how to entertain kids

8/6/2019 How to Entertain Kids

1/158


2/158

Ready... Set... Go! The best game ideas,resources and activities for birthday parties,

picnics, youth groups, summer camps,company events, educators, family life, homeschooling or just for the fun of it. And thewinner is... How to Entertain Kids

These little people are a blessing, but therecomes a time in every parent's life that you justwant to get rid of them, if only for a while. Theymay do cute little things and look at you withtheir little eyes but a kid will not understandthat mommy wants to work or simply daddyneeds some alone time. Parents who havekids and work from home have to deal withthis all too often. They tend to throw tantrumswhen they do not get what they want too.

Granted, Kids will always be kids and youneed to entertain them well so that you candeal with other things. Some of the ways youcan do that is getting them to make their ownart projects. If you are homeschooling yourkids, you know which art classes they enjoymost, and you know the personalities of each

of your kids. Getting them to make interestingart pieces when there seems to be nothing inthe weather to favor their outdoor games iseasy. Let every child explore his skills andtalents in the arts and make sure everyone isdoing something in his age brackets. In this


3/158

book you will found advices, games andtheories for all ages.

Lets start. Keep in mind:

1Never leave the kids alone. They might draw

on walls or get into something they shouldn'tbe in. Keep them occupied and bring lots offun games.2Make a Fun Bag. In the fun bag you couldhave candy (if they are allowed), movies,coloring pages, stickers, books, games, andcrafts, as well as various things for you whenthe kids go to sleep. The things in the Fun bagshould consider the age of the children you

are babysitting, as very young children willappreciate different things to older children.3When the kids start to get fussy or antsy, askthem if they want to color / do a project / play agame. They say yes and, voila! Fun bag!4Play with the children. They won't like it if you

don't play. So, take out the thing they want todo. If you are doing a project or coloring andyou have messy toddlers, let them help putdown newspaper or a plastic mat to protectfloors and tables. Have fun and they will beable to tell and enjoy your presence more.


4/158

5For projects; when making things if you can

make it edible it's good. Some finger paintingrecipes are edible. (Vanilla yogurt with foodcoloring)No-bake cookies are delicious andeasy!6Little kids also love doing things forthemselves. Let them pour or stir their owndrinks, make their own peanut butter and jellysandwiches, or help you make cookies. Ithelps pass the time while teaching them skills,and they will feel more involved and grown upinstead of you taking over everything.7Put a chair by the sink for the kids to stand on,and let them help you wash the dishes. (Take

out sharp objects like forks hiding in the sudsso they don't get poked accidentally.) Beingallowed to help you wash the dishes can be areward for young children.8Be patient with the children if they start gettingbored or miserable, show them the things theyhave brought and encourage them to play. If

they don't want to do something in particular,find something else for them to do.9Take them outside! Ride bikes, go to the park,walk the dog, anything outdoors will run theirenergy out! Make sure to be very carefulbecause the outdoors also has many hazards.


5/158

10

Play fun age appropriate games. Don't dosomething that is to old for the kids becauseyou want parents to want you to come back.Also, when playing with the child, be sure tonot be rough with them especially when youhave a younger age group. This may turnthem off and somebody could get hurt. Musicalchairs is a fun game appropriate of all ages.The kids would love that. But make sure thechairs are small enough for the kids.

11Make or buy play-dough. If you have a recipethat doesn't involve cooking on the stove, youcan have the kids help make it. If you don't

have the materials needed for play-dough, youcan make something called Ooblek with simplywater and cornstarch. This is especially goodbecause it doesn't involve dangerous, hotovens or sharp objects. Do this outside ofcourse, as it is extremely messy, but that's thefun of it! Ooblek is a solid and a liquid. It isreally fun!!

12Pick a movie appropriate for the age groupyou're babysitting. Pop some popcorn and putthe popcorn in individual bowls for each child(if they are young). Give each child a ticketawhile before the movie. Be the ticket-taker at


6/158

the door to the room, and give each child abowl of popcorn. Then turn off the lights and

start the movie!

13Make a tent! Use chairs and big blankets. Fillthe inside with pillows and blankets. After it'smade, you can tell (or read!) stories. If it'spossible, make it over a TV, so the TV isinside, and you have a movie theater! If thechildren are 4 or older (and less likely to makea mess), pop some popcorn to get the greatmovie atmosphere!

14Remember, toddlers love anything that keepsthem active. If everyone's bored, take out

some scarves, turn on the music, and dance! Ifyou have a lot of children, play freeze tag, or ateam game where EVERYONE needs to beinvolved.For most kids under the age of 5,hide and seek may have some hazards.

15Teach them a song! Old Macdonald had a

farm, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Baa BaaBlack Sheep, Happy Birthday or the ABC songare good. Bring along a kiddie music CD ordownload some kid music onto your iPod, andplay it. Kids love dancing, singing, and music.

16


7/158

Play the "Do not laugh" Game. Sit the kidsdown into a semi-circle and make funny faces.

Whoever laughs first has to make silly faceswith you. The last person not to laugh wins!Give all the kids a small prize, like a colorfulband-aid or a half of a cookie.

17Let them be the babysitter! First have the kids"feed you lunch" by having them give you analready prepared snack, like fruit snacks and a

juice box. Then, let them decide the game youplay next or what their snack is.

18If they are shy or scared ask them around hehouse. If they still dont do anything then wait

and make silly faces, soon they will trust andaccept you more.

19If the child feels unwell, and the parents aren'tavailable, consider the situation. Do they havea slight tummy ache or are they bleeding? Ifthey are bleeding or anything as bad, take

them to A&E, whereas, if they have a slighttummy ache, tuck them into bed and readthem stories, or draw with them.

20Firstly I would suggest that you need to givethem quiet a lot of attention, many of them get


8/158

bored and that is when why they becomenaughty. Try playing games that you think

children might find exciting. Older childrenabout age 10 may enjoy board games orthings that are not so energetic that youngerkids may like, ask them what they like playingfirst because some children may not like thingsthat are suggested to play.

Rainy days and children sometimes don't mixvery well. When you can't let the kids playoutside, you can make free or inexpensivetoys from items you already have around thehouse. Mix liberaly with an abundance ofchildhood imagination to create an unlimitedsource of entertainment.

1.Stores. Save all your empty food boxes for fora week or so and you'll soon have a store anyaspiring grocer would be proud of. Gluingdown the flaps makes cereal boxes, jellypackets etc. look unopened. Clothes, shoes,and toys can all be used as "stock." Paper orplastic bags and real or play money add to the

fun.

2.Paper balls. When the kids keep arguingsuggest they throw something at each other!Paper balls are easily scrunched up from tornout magazine pages to make "ammo." When


9/158

it's time to clean up, stand the waste paperbasket in the middle of the room and see who

can throw the most in. A rolled up magazinemakes a good "bat."

3.Doctors/Nurses. A roll of white toilet tissuemakes this game much more fun as dads,grandparents, teddy bears or dolls aremummified before your eyes. Plastic medicinespoons and cardboard box hospital beds fortoys are extra props that make the game lastlonger.

4.Tubes. Cardboard tubes from kitchen wrap or

foil make instant telescopes for sailors and

pirates, or tunnels through which to rollmarbles. Babies love to watch thingsdisappear then reappear out of the bottom.Don't leave them alone with the cardboardtube though, because they probably will suckon it.

5.

Boxes. Cardboard boxes must be about thebest free toys you can get. Push in the ends oflarge ones to make tunnels and caves to crawlthrough. Draw on windows and doors with felttip pens to make a house, add a flag andportholes for a boat or paper plates for a car orbus steering wheel.


10/158

6.

Miniature gardens. Foil trays from pies andprepared foods make great containers forminiature gardens. Children can enjoy huntingaround the park or garden for twigs to maketrees, moss for a lawn, stones to arrange as arockery or a waterfall. Keep twigs or stoneswhere you want them with a little blue tack orplasticine. Add toy people or animals andmaybe a little water if the container iswatertight. This can be a very creative andenjoyable exercise if you have children of verydifferent age groups to entertain. A variation isto use play sand (not builder's sand - it stainseverything yellow) to make a beach scene,maybe adding shells, stones and a blue paper

sea.

7.Paper puppets. A picture of anything -

colourful bird, clown's face, animal or cartooncharacter, carefully cut out by an adult andstuck to the top of a strip of card about fiveinches long and one and a half inches wide

becomes a very easily made puppet. Thesegive such pleasure and are so easy to makethat you probably will end up with dozens ofthem. Magazine pictures can be stuck tofolded card for theatre set background andwings.


11/158

8.Potato prints. After cutting a potato in half,

draw on a simple shape. A triangle, circle orstar perhaps. Cut away the rest of the potato,leaving a shape to dip into paint and print ontopaper.

9.Forts. Building a fort must be one of the mostmemorable parts of childhood as we all seemto recall the bliss of blankets draped over thebacks of chairs. Even today's sophisticatedkids seem to find the thought much moreexciting than just erecting a store-boughtplastic play house. The secret is to givestructural advice about making the thing stayupright, but let the children do as much as

possible themselves. Really large boxes of thetype that washing machines and fridges comein can be had for the asking from big appliancestores and are useful for rooms within forts.One of the simplest forts can be made bythrowing a large sheet or blanket over a table.Cushions, flashlights, cookies and comics orbooks all will be needed at the housewarming.

10.String. Children find a million uses for string,from tying up toy "Bad Guys" to making awashing line for doll's clothes. It can be tied tochair legs to make a jump, dipped into paintand twirled on to paper, plaited, knitted with,


12/158

made into a parachute or mobile, used as ameasuring aid or for learning how to tie

shoelaces and bows. It need never linger inthe kitchen drawer again.

11.Sewing cards. Stick a picture on a stiff card ordraw a simple duck, car or teddy bear shape.With a large darning needle push holes aroundthe outline of your design about one inchapart. Using brightly colored wool in theneedle or a long bootlace, thread in and out ofthe holes.

12.Stilts. You need to do a little drilling for thisone. Take two strong cans, coffee or clean

paint cans are ideal, and drill a hole about oneinch from the top on opposite sides of the can.Insert a length of string and knot securely.Check that the handle is at a comfortablelength for the child before knotting the otherside. These are always very popular, but neverleave young children alone with themespecially near stairs or steps.

13.Cafes. Children's tea sets are a handy prop forthis game, but a picnic set or microwavecookware is just as good. Giving the server alittle notebook and pencil to take orders andmaking a tall white hat from a cylinder of paper


13/158

for the chef will add realism. Sit dolls andteddy bears around as well as willing Aunts

and Grannies for extra customers.

14.Playdough. Mix together two cups flour, onecup salt, one cup water, one tablespoon oiland a few drops of food coloring for an easy tomake dough that will keep for about threeweeks if you wrap it in plastic wrap and keep itin the fridge. All you have to do is knead themixture well. Divide the mixture up first if youwant to make more than one color.

15.Obstacle course. An obstacle course can turna rainy day into an adventure. Use whatever

you have available. A bench to walk the plank,cushion stepping stones across shark infestedseas, through a cardboard box tunnel, up achair mountain or through a blanket cave. Thewilder your imagination the more your childrenwill love it.

16.

Boats. Recycle your empty margarine cartons.Use them as boats for the bath or wading pool.These are so easy even very young childrencan help to make them. Cut out triangular sailshapes from white or colored paper. Make asmall hole at the top and bottom of the sail soyou can push through a straw to make a mast.


14/158

Let the child attach this to the bottom of aclean margarine tub with a lump of blue tack or

clay. These boats sail extremely well and evenwill take a couple of toy people on an excitingcruise.

17.Capes. Nurses, kings, queens, Batman,Superman - they all need capes or cloaks.Luckily, capes are easy to make by attachingribbon ties to an piece of fabric the color ofyour child's favourite caped character. Keepan eye on them though, as anything tiedaround the neck could be dangerous.

18.Leaf art. Collect leaves and draw around them.

This is fun for little ones and an educationaltree identification game for older children.Color in the details with crayons or paints. Theleaves could then be stuck onto paper collagestyle or dipped into paint, then pressed firmlyonto paper for a lovely leaf print.

19.

Make a puzzle. Stick a favorite picture on acard and allow to dry with a heavy book ontop. Cut into pieces (how many depending onthe age of the child) for an almost instant andpersonal puzzle.


15/158

Here are the top 10 ways to entertain youryoung child for $1 or less:

1. Large cardboard boxes - Perfect formaking houses and small castles. A largecardboard box can entertain an imaginativechild for hours. Make sure you are nearby totake pictures and plenty of door knocking.Hint: look for an appliance store in your area.They often have many of the large boxes theyare willing to give you as opposed to putting inthe trash.

2. Rubber band and pencil crazy bot - Asimple toy you probably remember fromelementary school. Take two unsharpenedpencils and wrap a rubber band around thecenter. Twist the pencils lengthwise againsteach other (as you would wind a propeller on a

toy plane). Set down flat on a table and let thejumping begin. Teach your child not to twistthe rubber band too tightly or it will break.Make sure to have plenty of extra rubberbands handy just in case.

3. Make a paper popper - What do kids likemore than birthday cake? Noise of course.Here's a little noisemaker you remember from

grade school. To make:1. Fold a sheet of copier paper

lengthwise down the middle - open the sheetback up and lay flat

2. Fold all four corners of the paperinward toward the center crease


16/158

3. Fold the sheet of paper in half theother way keeping all four corners folded

inward - you will end up what looks vaguelylike a stealth aircraft

4. With the point facing away from you,grab the right side and fold it upward so thebottom is parallel with the crease

5. Do the same with the left side6. Unfold so you are back to the stealth

fighter7. Using the crease as a reference, tuck

the upper right hand corner into the popper.8. Repeat with the other side. It will look

like a diamond.9. Lastly, Fold it one more time so it

looks like a triangle.10. Hold from the bottom and as if you

were pitching a baseball, flip the popperrapidly through the air. The inward foldedcorner will "POP" out making a fun andsatisfying sound.

4. Home Depot Kids Workshop - The hugehardware conglomerate is a great refuge forDads everywhere, but now they offer kidsworkshops one Saturday per month (check

your local Home Depot for time and location).At the workshop kids learn how to buildbirdhouses, bat houses, stock car racers,airplanes, wooden flowerpot holders andmore. It's a great Saturday morning activitywhere your kids can learn the skills necessary


17/158

to fix your roof when you get too old to climbup there.

5. Plant something - A simple way to teachyoung children how to take care of a livingorganism is to plant something. You can usecontainers made of old plastic cups with holesin the bottom or you can plant outdoorsdepending on the season. Digging in dirt isgreat fun for a child. They are also thrilledwhen the little baby plant awakens from thesoil. Suddenly, they have something fragile totake care of. Hint: I find that planting greenbeans provides the quickest results. Beanplants begin to poke their heads through thesoil in just a few short days.

6. Water sprinkler - While watering the lawn,water your kids too. On a hot summer day,

your grass needs 30 minutes of water. Sendyour kid out in a bathing suit and you'll kill twobirds with one stone.

7. Bubbles bubbles everywhere - Kids andadults alike love to blow bubbles. Mix up yourown batch by pouring a teaspoon or so of dishsoap into a cup and adding approximately 3teaspoons of water. Stir and then test. You

can make a free bubble wand by unbending alarge paperclip and folding it back into atriangle with a small handle. You may need toadd a little more soap or water to get theperfect bubble. Hint: pour the bubble solutioninto a small plate so it's easier to get thebubble film onto the bubble wand.


18/158

8. Catch Fireflies - As a kid, I remember fonddays of catching fireflies and putting them into

a mayo jar with holes punched in the lid. Yourkids will love it too. If you don't have woodedareas in your yard, you can find a park. Thefireflies should begin to light the sky arounddusk. Teach your kids how to gently catchthem by letting them land in their hand. Youcan collect them into a jar, but please be sureto let them go at the end of the evening sothey don't die. (This teaches responsibility andrespecting nature.)

9. Paper airplanes - Up in the air with thegreatest of ease. Teaching your child how tomake and fly a paper airplane is one of thechildhood rights of passage. It can foster alove of origami as well as a Lifehacker mindset

of building your own toys. Simple airplaneinstructions (see pictures):

1. Fold a piece of copier paper in halflengthwise

2. With the crease closest to you, foldthe top right corner down so that it lines upwith the bottom crease.

3. Do the same thing on the other side.

4. Grab the top corner on one side andbend it downward so the crease on top of thepaper is lined up with the crease at the bottom.

5. Turn the plane over and fold the otherside the same way.


19/158

6. Fold it in the same manner one moretime, by taking the top crease and lining it up

with the bottom crease and folding.7. Lather rinse, repeat on the other side.8. Then fold the last two creases outward

perpendicular to the bottom of the plane.9. Fly away!

10. Tin can and string telephone - You don'tnecessarily need tin cans for this project. Twoplastic or styrofoam cups and some twine willdo.

1. Using a tack or the end of a pin, puncha hole into the center of the bottom of eachcup.

2. Cut a piece of light string 25 feet orlonger.

3. Feed one end of the string through thehole of one of the cups

4. Tie a large knot on the string so itdoesn't fall back through the hole.

5. Feed the other end of the stringthrough the other cup and tie a knot like youdid for the first cup.

6. Now give the cup to your child and

walk away from each other until the string istight.

