Chronicles: PG Kid's Karaoke Night

Before taking on the role of "Mom" or... "Babe", I was a hardcore karaoke enthusiast. Old habits die hard. But, now instead of crooning at a restaurant turned bar at midnight, we clear away space in the family room, set up the mic, and battle family style.

This may sound silly initially. Dad is not known for his singing voice. And, the kids love to sing, but haven't been sought out for any particular show choirs, if you catch the drift. Nevertheless, we brave family karaoke nights about once every few months. To make this an exciting and worthwhile experience for everyone, there are a few tricks and tips to employ that are guaranteed to have you hearing "Hey Mom, when are we having karaoke night again?"


First, SNACKS! After dinner snacks are a must. The spread should include family favorites to keep everyone satiated. Food always makes social gatherings better, especially for the kids. They eat all the time, and this occasion is no different. As a rule of thumb, have a sweet & salty snack, finger veggies (dip is optional), and fruit. Here are some great recipes to use that are simple, fast, and delicious.

1.) Crooning Veggies 
Ingredients: Round cup of dip, 1 lb bag of petite carrots, 6 stalks of celery, 1 sweet red bell pepper, 1 orange bell pepper, 1 yellow bell pepper, 1 green bell pepper, 1carton of grape tomatoes, and zucchini squash julienned

Directions: Rinse thoroughly and cut bell pepper into strips (see this video). Rinse celery and cut into two inch sections (be sure to discard top and bottom of stalk). On a circular or oval shaped platter place the dip in the center. Set each type of veggie in triangular arrangement with the bottom spreading out to the edges and meeting in the center. Include a spoon with the dip along with small cake plates to grab some and sit and watch the next act.

2.) Fruit Sync

Ingredients: Lemons, Cubed apples, grapes (preferably red seedless), sliced honeydew melon, sliced kiwi, cubed pineapple

Directions: Once all of the fruit is peeled and sliced place it in a bowl and mix it together. Cut the lemon and squeeze the juice on top of the mixture to avoid browning. As the night goes on it will look more and more unappealing if it browns. Optional: Provide fancy plastic drink cups to create fruit cocktails. Otherwise, offer more small cups and plastic forks.

Now that the food is taken care of, it's time to create the mood. A family friendly version of karaoke night isn't so much dark as it is sparkly. Use strobe lights, disco balls, and hanging décor to give the room a festive feel and take any stage fright away.

Next, set the mood by providing props for performers. This can be done by searching closets. Dad's old pinstripe jacket, mom's silly boa from last Halloween, sunglasses, gloves, and costume jewelry can be set up on a table for the next crooner to get into character and get prepared to really "bring it" with their performance.

A way to make it run smoothly is to set up a large sign up sheet on the wall. Using an oversized poster board or sticky note pad, create a table

Kids love to dress up, this we know...but grown ups love it too!

where family members can write their name and the song they want to tackle. That way, it can be found before they perform so as to maximize time and ensure everyone gets as many turns as they'd like.

If you don't have an actual karaoke machine, don't fret. You don't even really need a microphone, although that adds to the fun. Use YouTube through your Smart
TV, your Chromecast, Roku, or veebeam device. You can also use playlists and songs from your favorite music subscription service.

There is no shortage of fun twists and tweaks you can make to your family's epic karaoke night so they have the time of their lives. What types of fun family nights have you adapted from your single days to fit the mom life? Share in the comments below!