Tag Archives: kids games

New Year’s Eve Fun For Kids

New Year’s Eve is known for its raucous parties filled with libations and debauchery. That’s great for grown-ups, but if you have young kids at home you might be looking for G-rated fun. The following games are ideal for a kid-friendly New Year’s Eve bash: RING TOSS Place a large plastic tablecloth on the floor and cover it with candy and small items you can get at the Dollar Store, such as erasers, pencils, plastic animals, crayons, etc. Have the children stand a couple feet away from the tablecloth (distance should depend on their age). Hand each child three rings … Continue reading →

Make St. Patrick’s Day Fun

You don’t have to fly to Ireland to make this St. Patrick’s Day one to remember. The following activities will help make the March 17th holiday a fun-filled day for the entire family: POT OF GOLD TREASURE HUNT Directions: Draw a simple map of your house. Make a sign from markers and poster board that reads: “POT OF GOLD.” Then, attach it to a plastic jar (an old plastic mayonnaise jar works well). Next, fill the jar with your children’s favorite gold-colored snacks such as chocolate gold coins, potato chips, Corn Puffs, etc. Hide the pot of gold somewhere in … Continue reading →

Having Fun When the Temperature Plummets

The Weather Channel is predicting snow for parts of Georgia today. I guess no one is being spared from this nasty winter weather. Of course, a little snow is nothing compared to the 40 below temps other parts of the country dealt with last week. Still, it’s a sign that Old Man Winter is far from packing up and moving out. This might be good news to kids who are itching for another snow day, but for most parents winter has already overstayed its welcome. If you are looking for new ways to beat cabin fever, consider the following: Freeze … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Boredom Busters for Kids

Thanksgiving is not exactly the most kid-friendly of holidays. There’s no gift exchange, no candy to pass out, and no chocolate covered eggs to find. This, of course, means that parents need to be particularly creative to keep their gaggle of little turkeys under control until the real bird hits the table. If you are on the hunt for fun ways to keep boredom at bay, consider the following Thanksgiving-themed games. DANCING WITH THE TURKEYS This is basically a knock-off of the hit ABC reality TV show where celebs and dance pros compete in the ballroom together. In this version … Continue reading →

Fun Ways to Keep Your Kids Entertained on Thanksgiving

With a turkey to baste, gravy to stir, and pies to bake, the last thing you need in your kitchen on Thanksgiving is a gaggle of children constantly asking when dinner will be served. To help keep kids entertained while you are putting the final touches on your Turkey Day feast, consider placing one of your teenage (or tweenage) guests in charge of game time with these Thanksgiving-themed activities: TURKEY HUNT/CORN HUNT Last year we used the plastic turkeys from my daughter’s farm set and hid them around the house. Next, we set a 3-minute timer and sent the kids … Continue reading →

Haunted Halloween Games and Crafts

These candy-themed Halloween games and crafts will make your Fright Fest tasty and terrifying at the same time. All you need are a few pumpkins, some candy, and a lot of creativity. CANDY WEREWOLF WALL RACE The object of this game is to construct a wall to keep the werewolves out using just three items: Halloween candy, toothpicks and Popsicle sticks. Whoever builds the tallest wall in two minutes wins the game. Materials: Mini or Full-Sized Chocolate Bars Bubble Gum (sticks or chunks) Licorice Whips Peanut Butter Cups Chocolate Peppermint Patties Lifesavers Twix Bars Chocolate Dipped Pretzels Plastic Table Cloth … Continue reading →

Could It Be The Next Hula Hoop?

Recently, my co-blogger, Libby posted an article about the hula-hoop’s role in the world of popular culture. Kids’ playthings have certainly made their mark on pop culture and each year toy makers take a stab at creating new products that may impact society the way items like hula-hoops have. Potential candidates were unveiled this week at the American International Toy Fair in New York. The annual event is the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and this year more than 1,500 toy manufacturers, importers and sales agents came in from 30 countries to show off their new goods. … Continue reading →

Make a Homemade Mancala Game

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The game Mancala is a fun, easy-to-learn, two-player game that is played around the world. Most mancala games are made with a special board and pieces. However, with a few simple objects around the house, you can make your own mancala game for free. What you’ll need: In order to play the game you will need these items… * An empty egg carton * 48 small playing pieces (Some options: marbles, stones, or dry beans) * 2 small cups or bowls How to set up: To set up the game, first cut off the top of your egg carton. Next, … Continue reading →

Make a Picture Bingo Game

Cut out bingo cards from foam core, poster board, or cardboard. Measure and mark off squares. Instead of using B-I-N-G-O across the top, use pictures. Then, number the squares below each picture, taking care to make sure that no two cards are the same. You can draw your own pictures or collect clip art or other images from one of your software programs. When you make a picture for one of your bingo cards, make an extra one and attach it to a shoebox or other container. Fill the box with numbered squares of paper so you can pull them … Continue reading →

Speed Board Game Party

Do you want to play board games with your kids but can’t stomach the thought of another marathon Candyland or Monopoly session? Keep things moving with a Speed Board Game Party. It’s a much better solution than hiding the cards from Candyland that send you back to the beginning (true confession!), and you won’t have to quit a game of Monopoly just when junior erects a hotel on Park Place. Speed Games Set up three stations around the room, each with spots for two people. Set up a board game at each station that is played in quick rounds, or … Continue reading →