7. Now you can whisper back and forthinto your child's new telephone.

This project gets your child's physicseducation off to a great start by teaching


20/158

vibration and harmonics. Hint: Try the phoneunder doors and around corners of your

house. If you keep the string taut it will stillwork.

1. Create a Fort: Use chairs, blanket andpillows and make a tent/fort in the living room

2. Dance: Put on some fun music and havea dance party!

3. Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of itemseither inside the house on a rainy day, oroutside on a nice day and have your kidscollect or find the items on the list! If you do itright, this activity could take a good hour or so!

4. Sock Puppets: Find some of Dads oldholey socks and make some fun puppets! Useyarn, buttons, felt and any fun things you canfind around the house. When the puppets are

done, have a puppet show!5. Fashion Show: Try on different outfits and

strike some funky poses on the catwalk!! Youcan even take pictures to remember this funfilled activity!!

6. Chalk: Have some fun on the sidewalk ordriveway making masterpieces that can easilywash away! You can even create games on

the ground such as hop-scotch and foursquare!

7. Play-Doh Art: You can buy some play-dohat the store and kids will have a great timemaking different shapes! Make sure you buywashable play-doh so it will come out of theirclothes if this activity gets a little messy!


21/158

8. Bubbles: This can be done inside on arainy day or outside when its sunny! You can

either buy bubbles or create your own by usingsoapy water and forming an ok sign with yourthumb and first finger!

9. Sack Races: Most people dont havepotato sacks, so you can use old pillowcasesinstead!

10. Turn on the Sprinklers: On a hot summerday water your lawn and have some fun withthe kids!

11. Water Balloons: You can find cheapwater balloons at the Dollar Store usually. Fillthe balloons up and you can have a balloontoss or just have a water balloon fight!! Eitherway it will be loads of fun and the kids willenjoy getting a little wet!!

12. Bake: On a rainy day pull out your ovenmits and get cooking! Create cookie people,make cupcakes, decorate a cake, either wayyou and the kids will both have fun and youllhave a treat afterwards!! You can even keepthe entertainment going by having the kidshelp you clean up when youre done!!

13. Create: Use crayons, markers, washable

paints and poster board to create pictures aspresents or just to hand around the house!

14. Swing Batta Batta: Either buy a piata orcreate one using paper mache. Fill it withsome treats and use a plastic bat or a big stickto have some fun!


22/158


23/158

bringing back some of your own childhoodmemories!!

23. Collections: You can collect rocks, bugs,leaves, stamps, marbles, arrow heads, etc.

24. Murals: Use a card board box andwashable paints to make a mural.

25. Tie- Dying: You can tie dye anything fromshirts to scrunchies to tote bags! You can findtie dye kits at your local arts and crafts store.

26. 26. Go Old School: Go back to the goodole days and play Simon Says, I Spy and anyother game you used to play as a child!

27. Karaoke: If you have a karaoke machine,this can be a great way to get the whole familyinvolved in some fun. If you dont have amachine, you can buy DVDs to play in theDVD player.

28. Wormery: Use Tupperware and soil thenyou can either buy or dig up worms. Then youcan feed the worms compost items andeventually, it will make great soil for gardening!

29. Movie Night: Find a good family movieand make some popcorn! You can even bringout blankets and pillows and get extracomfortable!

30. Pictures: Buy a disposable camera andlet the kids go wild, they will enjoy takingpictures of all sorts of things! Even if theyarent the best of pictures, a disposablecamera will allow the kids to get a little messyand not have to worry about ruining an


24/158

expensive camera. Then you can get thepictures printed and put them in a scrapbook.

31. Popsicle stick crafts: You can usePopsicle sticks and glue to make birdhouses,picture frames and all sorts of crafts!

32. Puzzles: You can take pictures and makecopies on printer paper. Glue the picture to apiece of cardboard then cut it into pieces andhave the kids put them back together! The sizeof the pieces can vary depending on thechilds age.

33. Me, Myself and I: You can get a largepiece of paper from an arts and craft supplystore and have the child lay down on thepaper. Then trace their outline and let themcolor themselves in! This can be a very funactivity as well as give you an insight as to

how the child feels about themselves!34. Go for a walk: You can take the pets or

just the family. Either way this is an activitythat not only lets you spend some quality timewith your kids, but also promotes a healthylifestyle.

35. Mummies: Take a roll of toilet paper andlet the kids wrap themselves around and

around in it to look like mummies!! Then takepictures and have fun! If you have a group ofkids, you can have a race to see who can getdone first! If you are worried about wasting aexpensive roll of toilet paper, go to the dollarstore and get a cheap roll!


25/158

36. Bugs: If you live near a creek or lake,take the kids and let them look under rocks for

different kinds of bugs, you can even doresearch before hand and use this as alearning activity as well!

37. Plant: Use bathroom size Dixie cups andsoil to create a planting pot. Then take dry limabeans and plant them. With in less than aweek, you will start to see signs of growth!

38. Theme Days: You can fill an entire daywith activities surrounding a specific theme.For example, have a Pirates Day Hold atreasure hunt, talk like pirates, wear eyepatches and pirate hats! The options areendless and it can be a lot of fun to eveninclude the kids in the planning of the day!

39. Decorate: If its close to a holiday, you can

have the kids help you make some simpleholiday decorations and they can even helpyou decorate. You will accomplish two thingsin one!

40. Paper Shapes: You can cut outsnowflakes or other shapes from constructionpaper and the kids can decorate them!

41. Snowmen: In the winter, spend some

time outside with the kids and have some funin the snow! Make a snowman, go sledding orhave a snowball fight!

42. X-Mas in July: If you feel crafty and wantto have a little fun, you can have x-mas in july!Get some small Christmas presents,decorate, bake cookies and make a nice


26/158


27/158

48. Libraries: Some libraries offer bookreadings or other educational activities for

children, often for free.49. Car Ride: You can take the kids for a

simple car ride and play games like I Spy andthe Alphabet game while driving! The kidsmight even fall asleep and then youll getsome peace and quite for a little while!

50. Sand Castles: If you are close enough,you can take the kids to the beach for the day.Make sand castles, swim and let them havesome fun in the sun!

Group Games

1.Marco PoloBlindfold one child and tell them to yell

"Marco!". The other children all yell "Polo!",and the person who is "it" can move closer tothem by listening to where their voices arecoming from, until they get close enough totouch someone else, and then they're "it". If it'sa nice day outside, do this activity out of doors,where there aren't as many breakables

around.2. Red Light-Green LightYou can play it best in a big indoor area, oroutside. Have one person stand with armsstretched out, and yell either "red light" or"green light". Everyone else must run ongreen, and stop on red. The winner is the firstone to arrive at the designated spot, while


28/158


29/158

whenever you can, so they'll have a fun andhealthy treat.

Snowball Wars

1. If the snow has a texture somewhere inbetween powder and solid ice, it is idealfor packing (just make sure it's not tooicy, or it could be dangerous). A greatgame to play in this kind of snow is

Snowball Wars. Split into two teams.Each team should build its own snowballfort, approximately 10 feet away from theother team's fort. Your kids can maketheir fort as fat or as high as they want --the idea is to make your structure sturdierthan the other person's. After your forts

are built, each side has five minutes tocollect ammo. They can either pile extrasnow behind their fort to roll intosnowballs later, or they can make a stackof snowballs now, it's up to them. Whenthe five minutes are up, the war begins.Each side has to knock down the otherperson's fort using only snowballs. If you

like, impose a time limit on the war sothat, for example, whoever does the mostdamage to the other team's fort in 10minutes wins.

Sled Races2. If the snow is too icy for snowball fights,

and you are lucky enough to have a hill in your


30/158

yard (or within easy walking distance), tryhaving sled races. Don't worry if you don't own

a sled --- garbage can lids, cooking trays,inflatable pool toys, plastic laundry basketsand even old mattresses make greathomemade sleds. Have your kids pick out theirfavorite, and then organize a race from the topof the hill to the bottom. If you have astopwatch or a watch with a second hand, youcan also time your kids so they can try to beattheir own best record.

Ring Around the Snowman

2. If you've already built a snowman todecorate your front yard, have some funwith him. Look for an old hula hoop, and

then, while standing 5 to 10 feet awayfrom the snowman, try to throw the hoopover him. If you don't own a hula hoop,use a top hat or other solid-brimmed capto try and throw onto his head.

Scavenger Hunt

3. Before your kids go outside in themorning, hide a few objects around theyard, such as coins or frozen ice pops.Then you can either draw out a treasuremap, or just send your kids huntingwithout a clue. Whoever finds the hiddentreats first gets to keep them. This is a


31/158

good game if the snow is too powdery tobuild snowmen or forts.

Tug of War5. Use food coloring to draw a line in the

snow. Then get a long rope and have eachteam hold one end of it. When you say go,each team will try to drag the other one acrossthe line. What's the benefit of playing thisgame in winter rather than spring? No mud

stains when your kids fall across the line.

Ways to Entertain Kids in theCarNo matter where you're going, or in whatseason, if your family will be in the car for an

hour or more its crucial to know ways toentertain kids in the car. In fact knowing a fewgood ways to entertain kidsin the car can help everyone survive and

actually enjoy time on the road together.Some ways to entertain kids in the car willwork for your kids and some won't. But by

continually adding new ways to entertain kidsin the car to your family's list of favorites, youcan take on trips long and not so long withconfidence. Perhaps you might want to addsome of these ways to entertain kids in thecar to your repertoire.


32/158

Using What You've Got Car manufacturersare more often than not parents themselves.

They recognize the need parents have to findways to entertain kids in the car. They knowthat most parents don't want their childrenglued to the in-car monitor while you aredriving through Yellowstone National Park..But they also know that using in cartechnology can be a huge help in producingnew ways to entertain kids in the car.Depending on the audio and visual capacity ofyour car, you can pack up the kids' favoritetapes or discs from home or from the locallibrary. Better yet, with your children's helpyou can prepare mixes in advance of familyfavorites so that everyone feels their tasteshave been considered. Then, when the time is

right, take advantage of your automobile'sspecial features to help calm everyone downor pep everyone up with some brought fromhome or home made audio-visual treats.Cataloging Kids are very observant peopleand they can, when it suits them, work well asa team. If you are looking for ways toentertain kids in the car you may want to enlist

themin an activity called "cataloging" - which is

simply the listing on paper of observed itemsin a set category. An oft used sample of"cataloging" is working together in the car tocompile a running list of the license plates yousee, by state name, as you motor along.


33/158

Cataloging license plates is a pastime that isboth fun and informative and gives kids a

chance to work on observing the world aroundthem. Not only do kids learn what the differentstate plates look like, they may also learn statemottoes and symbols. Spotting a rare plate isa different and rewarding way to break theboredom of the passing miles.While listing license plates may be the bestknown cataloging game, it is certainly not theonly . If you are looking for more ways toentertain kids in the car using this same basictechnique, suggest that they record thedifferent breeds of dogs, fast food stores ,makes of cars, animals or bodies of water thatthey see while you are driving. In fact , yourown children may have some exciting ideas of

their own for cataloging. The possibilities areas unique as you and your kids make them.Of course, enthusiasm and affirmation of theirideas by parents can add to your children'sself esteem as well as the general fun ofworking together.Portable Games - Depending on the ages andinterests of your children you may find that one

of the best ways of entertaining kids in the caris to bring along small portable toys or games.For some kids a deck of cards, checkers,colorforms, travel scrabble or etch-a-sketchcan squash boredom and provideentertainment. For others, toys from home likeBarbie dolls, action figures and small handheld


34/158


35/158

probably do the word selection, at leastinitially, especially with young children. With

careful selecting you will be amazed at howmany song you and your children can comeup with that contain, for example, the word"love". You can all work together suggestingas many songs as possible or if you have a fullcar you can divide your group into teams andmake this activity not only fun but competitive.Progressive Storytelling Kids love stories ,but reading in the car is often problematic.The car jostles readers and material andsometimes reading in the car can make peoplecar sick or produce headaches. Still stories doprovide a foolproof way to entertain kids in thecar. Just invite your kids to participate in thetelling of a progressive or developing story.

This pastime requires that one person ( ifneed be a parent) begins to tell a story andafter a few sentences stops. The next personis then obliged to pick up the tale from wherethe previous teller left off developing it as heor she sees fit. The tale is passed amongparticipants in a predetermined direction andcan be drawn to an end by anyone in the

group.For young children it is often fun to simply usewell know tales like Goldilocks or Little RedRiding Hood and allow everyone to redevelopthe tale creatively or even comically as theysee fit. For older kids its equally fun to simply


36/158

make up a brand new tale and see where thestory line takes you.

Treasure Box - Of all the ways to entertainkids in the car, perhaps the one most loved byparents and kids alike is the Treasure Box.This is usually reserved for a very long driveor aroad trip that puts you back out there for a fewdays in a row. Before leaving home parentssecretly prepare a box of small specialtreasures that they know their children willenjoy. The treasures can be small toys, artsymaterials, edible treats, hair bows, comicbooks, whatever will strike a positive chordwith your kids . After each half hour ( orwhatever time limit you may agree on ) yourchildren are given one treasure determined by

you. All the rest of the treasures are kept asecret and revealed only one at a time.Maintaining the suspense of the next treathelps also to pass the time. Well chosentreasures will help to keep kids busy for theintervening time period as will discussingamong themselves what the next treat may be.For best results use treasures that are new to

your children, they don't have to be expensivethey just need to be well chosen.Being in a car together for some families is adisaster and for others a time when greatmemories are made. Knowing ways toentertain kids in a car is the first step to


37/158

making sure your next trip is the typememories are made of.

How to Entertain Bratty KidsParents often ignore children's bad behavior,causing them to become brats, hypothesizesJill Rigby, author of "Raising RespectfulChildren In a Disrespectful World." So it's theparents you can thank when you're put incharge of a gaggle of bratty kids who seemintent on poking, hitting, biting and otherwiseannoying one another. To entertain bratty kids,help them to focus their attention on small,simple tasks or using their energy in physicalways. By distracting them, there is a less of achance that they can pester one another.Step 1

Set up two simple crafts that any child can do.This way, each child can pick their craft andthen alternate to the second when they arefinished. Furnish safety scissors, oldmagazines and glue, and instruct children tocreate a collage of their favorite things. Or, usepaper bags, markers and felt to help kidsmake puppets. Directing their attention to

something that will keep them concentratingcan help them forget about bugging otherpeople.Step 2Take the kids outside, to the park or an openfield for some outdoor physical activity. Playingsoccer, challenging kids to a monkey bar


38/158

competition or slide racing can help use upsome of the more spirited kids' energy so they

have the chance to get their "wiggles." Beingoutside also gets them out of crampedquarters that can sometimes trigger brattiness.Step 3Make an inside or outside obstacle course thatthe kids must complete in teams. Purposelyteam up children that tend to pester oneanother so they have to learn to work togetherto get over a maze of pillows, carry an itemfrom the toy box or listen carefully to yourdirections.Step 4Engage the children in imaginative play."Esquire" magazine suggests setting up avariety of large boxes to make a fort, but you

could also play dress up or make your ownpretend television show with the kids.Engaging children to use their imagination willhelp them to focus their attention onsomething other than annoying you or theother kids.Step 5Adopt a no tolerance policy when it comes to

disciplining for bratty behavior, warns"Parents" magazine. Children often use theircaregivers as a way to test their boundaries.Even if the parent doesn't seem to beinterested in disciplining for bratty behavior, assoon as it manifests, remove the child from thesituation. You'll find he's better behaved when


39/158

he realizes he's not allowed to participatewhen he bothers the other children.

How do you Entertain Your Kids While YouCook?Cooking with real, whole foods can take a littlemore time in the kitchen. It can be difficult tofind this time when you have young childrenwho need some help entertaining themselves.Most of the time my kids are pretty good aboutentertaining themselves, but occasionally theyneed some encouragement. My children arealmost 3 and 5 now, and I thought I wouldshare with you some of the ways I entertainthem while I cook and prep food. I don't havesuggestions for older kids, but I would love tohear yours, so please comment.

1. Picture Books on Tape. Our library hasloads of books on tape, so I throw one in ourkitchen CD player for us to listen to while Icook. They sit at the table and flip the pages(the CD has a little noise that tells your childwhen to turn the page). We also talk about thebooks that we listen to once the story finishes.2. Mighty Mind Tiles. Both of my kids LOVE

these cards. My daughter started doing themat 2 with our help, but now that she is 3, shecan do them herself. The cards are ofgraduated difficulty so a younger child can dothe first cards while an older child can do thelatter cards. You can also buy additional tilesets and cards.


40/158


41/158

borrow some of my kitchen stuff so they can"cook" their play-doh.

7. Craft BucketOne of their favorites is when we get the craftsupplies out. They cut, glue, assemble anddraw while I cook. What I really like about thecraft bucket is that they are using theirimagination to make things and we can talkabout those things while I am cooking.

Other gamesAsk your child to tell you three things: ananimal, a place, and a thing that "you cantouch."With these three bits of information, it is veryeasy to create a story. And your child will beenthralled to hear the suggestions molded into

the story.Here's an example that happened in our housethe other day. For an animal, my boy said anantelope. The place was a market and the"thing you can touch" was a cactus.I told a story about Phillip the Antelope (alwaysgive the characters in your stories names--kidslike that. You could also pause the story to

ask your child for the name as well). Well,Phillip the Antelope went to the market with hisDad. He wanted to run and jump around thestore (as antelopes are wont to do), but hisdad told him to calm down and to be careful,please! Well, Phillip the Antelope didn't listen,


42/158

and in one big jump, almost landed on a -that's right - potted cactus.

