first and last name, age, contact person if necessary, allergies, etc. You will collect data that will help you prepare your workshops in the best way possible.
With a few clicks, you can also schedule sessions for the days and times of your workshops. Parents book a ticket for their children, pay the amount due if the workshop is not free, and that’s it! You have all you need to organise and plan workshops for kids very easily.
5. Hire the right people to facilitate
Leading and facilitating workshops for kids requires very specific skills. The number of facilitators must be adjusted according to the kids’ age. Whether they are volunteers, members of an association or professionals, be sure to check their skills before hiring them.
An interview, a role-playing exercise and a reference from a former employer are the minimum criteria to be sure to make the right choice. You need to be sure that the children will be able to have fun and learn in the best possible conditions. If so, they will want to come back and will talk to their friends about it. The same applies to parents. It’s double the word-of-mouth for you!
Are you ready to get started on your workshop? Are they already planned but you are missing an all-in-one registration tool that is easy to use? Discover Weezevent’s services by clicking below:
