Fall Fun Games

Perfect for the room mother who has to plan some fun games for Halloween!

LEAF BLOW GAME
Have a leaf race! In this, the children blow a leaf across a table with a straw. The first one across is the winner...

HARVEST DASH (Outiside Game)
Set up a fall relay with the kids. Fill large containers with sunflower seed bird feed. Have smaller, clear containers at the opposite end.
Kids fill cup with seeds and race to dump it in the empty container.
They sprint back to the start and hand-off the cup to the teammates.
Goal of the race is to be the first team to fill up the small container with the seeds.
As an extra challenge, give the kids an over-sized soup ladle instead of a cup. Don't worry if the seeds spill; that's part of the fun! The birds will easily find them later.

GOURD ROLL Have each child take a turn rolling a small, round gourd. Try to find one with lots of bumps for extra craziness! The kid with the longest roll wins. Play on a sloped driveway or a small hill for extra fun.

GOURD BOWLING
Set up 'bowling' using empty two-liter soda bottles. If preferred, the bottles can be weighted with seeds or water. Use a round, bumpy gourd as the ball.

Newspaper Delivery Game

Needed:
Three newspapers
Bike to sit on
3 papers
Tape

Tape three papers on the floor with different points on them. Divide into two teams and have the first person on each team sit on the bike and throw each of the three newspapers at the paper targets. Whoever has the most points after everyone on the team has gone, wins.

We did this game at pack meeting, and it was really fun. It was great and the boys loved it.

Umbrella Ball!

Simple, but fun game. Get 1 umbrella and 5 pairs of rolled up socks. Then take turns throwing all five into the umbrella from about 10-15 feet away. The umbrella rolls, rotates, etc and makes it a challenge to get it in. Another way would be like shuffle board and have white socks 5, and then colored socks 5, and be on teams. That way you can try and knock someone else out. If you are in the umbrella at the end of your turn, 5 points. It is really a fun game.

Water Balloon Dodge Ball!

Have at least 5 water balloons per player. Divide into 2 groups on opposite sides of a line with each side having their balloons in a plastic tub. If you are hit with a water balloon you are out (like dodgeball). Last one in wins.

Indoor Snowball Fight

Items Needed:

Two Stacks of Newspapers
Two Teams
Tape line divider

We did this game in scouts the other day and the kids had so much fun. You divide into teams and divide the room in half. Give each team a stack of newspapers. Then give each team 5 minutes to make as many snowballs as possible using the newspaper. Then as soon as you say go, each team throws as many snowballs as they can onto the other teams side. When 5 minutes are up, whoever has the most "snowballs on their side" loses. Our kids like to play this over and over again. It would be a great FHE activity, or just a fun activity to keep the winter blues away.

10 Fun Christmas Games!

1. Don’t Eat Santa- Big version that fits on the floor or the whole table. For those of you who don’t know, you place a small treat (cereal I usually do) on each Santa square and one person goes out of the room. When he is gone another (I usually do the person who had the last turn going out) person picks a Santa. Then the person comes back in the room and starts to eat. When they hit the one that was picked, everyone yells, “Don’t Eat Santa!” It scares the child and they all laugh and then the next goes. It’s very simple, but even 6^th graders have loved it. I will bring the big board (A different Santa on a full piece of paper, and then they are taped together like a bingo board) and the cereal treats with it.

2. Christmas Twenty Questions- Adult starts by choosing a Christmas related person, place, or thing and says, "I'm thinking of something". The children try to guess what it is by asking no more than twenty questions that can be answered "YES", "NO", or I DON'T KNOW". The student who guesses correctly is next up.

For kids that are littler, Example: Frosty
Clue: I'm thinking of someone who wears a hat
Clue: He loves snow
Clue: He'll melt if it gets too warm outside

For kids that are older Example: Frosty
Adult: I'm thinking of something at Christmastime!
Kid #1: Is it cold? Yes
Kid #2: Is it Red? No

To get you started: Santa, Rudolph, elf, Mrs. Claus, Candy Cane, Snowman, Tree, Lights, Stocking, North Pole, Sleigh, Cookies, Milk, Etc.

3. Pin The Nose On Rudolph- Rudolph picture, red nose circles for each child, tape, pen for their name, and a blindfold.

4. Santa Bingo- cereal or beans for counters, and everything for the game. Google Free Christmas Bingo, and you can print color or black and white ones.

6. Musical Chairs- a treat for everyone that gets kicked out of musical chairs and Christmas music.

7. What is it? Christmas pillow case that has all sorts of Christmas objects in it. It is a guess and feel game. Each person takes a turn feeling one object and guessing what it is. When guessed you pull it out and see if they are right. You can keep all the objects together and have them hold the one while you grab it, or you can do one at a time and use another pillowcase to hold the other stuff.

8. Blind Snowman Game

Supplies:
8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper
Pencil.

How To Play: Give everyone a piece of paper and a pencil. Explain to them that they will close their eyes and you will tell them what to draw. DON'T tell them they're drawing a snowman! Draw 3 circles on top of each other. Each circle gets smaller from bottom to top. In the middle circle draw three buttons going vertically down the center. In the top circle draw two eyes, a carrot nose, and a mouth. Draw a hat on top of the smallest circle. Draw stick arms on both sides of the middle circle. Draw a broom in one stick hand. Open your eyes! If playing with older children you might want to devise a point system, such as: 5 points for each circle that touches the other. Points for the hat touching the head, the eyes being in the top circle, etc.

9. Tongue Twisters

How To Play: Say each phrase three times as fast as you can. Let kids practice on their own or take volunteers to come up and try their best for all to hear. A candy can prize for anyone who tries.

Chocolate cocoa cravings cure colds
Santa sings shining star songs
Sally skis super slow
Big bright bells banish boredom
Grumpy Grinch goes grizzly gus
Pretty packages perfectly packed
Tip-top tiny tot toys
Sally's striped stocking's stuffed slightly
Santa's super souped sleigh swiftly slides sideways
Cheery cute caroling Christmas critters
Candy cane cookies keep kids coming

10. Santa Says

How To Play: Played similar to Simon Says. The player up is "Santa". Player will say "Santa says hop on one foot". The children will hop on one foot. Player will say "Stop". The children are to keep hopping on one foot until player says "Santa says stop". Repeat for additional activities such as take one baby step forward, step backwards, turn around, sit down. Sometimes Santa will say "Santa says" and sometimes he won't. It'­s a fun game to play with young children.

15 Great Halloween Games!

1. Make a Spider Web: All you need for this fun game is a ball of black, white, or silver yarn or string. Have everyone stand around in a circle. Ask one child to hold one end of the string and then toss the ball to another kid. Each child holds on the string and then tosses it to someone else. Before you know it you'll have a great spider web

2. Mummy Contest: Grab a few rolls of toilet paper and divide into teams (we do this as a family and have every mother being wrapped, it is really funny). Then - you guessed it - wrap the toilet paper around the other, creating a mummy. You can either make it a contest of speed or one of creativity. For the first, the team that has a completely wrapped mummy first wins. For the second contest, whoever gets all their toilet paper off their team member and places it the trash bag wins!

3. Don't Eat The Monsters! This is such a easy, but fun game. For a big board use full sheets of paper- one monster on each page. For a small board use one sheet of paper divided up like a bingo board. Place candies, cereal, pretzels, fruit snacks, marshmallows, etc. on each individual picture. Have one person go out of the room. Have another child pick which monster they are going to use. When the person comes back in the room let them start eating. When they pick the monster that you chose, yell Don't eat the monsters!

4. Eyeball Race: Start with a plain ping-pong ball for each child. Use a Sharpie marker and draw on it to turn it into an eyeball. You can simple draw the pupil, or for a scarier version, add some red wiggly lines to make the eyeball look bloodshot. I personally like to let each child make their own eyeball. Then they can take it home with them. Give each child a spoon and drop one of the eyeballs in each spoon. Now it's time to race. The child that reaches the finish line with the eyeball in the spoon first wins.

5. Ghost Hunt: (this one I already have posted about, a few years ago. To see about it, go to the labels on the right side and hit the Halloween section and it will pull up.

6. Musical Chairs: (this one I already have posted about, a few years ago. To see about it, go to the labels on the right side and hit the Halloween section and it will pull up.

7. Witch Race: You will need at least two buckets and two brooms. Each player in the race must put one foot in the bucket and hold onto it with one hand, and carry a broom in the other hand. Play the music Witch Doctor while doing this activity. It is really funny.

8. Apple Race: Kids must race on all fours while pushing apples with their noses.

9. Donut Bob: hang donuts from a broom or a pole above. Each child then lays down, or kneels with their hands behind their back. As soon as you say go, they start eating. Whoever finishes their donut first wins! Warning-glazed donuts= sticky kids!

10. Little Ghosty Won't Bite You: Sit in a circle and make a tissue ghost. Take the ghost and have one person be it. They say the following: I had a little ghosty and he won't bite you, and he won't bite you, and he won't bite you, BUT he will bite you. When he says will bite you, he drops it in their lap and runs around the circle and gets back into that person's place before the person touches him. Always have the won't bite you part be different so no one knows when it will happen.

11. Haunted House: Divide up the group into 5 different Halloween characters (Witch, bat, ghost, pumpkin, vampire) Add more or take away depending on how many you have. You can also print up these images on paper and tape them to their shirts so they don't forget. Then have one person stand in the middle and call out one of the names. The people that's name has been called need to switch places. The person in the middle needs to try and steal one of the places. Then someone else is IT (if the middle person was successful). When the middle person yells HAUNTED HOUSE! everyone runs and finds a new spot. No one can be in the same spot twice in a row.

12. Wet & Wild Halloween: For this game you get a very small thimble and fill it with water. The category is Halloween Costumes (or candy, Halloween, etc.) Go around in a circle and wait for each child to give a comment. If they choose yours, you spray them in the face with the water and then it is their turn to do it.

13. Monster Dance: Turn on Michael Jackson's Thriller and have everyone dance however they want to this music. It is so funny to watch and is really easy to play.

14. Hiding Ghost: One person goes out of the room. Someone else hides the Ghost. When the person comes back in the room you sing a simple Halloween song or chant Ghost Ghost Ghost woooooooooo over and over again. Louder if they are close to the hiding place, quieter if they are not.

15. Halloween Memory: Take all sorts of Halloween objects on a tray. Let everyone look at them for a few minutes. Then send someone out and take away something. When they come back see if they can figure out what is missing. Then repeat with other people.

Coin Toss and Walk

Need something fun to do today?

Take a quarter and go on a coin toss and walk. Start in front of your house and let your child toss the coin. Heads means left, Tails means Right. at the start of every street do this and see where you end up. Your kids will have lots of fun trying to see where they will end up.

Musical Chairs with a TWIST!

My cute babysitter (one of the best ever) always googles lots of games and crafts to do with my kids. I have decided if you don't have a babysitters bag, maybe you aren't the babysitter for my kids. Anyway last night my kids painted pumpkins black and made black pumpkin bats. Even the eye balls had cute little black kittens on them. She went all out. Then she told me about a game they played and I thought it was so cute I thought I would post it. It is so simple and it would be really fun to play with a group.

Towel Musical Chairs!
Instead of chairs you use one big beach towel. Every time the music stops everyone has to be sitting on the towel. When the music goes they get up and the host folds the towel in half. This keeps going until it is so small only one person could sit on it. The last person to sit on it wins! For a bigger group you might want to use a blanket. Anyway that's it!

Key to Musical Chairs: I always have a special chair for the child to sit in when they are out to avoid tears. They also get to wear a funny hat and get a treat! Ever since I have done this, we have never had fits.

Alphabet Games!

I found this on the Internet a long time ago, and can't remember where it was from. I thought it had good information though, so I thought I would post it.

Alphabet Games
Letter Hide and Seek---Each morning hide six to eight letters around the room in places where the children are likely to come across them in work and play.

Letters in the Mail--Place cut out letters in envelopes adressed to children

Alpha-bag--Place several letters in a bag, pull one out at a time and go for a letter hunt.

Alphabet Hokey-Pokey (give them a letter and sing the song "put your letter A in, put your letter A out...")

Find your Partner--Pass out enough paris of upper and lower case letters so that each child is holding a letter. Children match up with letters.

Letter Walk--Look for letters as you walk in and around the building.
What letter Could it be? Hve a set of alphabet cards. Start to pass a letter card around the circle. Say "Stop". The child with the card holds it up. The group says "1,2,3, what letter could it be?" Letter is identified and game continues.
A Tisket, A Tasket

Body Letter writing--Have children write letters in the air using different body parts.

Letter Hopscotch

Twenty Questions--Using an alphabet chart or marker board, the teacher says, "I'm thinking of a letter. Can you guess what it is?"