With the three details already in mind, it waseasy to tell the story.

Kids are always comparing sizes of things. Ifrequently hear things like, I am tall enoughfor this or I am big enough to do that or theever popular, but mine is the smallest. Whatthey dont realize is that they are estimating.So to keep the estimation party going in apositive way I will ask them questions aboutwhat things they see around them and havethem estimate the answers.I will ask, what building, tree or flag pole istaller? What car do you think is heavier? Or Iwill say, What linehas the most people?

I think it helps expand their vocabulary andencourage critical thinking. Besides whodoesnt like to guess which line will movefaster at the market? Somehow I always chosethe slowest.

All you need is a little imagination and some

word power. You start at the beginning of thealphabet and use a adjective and a noun thatstart with the letter B. For example, BigBanana or Big Bird then the game moves onto the next person. The next person followswith the letter C then D and so on.


43/158

In the AirplaneLong airplane rides are boring for adults, and

even more boring for children. On really longflights, there is not much to see or do insidethe plane, and nothing to see outside thewindow. Not only that, it is cramped and thereis no space to spread out.Before 9-11, children could go visit the pilot inthe cockpit, which was a welcome break. Now,airlines want passengers to keep to theirseats. The best way to keep your kids happyon board is to make sure they can entertainthemselves.

Difficulty:Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:ToysBlanketPaper or coloring booksColored pencils and crayonsBooksGames

1.Prepare for the FlightPrepare your child. Discuss in advance whatwill happen, and explain how he shouldbehave on the plane. Make sure your childunderstands that before reaching thedestination, whether it is Grandma's house or


44/158

Disneyland, there will be a long trip. Make surehe understands what toys he will have on

board.2

Schedule the trip overnight, if possible.Whether this is a good idea depends on yourchild. For children who always fall asleeppromptly at bedtime, a long flight overnight willgo by in no time. Children who are active inthe evenings will have a harder time fallingasleep on an overnight flight.

3Select a good seat. Airlines try to beaccommodating to families. Book early so thateveryone can sit together. Get the exit row orend of section seats, so it is easy for your childto move about. She may want to sit by the

window, or between her parents. If you havemore than one child, they may want to switchseats during the flight. Be flexible in theseating arrangements, but try to keepeveryone happy with their seat location.

4Pack together. Get a small carry-on suitcaseor backpack for your child, and pack it together

a couple of days in advance. If your child is oldenough to understand the concept of sittingstill for a long time, let him choose a few of hisbooks and toys to bring along. Pack a changeof clothes to carry on as well, especially fortoddlers.

5


45/158

Bring some extra toys. It is always a good ideato surprise your child by letting her find

something interesting but familiar that she didnot pack herself.

6Pack a blanket. A familiar blanket will helpyour child feel safe and fall asleep more easily.A blanket from home is also likely to be softerand more comfortable than an airline blanket.

7Do not buy new toys for the flight. Unless yourchild is a frequent flier, the airplane will be anunfamiliar setting and may make him nervous.Having familiar toys to play with will help easethe tension.

8Bring toys that will sustain your child's interest.

A book of stickers is less effective than acoloring book, a game less effective than abook. Once your child has used up thestickers, the sticker book is not very useful, buta coloring book has many pages and will last along time. A game may become boring afterrepeated rounds, but a book can be readagain. Remember that electronic toys can not

be used during take-off and landing.

In Flight1

Use one toy or book at a time. If you haveprepared them appropriately, children will


46/158

realize that they should play with things one atthe time, and not bring everything out at once.

2Use the in-flight entertainment system. Mostlong flights have personalized entertainmentscreens. Help your child use it and findsomething interesting.

3Make your child feel safe. The more you fret,the more nervous she will be.

4Engage your child in activities. The moreoccupied he is, the faster time flies. Bring astory book and read it together. Ask your childto create his own story around it, if he is oldenough.

5

Have a snack at regular intervals. Packagedsnacks can be bought in the airport or broughtfrom home. Do not reset your watch to thearrival time zone until you get there, but keep iton home time so that you know what time yourchild's body clock is set to.

At Layovers

1Prepare your child for any layovers inadvance. Make sure she understands that the

journey will continue after waiting in theairport.

2


47/158

Explore the new airport. Research in advanceto see if there are any fun things to do. Most

children enjoy looking out the big airportwindows at the planes taking off and landing.

3Prepare the toys at the gate. Be at the gateabout ten minutes before boarding time, sinceparents with children are usually allowed topre-board. Use that time for the children tochoose which toys they will want first.

Ideas for Your Kids' InventionsYou don't have to be a rocket scientist toinspire your kids to reach for ideas beyondtheir traditional realm of thinking. Inventionideas for kids will teach your child to thinkoutside the box and look for new ways to

improve the world they live in. Take a look atthe world around you with your child. Talkabout what might have inspired the inventionof common household items, such as a knife,teapot, or microwave. Look for ideas that couldinspire inventions. Each time you and/or yourchild struggle with some household task oractivity, ask yourselves what would make that

task a little easier. Brainstorm together aboutcertain ideas, discuss why that idea would orwouldn't work. These activities work greatduring kids' club meetings, too. We've foundsome great kids' invention Websites to get youstarted!


48/158

To look for ideas for your kids' inventions, firstlook at your child. What is she interested in?

What are his hobbies? What does she findinteresting or frustrating? If you start with yourchild's interests, you'll be more likely to findinvention inspiration. Here are some ideas:If your child is interested in fashion, encourageher to invent some new kind of clothing.Zippers, buttons, ties, and pulls could all beimproved upon. Perhaps your child has theway to do it!New and better kinds of jewelry are beingcreated everyday. Two young girls becamemillionaires from finding a new way to makebottle cap jewelry.If your child has a hobby, help him find a wayto make it easier, faster, or better.

Does your daughter enjoy sports? Help herthink of a contraption that can improve herskills or score.Maybe your child could think of a device tomake pet care easier or more efficient. Ideasmight be an automatic dog walker, a petgroomer, a new kind of pooper scooper, or away to keep litter boxes fresher longer.

Kids love to play, so encourage your child tocreate a new board game, video game, or toy.We always need new motorized toys andremote control cars, trucks, robots, andairplanes.Developing Invention Skills


49/158

How can you help your kids becomeinventors? First, remember that no idea is

stupid. It may need to be rethought, revamped,and redesigned, but if your kids think ofsomething, give that idea your attention. Afterall, inventors typically had lots of ideas thatnever worked before they found success. Thefollowing tips may help:Take your kids seriously.Omit the use of the words "don't" and "never".Look for ways to make the idea work.If it just can't work, discuss the problems andlook for solutions.Write the ideas down. Once something isplaced on paper, it is easier to rework it.Don't ridicule your kids' ideas, no matter howgoofy they might seem!

Discuss what features about the inventionwould make it desirable to others.Discuss how you might market the item.Finally, keep in mind that virtually any activityyou do could inspire some type of invention byyour kids. Learn how to look at the world withan eye for creativity, critical thinking, andproblem solving. Once your kids begin

inventing, they may be unstoppable!

Outdoor Kids Games


50/158

Cherry On TopRequired: Newspaper, 5 lb. bag of flour,

maraschino cherries and spatula or butterknifePlayers: Small groups

This game is best played outdoors on a calmday with clothes that you can get dirty. Firstspread out newspaper on a table. Pour out thehole bag of flour in a pile, form the pile of flourinto a pyramid and then place a cherry on top.Each person playing is to take a turn removinga section of the pyramid with the spatula. Dothis very carefully, because, if you make thecherry fall, you have to pick it up with yourteeth, using no hands. Yes, the flour is goingto get all over your face. Get a new cherry and

play again.

Don't Get Caught In The WebRequired: Balls of yarnPlayers: Small to medium groups

Find an area that has many obstacles, maybe

tables, chairs, doors and other objects. Set upthe area ahead of time by running stringthroughout the area. Make it so that there areonly a couple ways to get through the web ofstring. You can attach it to doors, under tables,across chairs but nothing that would beknocked over that could cause harm to the


51/158

players or valuable equipment. Have theplayers come into the area and they must get

from one side to the other without touching theweb. You can do many variations to this byhaving someone being a spider that can causeplayers to go another way without beingcaught or have a time limit.

Drop the ToothpickRequired: Tooth picks and 20-oz plastic popbottlePlayers: Small group

Set up a desired number of teams. Have astarting line and a plastic pop bottle for eachteam about 6 yards away. On go, one person

from each team is to race to their plastic bottlewith a box of tooth picks in hand and try todrop a tooth pick into the bottle while standingover it. Once this is achieved they are to raceback without spilling toothpicks, back to lineand the next person completes drop until theteam is done.If toothpicks are too hard, try giving the teams

raisons. Closing one eye sometimes helps.

