It's 2 pm at the company family picnic. In one corner the CEO is trying to talk to business partners while an entertainer dressed as a clown drags him off to a tug of war. In another, the vice-president's teenage son is rolling his eyes. A group of five-year-olds has just taken over the adults' relaxation zone. Everyone is together, but hardly anyone is having a good time.
A family day is one of the hardest company events to organise, both logistically and psychologically. You have two completely different audiences. Adults are afraid of looking silly. Children quickly lose interest. Standard company party contests won't cut it here.
It's not about adding more attractions. It's about contests that work on several levels. They engage without forcing anyone. And they give adults and children a reason to play together. Below are seven ideas that make that possible.
Why contests at company picnics often fall flat
The usual culprit is the "one size fits all" approach. Contests for adults, such as an industry quiz, are too difficult for children. Contests for children, such as sack races, adults find embarrassing. The result is two separate parties happening on the same lawn. The solution is zones and contests that bring both groups together with a shared goal.
1. Family Feud for families
Here we go for laughter rather than fierce competition. We run a Family Feud-style game show, but with family-themed questions. Instead of "things beginning with K", we ask, for example:
- What does Mum or Dad say most often when they get home from work?
- If your job were a superpower, what would it be?
- The best thing about the company picnic is…?
Why it works: children and adults answer together. Adults laugh at the children's perspective, and children feel their answers matter.
2. A young inventors' zone
Instead of yet more face painting, we give children a task. For example: build a machine of the future or a robot out of recycled materials. Children get building blocks, boxes, tape and markers.
Why it works: it's not a five-minute attraction but a longer project. Children are kept busy and parents have time to talk. At the end of the day we hold an exhibition of the inventions, and every builder gets a certificate.
3. A retro and tech games zone
This zone brings generations together. Instead of just bouncy castles, we split it into two parts:
- Retro: giant pick-up sticks, sack races, tug of war. Games adults know and are happy to show their children.
- Tech: VR stations, interactive floors, dance games. The children's world, which they can invite their parents into.
Why it works: families move between the stations on their own. We add short parents-versus-kids tournaments. There's plenty of movement and healthy competition.
4. A quiz for grown-ups
Adults need something for themselves too. While the children are building in the inventors' zone, we invite the parents to a company-themed game show, e.g. in the Millionaire Quiz format. The questions are light: about the company's history, its products and pop culture.
Why it works: adults like winning too. Along the way they reinforce their knowledge of the company, and prizes await the winners.
5. The explorer's passport
Children love collecting things. Instead of letting them run wild, we give them an explorer's passport. Each child gets a map of the grounds with a list of stations and tasks. For example: blow ten soap bubbles or solve a riddle.
Why it works: children have a clear goal. They move around the grounds, stay active and know what to do next. A prize awaits for a full set of stamps. It brings order to the chaos and gives children a sense of mission.
6. A family photo contest
This contest runs alongside the whole event. We announce categories, e.g. best crew, most energy, family team. Participants take photos and submit them online.
Why it works: almost everyone has a phone, so the whole family can take part. And the company gets loads of photos taken by the participants themselves. Instead of a dedicated hashtag, you can set up an AI Photo Booth.
7. A treasure hunt for the finale
Instead of a prize draw at the end of the day, we run a simple outdoor treasure hunt. Families get a map or a first clue, e.g. a QR code. They visit several points and solve simple puzzles to reach the treasure.
Why it works: it can't be done without teamwork. Children are good at searching, adults at solving puzzles.
A contest designed for your company instead of an off-the-shelf one
A sack race and an explorer's passport both engage children. But the passport gives them a goal, organises how they move around the grounds and lets you see how many stations they've visited. That's how a contest planned for a specific event works.
Seven different contests at one picnic is a lot of work: the scenario, the tech and the logistics. That's exactly what we do at MultiSkill. Instead of separate contests for children and adults, we put together one coherent programme for whole families.
Let's plan a picnic where parents and children both have fun
Tell us about your event: how many people, how many children, what kind of grounds and how much time. Get in touch and we'll suggest a set of contests that brings all generations together.
