Play & Party Host
Reports To: Owner
Schedule: Part-Time and Full-Time Available
Pay Range: $16.00–$20.00 per hour, based on experience and level of responsibility
Role Overview
The Play & Party Host is a key member of the Petit Play Café experience, helping create safe, welcoming, and memorable visits for children and their caregivers during both regular play sessions and private celebrations.
A significant part of this role involves supporting birthday parties and special events. Play & Party Hosts help prepare party spaces, welcome families and guests, guide the flow of celebrations, assist with activities and food service, and ensure each event feels organized, thoughtful, and enjoyable from setup through cleanup.
During regular open-play sessions, hosts supervise and engage children, support families, maintain the play environment, and help preserve the calm, intentional atmosphere that defines Petit Play Café.
This is a hands-on, guest-facing, and dynamic position suited to someone who is observant, warm, proactive, and comfortable moving between child engagement, event hospitality, and daily operational support.
As Petit Play grows, this role offers opportunities for expanded party responsibilities and leadership for team members who demonstrate reliability, initiative, strong judgment, and excellent guest service.
Key Responsibilities
Party Hosting & Special Events
- Prepare party rooms and shared spaces according to event details and Petit Play standards.
- Welcome hosting families, party guests, entertainers, and vendors and help orient them to the space.
- Support the flow of birthday parties from guest arrival through activities, food service, cake, and cleanup.
- Communicate attentively with the hosting family and respond to reasonable needs throughout the celebration.
- Assist with serving food, beverages, cake, and party supplies as needed.
- Prepare craft materials, props, decorations, and themed activities.
- Help facilitate games, crafts, character visits, and other party programming.
- Keep party areas clean, organized, stocked, and presentable throughout the event.
- Complete timely breakdowns and resets between parties or scheduled sessions.
- Help ensure celebrations feel warm and well organized without making families feel rushed.
- Assist with classes, seasonal events, and other special programming as needed.
Child Engagement & Safety
- Supervise children across all play areas, supporting safe, positive, and age-appropriate play.
- Engage children through imaginative play, gentle guidance, and light activities.
- Encourage respectful behavior, sharing, and exploration.
- Enforce play rules and boundaries kindly, consistently, and confidently.
- Remain alert to potential safety concerns and respond promptly and calmly.
- Communicate concerns or incidents to caregivers and leadership when appropriate.
Guest Experience
- Greet families warmly and help orient them to the café and play space.
- Serve as a friendly and knowledgeable resource for parents and caregivers.
- Communicate clearly and calmly with both children and adults.
- Answer basic questions about play sessions, parties, events, and café procedures.
- Support smooth transitions between play areas, activities, parties, and scheduled programming.
- Help create a welcoming experience for families from arrival through departure.
Environment & Daily Operations
- Maintain a clean, organized, and inviting play and party environment throughout each shift.
- Sanitize toys, equipment, tables, and surfaces in accordance with health and safety standards.
- Monitor play and party materials for cleanliness, damage, or safety concerns and report issues promptly.
- Reset toys, seating areas, and activity spaces throughout the day.
- Assist with light restocking of party supplies, craft materials, paper goods, and other operational items.
- Support fellow team members during busy periods to ensure a seamless guest experience.
Team Contribution
- Collaborate with fellow Play Hosts, Party Leads, café staff, and leadership.
- Model professionalism, reliability, warmth, and attentiveness on the play floor and during events.
- Communicate observations, concerns, guest feedback, and suggestions to leadership.
- Take initiative in maintaining event flow, safety, cleanliness, and guest satisfaction.
- Move flexibly between party hosting, open-play support, and general front-of-house responsibilities based on the needs of the day.
Qualifications
- Experience working with children in a childcare, camp, school, recreation, party, event, or hospitality setting is preferred.
- Experience hosting parties, facilitating activities, or providing event service is a plus.
- Warm, patient, energetic, and confident demeanor with children and adults.
- Organized and attentive, with the ability to follow an event timeline and manage multiple responsibilities.
- Ability to remain calm and responsive in a lively, fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication, hospitality, and interpersonal skills.
- Dependable and willing to take initiative without constant direction.
- CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain certification.
- Weekend availability is strongly preferred due to the café’s birthday party and event schedule.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and move for extended periods.
- Ability to bend, reach, lift, and assist children weighing up to 25 pounds.
- Comfortable working on the floor and navigating play structures as needed.
- Ability to set up, clean, and reset party and play spaces.
- Comfortable working in an active environment with children, music, celebrations, and frequent guest interaction.
Growth & Development
Petit Play Café values team members who take ownership of their role, demonstrate sound judgment, and contribute positively to both everyday play sessions and special celebrations.
As programming and operations evolve, opportunities for additional hours, expanded party-hosting responsibility, event leadership, and other supervisory duties may become available for Play & Party Hosts who consistently demonstrate reliability, initiative, hospitality, and leadership.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary
Pay: $16.00 - $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: In person