Escargot - French version HopscotchRequired: Play area and chalkPlayers: 2 or more, ages 6 and up


52/158

Draw on the sidewalk a snail shaped play areawith lines about 12 inches apart for about 15 to

20 squares. Number the squares starting withthe outside as the starting point, the firstsquare as number one. The very center of thecircle should be a resting stop and just beforethat is the last number. The first player musthop on one foot without stepping on any linesor putting down the other foot. In the centerthey can rest and then they must hop back outfollowing the same rules. If they complete thistask, they are rewarded one square of theirchoice to place their initials on, this will givethem an additional resting stop. Other playersmust hop over this stop. The next player willdo the same. Anyone who steps on a line orsteps on someones resting stop loose that

turn. You play this until it is impossible to hopto the center or all spaces are initialed. Theplayer with the most spaces initialed is thewinner.

Flyer GolfRequired: Flyers, play area, ribbon markers,score cards and pencils

Players: Small to medium groups

Set up a flyer golf course; if indoors use a softflyer like the Fun Gripper Flyer or FingerZinger. Use ribbons or colored tape to mark offeach target, they can be attached by tying,tacking or taping. Have a starting point and


53/158

one by one, players should throw their flyingdisc trying to hit the first marker. If anyone hits

the target they will get a one on theirscorecard for the first target. The playerclosest to the target will try again until they hitthe target. You will take turns again untileveryone has completed the task of hitting thefirst target. They will record the number oftimes it took to hit the first target. Then you willmove on to the next. At the end, the personwith the lowest score wins. If you have acombination of younger players orhandicapped participants, allow for advancingthese players 3-5 feet closer to the target.

Guess That SmellRequired: Cotton Balls, Empty Film Tubes with

lids, and different liquid extractsPlayers: Small to large groups

Place one cotton ball in each empty film tubeand poke a hole through the lid of each tubeso you can easily smell the scent inside. Foreach cotton ball choose one scent to be addedto the cotton ball. You can place numbered

tags on the bottom of the tubes thatcorrespond with a master list. Here are someideas of scents to add to cotton balls, lemon,peppermint, vanilla, garlic, orange, bacon,cherry and coffee. The person that correctlyidentifies the most scents is the winner.


54/158

Head CatchRequired: Disposable plastic bowl, elastic,

glue andFun Gripper Bean Bag Set or Fun GripperJuggle SetPlayers: Small to medium groups

Purchase some disposable plastic cerealbowls at the store. Take two bowls andcarefully hot glue the two bottoms together oryou can use other reliable glue that will quicklydry permanently. Measure out elastic band sothat it will keep the bowl attached to the top ofsomeone's head. Attach the elastic by staplingor poking small holes and tying it off. If for aparty you can decorate these hats ahead oftime with the theme. You can use stickers,

permanent markers or paint that will stick toplastic.

To play with these newly made items you cando several variations.

One game you can play is a relay game. Eachteam receives a bowl hat and the first person

puts on the hat and stands about 3 feet awayfrom the next person in line. The secondperson in line throws whatever soft objects youhave chosen in the air, to attempt to get oneinto the bowl hat. Once they accomplish that,the throwing person moves up to the catchingspot and the next person is the thrower. The


55/158

catcher moves to the back of the line. Yourotate until the first catcher is throwing and has

accomplished that task. The first team done isthe winner. You can mark off throwing andcatching lines so that all players move to thecorrect locations.

To use this game idea for a birthday party, youcan make it so that everyone gets a hat. Havethem decorate their own hat then give eachplayer a soft item to try and catch. The firstperson to make a catch is the winner. You canthen keep playing the game individually with 3to 5 catches and they win. Or you can havethem in pairs where one is the thrower andone is the catcher. Then they can switch sidesafter the task is accomplished. The first pair to

sink two shots wins.

Ice BowlingRequired: Winter weather with icy play area orindoor ice rink, one galloon plastic milk jug, 10plastic 2 liter pop bottles and food coloringPlayers: Small groups

Fill all plastic bottles and milk jug with coloredwater, and freeze. Clear off snow on an icyplay area about 10 feet by 4 feet and then setup the ten bottles at one end. The bottlesshould be set up in a pyramid, 4 in the back,then 3, then 2, and then 1 in front. Players willtake turns trying to knock down the bottles with


56/158

two sliding throws of the milk jug. One or twoplayers should be placed a few feet behind the

targets to return a sliding throw back toplayers, without knocking down targets. Youcan even play this game while on ice skates.

Magic CarpetRequired: Shower curtains from the dollarstorePlayers: Small to large groupsSet up teams of 8 to 12 players. Each teamwill be given one shower curtain as a magiccarpet and all team members will be standingon it. You start out the game by telling teamsthe following:You are on a magic carpet, up in the sky.Youve discovered that youre not going

anywhere because your carpet is upsidedown. The object is to flip the carpet backupright without anyone stepping off into theabyss. You may use your hands. The teamthat reverses its carpet first without anyonestepping off is the winner.

Circle Games

Apples to OrangesRequired: One apple, one orange, paper,pencil, container, and musicPlayers: Small to large groups


57/158

Print out slips of paper that you will pull out ofa container. Each slip will be labeled differentlyas follows: before the apple, the apple, afterthe apple, before the orange, the orange, andafter the orange. You might want to do acouple sets in case certain slips becomedetectable after use. Once youve completedthe slips place them in a container mix themup. Have players stand in a circle, give theapple to one person and the orange tosomeone across the circle, then start themusic. They are to pass the fruits until themusic stops. When the music stops, pull out aslip of paper and read it. If the paper statesbefore the specific fruit that person is out. If its

after the specific fruit that person is out. If itjust states a fruit that person is out. So notonly do you have to worry about holding thefruit but where it is in the circle. If you have alarge group, set up several circles or a circlewithin a circle would be cool. You could alsouse different colored FlingSocks instead offruit. Variations to the game can be passing

the fruits under the leg, behind the back ortwirl around once then pass the fruit.

Big ChiefPlayers: Small to large groups


58/158

Have all players sit in a circle and then chosea person to be it. The it is to leave so that

it cannot see or hear. Choose one person tobe the chief and he will act out shortmovements. Examples are clapping handsthree times, stomping feet 4 times, etc. Allother players must do what the Chief does.Have it return to the group to figure out whois the Big Chief, you can give him up to threeguesses if theres a large group.

Blindfolded Shoe ShuffleRequired: Blindfolds and shoesPlayers: Medium to large groupsEach person puts on a blindfold and takes offtheir shoes. They then throw them into a pile inthe middle of the floor. The referee then

jumbles them all up and then shouts GO! Thefirst person to find their shoes by touch andsmell alone and put them on is the winner.

Body Jump RelayRequired: 6 players per teamPlayers: Medium to large groupsEach team will have the players lie down on

the ground, face up, fanned out in a circle withtheir heads facing the middle of the circle. Ongo, the first person from each circle, gets upand runs around the circle jumping over theother team members. Once around he will lieback down and the #2 person will do thesame. Then you keep playing until all the


59/158

players have completed the task. The firstteam to complete the cycle is the winner. For

added fun and excitement with youth groups, ablindfold can be passed to the player that isgetting up. They can half walk and crawlaround the circle with members instructingthem where to go.Another version is having them race/walkbackwards.Circle DelightRequired: Two ballsPlayers: Small to large groups

Two teams stand alternately in a single circleformation. Each team has a ball. At the signalthe balls are thrown in the same direction fromperson to person belonging to the same team.

The balls start moving from opposing playersstanding opposite each other in the circle. Thepurpose is to see if one team can move its ballfrom player to player at such a speed that itovertakes the ball from the opposing team. Ifthis happens one point is scored and the gamebegins again. The first team to score threepoints wins. Note: The ball must be relayed

between players of one team as they arepositioned in the circle while not hindering theopposing team.

Colonial CirclePlayers: Small to medium groupsThis is a very old game from the colonial days


60/158

One player will be the chosen British spy andall other players will be in a circle formation

holding hands, facing inward. The spy willrequest to enter the circle by saying, Pleasegood people let me in so I can warm my toesand light my pipe. The players will allow thatperson to come into the circle. That player willenter and stand in the center of the circle. Hewill act out that he is warming his toes andlighting his pipe by saying Ah, its great to beable to light my pipe and its great to warm mytoes. As he's doing so, hell figure out a wayout of the circle and then suddenly try toescape through one set of players lockedarms. If captured he picks a new spy and theoriginal spy has to sit in the center. If heescapes he picks a new spy to come back and

spy with him. When they try to escape, theywill exit at different locations in the circle.

Do You Love Your Neighbor?Players: Small to medium groups

All players sit in a circle except one personwho sits on someones lap and asks, Do you

love your neighbor? If he/she says YES, youall move one seat in any direction and theperson thats IT trys to get a seat. If he/shedoes, then the person left standing is IT.However if he says NO then the IT asks, Whodo you love? The person that was chosenthen answers with a physical trait of other


61/158

people in the circle (ex. glasses, shoes, haircolor, and style of cloths) and those people

move to any seat they can get except for thereown.

Duck Duck SquirtRequired: Squirt gun and clean bucket ofwaterPlayers: Small to medium groupsAll players sit or stand in a circle. Pick aperson to be it. They are to go around thecircle like Duck, Duck, Goose but they say "Duck, Duck, Squirt". They then squirt a playerand the chase begins. The "squirter" is to runaround the circle and back to players positionwithout getting tagged by the person that wassquirted.

Ducks N HensRequired: Two objectsPlayers: Small to medium groups

Circle up in groups of 8-10. Hand one persontwo random objects. One of these randomobjects represents a duck, the otherrepresents a hen. The person is a vendor.His goal is to sell the foul. To his right, hepasses the first item, and says, Do you wantto buy a duck? The buyer says, Does itquack? The vendor says, Yes it quacks. Theduck continues to be passed to the right withthe question and answer session going all the


62/158

way back to the original vendor and back tothe current transaction. (B asks A, A answers

B, B sells to C, C asks B, B must turn aroundand ask A, A answers B, B answers C, C sellsto D, D asks C, C asks B, B asks A, A answersB, B answers C, C answers D, and so on.) Inthe meantime, immediately after the duck issold, the original vendor turns to his left withthe hen, and says, Do you want to buy ahen? The buyer asks, Does it cackle? Yes itcackles. Same deal with the hen... thequestion and answer session goes all the wayback to the original vendor. The fun comeswhen the messages start to cross. Itshilarious!

Fork Over The Chocolate

Required: Chocolate bar, knife, forks, pair oflarge gloves, clothingPlayers: Small to medium groupsYou need a bar of chocolate (preferably coldfor older players), knife and several forks, adice, a pair of large gloves and some otheritems of clothing depending on age group. e.g.scarf, hat, large coat or jacket, trousers,

waistcoat, the list is endless.Everybody forms a circle, half circle or sits inchairs. One person starts by throwing the dicefollowed by each person in turn. Whensomeone throws a six he then runs to whereall the clothes are and starts putting them on,once he is completely dressed he can then


63/158


64/158

awhile and it is real fun and exciting for allages.

You can modify this game using differentcontainers to hold food or other prizes.

Hot ValentineRequired: Fun Gripper Ball or FlingSockPlayers: Small to medium groups

All players must sit in a circle with their legscrossed. In the middle is the leader holding theHot Valentine. The leader will decide whom tothrow the Hot Valentine to and then close theireyes. The players will then toss the HotValentine to each other around the circle untilthe leader calls Hot Valentine. The personholding it will be out but first starts the game

by tossing it to another player. The last personwithout the Hot Valentine is the winner.Im Going HuntingPlayers: Small to medium groups

You play this game in a circle and yourmemory counts. One person in the circle willstart the game off by saying, Im going hunting

and Im taking an arrow. The next person willhave to repeat what the person next to himsaid and then add something new from thenext letter in the alphabet. Im going huntingand Im taking an arrow and a bow. You keepthis going around the circle until one personcannot remember what he is taking. That


65/158


66/158


67/158

start by holding onto a heart while all playersare standing in a circle together. The players

will pass the hearts to the next person in aclockwise fashion while the music plays.Pause the music and pull out a number. Theperson having that number will open the heartthat they are holding and receive the prizewritten in it. Once they receive their prize theywill be out of the game along with the heartthat they opened. Start up the music again andpull out another number. Keep playing untilyou run out of prizes or time. If you run out oftime towards the end, the last remaining fewcan open their hearts at the same time.

Pass the ParcelPlayers: Small to medium groups

Wrap a bar of chocolate (or some otherexciting gift) in a small box then wrap in a layerof paper. Now on the paper write a type of taskthat must be completed. Add another layer ofpaper and another task. Repeat until you haveabout 10 layers. Finally wrap it in gift paper (soit looks nice). The tasks should vary - like sing

a song, eat a teaspoon of mustard, or walkblindfolded to the other side of the circle. Justtry to be creative and make it so that theywont want to get stuck with the package onthe next turn.


68/158

Sit everyone in a circle and play a shortsnippet of music. When the music stops, the

person holding the parcel removes one layerof wrapping and must perform the task writtenon that layer. Repeat until the last layer ofwrapping has been removed. At the end, noone will want to get stuck with the package butthe one that does will get the reward.

PirateRequired: Large bunch of keys and blindfoldPlayers: Small to medium groupsChoose one player to be the pirate. Thatplayer will be required to sit in the middle ofthe circle, blindfolded with his/her legscrossed. All the other players will circle thepirate while sitting with their legs crossed.

Place several different rings of keys on thefloor in front of the pirate. A player isnominated to slowly creep up, attempt to takea ring of keys and then return to their placewithout the pirate hearing them. The Piratehas three tries to point to where he thinks thethief is. If the thief succeeds, he/she becomesthe new Pirate.

Quick Change ArtistRequired: Just willing participantsPlayers: Medium to large groups

Have everyone sit in a circle and choose oneperson to be the quick change artist. Have theartist go out of sight and change something on


69/158

him/her self that is visible(ie-put shorts onbackwards, change hair, tie/untie shoes...).

When the artist is done, have him/her walk intothe middle of the circle and turn around slowlyto give everyone a chance to see what hasbeen changed. Then go around the circlehaving each person guess what has beenchanged. The first person to guess correctly isthe next artist.

Shark AttackRequired: Fun Gripper ParachutePlayers: Small to medium groups

Select one player to be the shark and oneplayer to be the lifeguard. All other playersmust sit on the ground while holding the

parachute over their legs. The shark must beunder the parachute looking for someone toattack. The lifeguard walks around behindplayers that are sitting, hoping to save anyvictims of a shark attack. The players willwiggle their legs and shake the parachutekeeping it low to the ground. The shark willpick a victim and try to pull them under by the

legs. The lifeguard must come around and tryto pull them back. If the lifeguard gets there intime, the shark lets go and finds anothervictim. If a player is pulled under then thereare two sharks. The victim cannot kick or usetheir hands to attack or hurt the shark. They


70/158

must go with the shark if pulled under; only thelifeguard can save them.

Shoe HustlePlayers: Small to large groups

Everyone should sit in a circle on the floor.Remove both shoes, then remove theshoestrings and place them in the toes of theshoes. The shoes then go into the center ofthe circle and have someone mix up the pile orrotate the circle of kids. At a signal, everyoneraces for the pile, finds his shoes, laces themup, and puts them on. The first child finishedand standing is the winner!

Smile TossPlayers: Four to Twelve players

Players can sit in circle or through out theroom as long as everyone can see each other.All players are to keep a straight somber facewhile one person that is chosen to be theSmile Tosser, smiles. The Smile Tosser willsmile a big smile at all players trying to getthem to crack a smile or laugh. If anyone

smiles or laughs they are out of the game andthey must be absolutely quiet while the gamegoes on. The Smile Tosser can wipe off hissmile with his hand and throw it to anotherplayer if he wishes. The receiving player willput on the smile and be the new Smile Tosser.You can even set a time limit on how long your


71/158

Smile Tosser is allowed to keep his role. SmileToss is a great party game, holiday get

together game, icebreaker game and youthgroup game.

Someone MovedPlayers: Small to large groups

Have all players sit in a circle and then chosea person to be it. The it is to leave so thatit cannot see or hear. Have one to fourplayers move in the circle. When it returns heis to figure out who has moved in the circle.Great ice breaker for new groups!

StationsRequired: Just willing participants


Everyone sits in a circle and is given adestination (name of a town) and in themiddle, the station master stands with all thedestination names on a card. He/She thenchooses certain names; for exampleBradford/Leeds. The two corresponding

people then have to get up and exchangeseats. In the meantime the station master hasto try to jump into one of these seats. Morethan two destinations can be called out andthe ultimate All Change when everyone hasto change seats is a great laugh.


72/158

Can be played for hours and there is noultimate winner or loser. Suitable for young

and old. Can turn out rather rough, make surethat nothing breakable is nearby.

TwinsRequired: NothingPlayers: Small to large groupsAll players are paired off and form a largecircle with partners joining hands. One set ofplayers is chosen as it and are the runners.The runners go around the outside of the circleand tag a pair of joined hands. The runnersquickly run one direction while the taggedteam race the other direction.The first pair back to the vacated spot gets tokeep the spot, and the other pair becomes it.

Caution set up rules for passing so that no onegets hurt.

Misc. Games

Apple On A Rope

Required: Twine, apples and skewerPlayers: Small to medium groups

For this game there are only two players on ateam, one to hold the apple and the other toeat the apple. Set up the apples on ropesahead of time. You do this by poking a hole


73/158

through the apple, stringing a piece of thinrope about 3' in length through the apple and

knot it several times at the end to prevent theapple from falling off. The apple holder willhold the one end of the rope in the air whilethe apple dangles and the apple eater will eatthe apple while their hands are behind theirback. The first team done eating the appledown to the core is the winner. You might wantto have a judge to decide when a team isdown to the core. With this game you shoulduse caution because players could choke ifthey inhale the apple. So encourage them toconcentrate on eating the apple and notlaughing. This game is better for older players,great game for married couples. Some playershave a hard time getting the first bite into the

apple and the trick sometimes is to hit theapple with the force of your teeth. Careful,dont play this game if you have loose teeth.

Baby Food GuessRequired: 10-15 jars of baby food, permanentmarker, paper and pencilPlayers: Small to large groups

Buy 10 15 different flavors of baby food andremember, the more flavors the less chanceyoull have a tie game. Make a master list withnumbers and record the flavors you have andthen with a permanent marker write on the lidof each jar the corresponding number.


74/158

Remove all the labels to the baby food jars.Hand out a pencil and paper to each player

and have the players write down the numbersof jars theyll have to see. Pass the baby food

jars and they are to record what they think is inthe jar but quietly without clueing theirneighbor (no sampling allowed). If workingwith a large group, start several jars indifferently locations with the playing group andhave them all pass the jars in the samedirection. The player that guesses the mostcorrect jars of baby food is the winner. Whenthe game is over, give all the baby food jars toan expectant mother along with the master listof whats in the jars.

Balloon Race

Required: Small balloons, shaving cream andplastic knivesPlayers: Small to large groups

Each player is given a balloon coated withshaving cream. At the same time, all playersmust shave their balloon with out popping it.The player who does this first wins!

Balloon WarsRequired: Balloons, string and square playfieldPlayers: Medium to large groups


75/158

Divide players into four teams and give eachteam member a blown up balloon. Each team

should have balloons of a different color.Example is one team with orange balloons,one team of red balloons, one team with greenballoons and the last team with blue balloons.Each team member will team tie their balloonaround one leg so that it is resting above theirknee. The teams will choose one side of thesquare to stand at, standing on the outsideand facing in. Choose two teams to start thegame that are facing each other, like theorange and green team. The two teams willstep into the square and on go will try to popthe other teams balloons. Once one team hasbeen completely eliminated, the balloon warwill stop. The team that has remaining

balloons will count them and step back to thesideline of the square. The next two teams willdo the same. The remaining team will counttheir balloons and step back to the sideline.The two teams that have remaining balloonswill have a face off and the team that has thelast remaining balloon or balloons is thewinner. If you have an uneven number of

players you can either give one player anadditional balloon on the leg or once someonehas lost a balloon quick give them another tomake the game fair.

Best Dressed Clown


76/158

Required: Make up, face paints, cotton swabs,cotton balls, old clothes and Vaseline


Set up teams into groups of 2-4. Give eachteam make up, face paint and a pile a clothesto choose from. The idea of this activity is themake the best looking clown. If youre workingwith a large group have a central place wherethe makeup and face paint are located. Have aperson within each group assigned to pick outmakeup; you could limit their choices of howmany items to use at a time. If theyre limitedto lets say three items at a time, when they aredone with those items they can exchangethem for three more new items. Any makeupthey use must be put on with clean cotton

swabs or cotton balls. The same idea could beused for clothes to pick out for the clown towear. Have a large area for one personassigned from each team to pick out clothingchoices. You could get used clothing fromused clothing stores or ask for donations. Ifyoure working with a talented group theycould put together a quick skit. You could also

provide ideas that they could pull out and haveto create a short skit from that idea. Ideas canbe simple like a clown riding a bike., a clownfalling in love.., a clown going over awaterfall in a barrelor some may want to usethere own ideas. You can give prizes for thebest clown face, the best-dressed clown and


77/158

best clown skit. A great game that will requireteamwork and team cooperation, great for

those lock-ins or youth groups.

Blanket IdentificationRequired: 1 non-see-through blanketPlayers: Small to medium groupsYoull need two people to hold up a blanket asif it were a curtain. Separate the group ofplayers in half and place the groups onopposite sides of the blanket. Each grouppicks 1 person from their team (very quietly sothe other team doesnt hear) and that persongoes and stands right behind the blanket(make sure that the players standing at theblanket cannot see each other). Choose oneplayer from each team to get ready for the

blanket to drop. The two people holding theblanket drop it and the two players shout outthe other players name from the opposite teamthat was standing behind the blanket. The firstperson to yell the name correctly gets onepoint. First team with 10 points wins. Do nottell them the game or the rules they will beplaying until the blanket is up and the teams

are separated.

Blind FetchRequired: Blindfolds and Team HandballPlayers: Small to medium groups

6" Fun Gripper Soccer Ball


78/158

Set up two to three teams and assign oneperson on each team to be blindfolded. Once

all chosen players are blindfolded and teamsare established, have one person throw outthe ball into the play area. Each team is tostand back from behind a designated line andinstruct their teammate where the ball is byyelling out instructions. If a player finds theball, they are to return to the team while stillblindfolded and they receive 3 points. Ifanother person with a blindfold tags them, thatteam receives 1 point. Then another teammember from each team will try to completethe same task. Blind Fetch is a great game forPhysical Educators, Youth Groups, picnicgame or party game.

Blinded Four CornerRequired: BlindfoldPlayers: Medium to large groups

Heres a quickie game that can be played inthe classroom or wherever. Select one playerto wear a blindfold and they are to be placedinto the center of the room. Once the player is

blindfolded and in position, the other playersmust stand in one of the four corners. Theymust do this very quietly (no talking allowed)and within 10 seconds. If a player is not in acorner by the time your done counting, thatplayer is out of the game. The player that isblindfolded will point to one of the corners and


79/158


80/158

then bounce back to knock down pins. Onepoint is awarded for each pin knocked down. A

roll that hits the pins first loses that manypoints. Set up pins for the next player to roll.The first player to reach 30 points is thewinner.Broom HockeyRequired: Brooms, rubber ball, and goals(boxes or buckets)Players: 2 or moreThis game can be played in any size room,make two goals opposite of each other. Youstart the game with a face-off in the center ofthe room. Opponents attempt to hit the puckinto the opposite goal. The goalie is allowed toblock shots in any way he desires. Penaltiesmay be assessed for delaying the game,

holding the puck with hands or feet, highsticking or other unnecessary roughness. Theopposite team may receive a free shot (exceptfor goalie) on goal when penalties occur. Forlarge groups limit number of players andsubstitute once a score is made.Coin HitRequired: Quarter, sidewalk with sections

and Playground BallPlayers: Two playersEach player will stand behind their ownsidewalk section facing each other and place aquarter standing upright in the sidewalk crackbetween them. The first player will standbehind the line of the next sidewalk section


81/158

and try to hit the standing quarter by bouncingthe ball at it. If they hit the quarter they get one

point and if it is knocked out of the crack theyget two points. The ball will bounce to theother player from across the crack. Thesecond player will take a turn. The first personto get 21 points is the winner.

Crayon HuntRequired: Boxes of crayons and bagsPlayers: Small to medium groupsYou can use this game for a young childsbirthday party idea. Buy a couple of the largeboxes of crayons and hide the crayonsthrough out the playing area. Give all theplayers bags to collect the crayons, and thensend them off searching for those new

crayons. When done the player or players withthe most crayons get to keep the box that theycame in. At the end they can even go aroundtrading different colors with each other.

Dad ChallengeRequired: Clothes line, clothespins, phone,basket, clothes and baby doll

Players: Small to large groups

Hang a clothesline at the party scene, thenhand each player a phone, a baby (doll ofcourse), a basket of clothes and some clothepins. The object of the game is to have each


82/158

player hold the baby properly, while on thephone and hanging clothes. They must at all

times be chatting on the phone and hold thebaby as if it were real. See how many clothesthey can hang on the line in 60 seconds, butthe object of the game is to see if they canhandle a moms job for 60 seconds withoutdropping the child or the phone. Good Luckand Enjoy! Dads of all ages and men ingeneral are encouraged to play this game.Have all men, teenagers and especially,fathers give it a try. This is a great game forfather/son outings. It is hilarious to see them

juggle so hard to keep that baby in their arms.

Fitness ManiaRequired: Playing cards (preferably larger

size) and activity slips (be creative)Players: Small to large g

how to entertain kids

Documents