Guess What?--Make a set of 3-D letters, palce in a container. Children choose a letter blindfolded and tries to identify the letter by feeling the shape of the letter.

Write and Wipe--The teacher writes a letter on a marker board. Children are asked to identify the letter and write on their marker board.

Gone Fishing--Make a fishing pole with a magnet on the end. Children fish for magnetized letters to identify (paper clips work well on the letters)

More fun new websites for Moms & Kids!

Two new sites I found and LOVE! I really want to make this I-Spy Blanket!

http://www.tipjunkie.com/

The second is this one. It is has a million ideas like these:

This is a Halloween Countdown! So cute!

http://www.executivehomemaker.com/category/

Both can be found in Mom section!

My Top Ten Games for this Fourth of July!

1. Dress Up Relay For Children

Children can be divided into two teams that are each given red, white, and blue clothing and accessories. The goal for each member of both teams is to put on the items and run to a predetermined area, take some type of action such as ringing a bell or yelling out, "I'm here", and then run back, take off the items, and tag the next person on his or her team. That person then puts on the clothing and accessories and does the same until all members of the team have participated. The team whose last member returns, takes off the items, and shouts, "I'm done" first is the winner.

2. Find Uncle Sam

This game involves the children hunting for pictures of famous leaders that have been hidden in various parts of the backyard. The pictures or drawings may be of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and other patriots and national heroes that have been instrumental in helping to establish and develop our country. The children go on a backyard adventure to find the pictures and whoever finds Uncle Sam wins a prize. If the children experience a particularly difficult time finding the hidden objects, you and one or two other designated adults can provide clues to help them. After all of the objects have been found, you can bring the children together and have them show the pictures to everyone and identify who the famous people are. If they do not know, the other children can help. If they still do not know, the adults can help. Eventually, after all of the famous individuals have been identified, there can be a brief discussion about them as well as about Uncle Sam and the history and meaning of the Fourth of July. The child who found the picture of Uncle Sam can receive the top prize following the discussion.

3. Waterballoon Volleyball!

This game is always a hit on a really hot Summer day. All you need is a net, towels, and water balloons. You play with one water balloon at a time. Everyone is paired with another player and each one takes one end of a towel. Then you try to catch the water balloon and then send it back over the net!

4. Fill the Bottle:

Needed: 4 oz paper cups, 20 oz plastic pop bottles, clean bucket, finish line, sense of humor and no fear of getting wet

Set up number of teams possibly by number of people willing to get wet. On each team, one person lays on ground while holding a 20-oz plastic pop bottle on their forehead. Teammates run to bucket to fill up their 4-oz cup then they attempt to pour it into teammates pop bottle while standing over head. Then the next teammate will do the same until 20-oz bottle is filled. Once the 20-oz bottle is filled, the bottle person should run to the finish line without spilling.

5. Hole In The Bucket
Required: One large trash can or 30 gallon tub, two receiving buckets, water source and two large coffee cansPlayers: Small to large groups
Punch several holes into the bottom and the sides of your cans using a hammer and large nail. Large juice or bean cans will work also. Do this from the outside go into the can to prevent sharp edges on the outside. Make sure there are no sharp edges around the top of can, you can do this by hammering around the inside edge while against a hard surface. You can spray paint your cans with car paint ahead of time for different colored teams. Fill up a large clean container of water at starting point. At the other end of play field have a receiving bucket the same size for each team. Divide into teams and have one person at a time from each team do relay. Each person is to go to the large container, dip their can into it, put the can on their head or carry it in front of them, go down the field to their teams receiving bucket and pour what water is left into the bucket. Once they have done this they can run back to starting point and give the next person the can to do the same. The first team to fill their receiving bucket is the winner.

6. Jump Rope Water Splash
Required: Jump rope, plastic cups, and waterPlayers: Small to large groups
Give each child a plastic or paper cup full of water. While two players twirl a large jump rope, jumpers one by one are to attempt three consecutive jumps. They are to do this while holding onto their cup of water and trying to do let any water spill. The child that has the most water left is the winner. You can keep playing until only one person has water left in their cup.

7. Over/Under Game
Required: Buckets of water, sponges, pitchersPlayers: Small to large groups
Divide the group into two teams. Have them form a single file line facing the persons head next to them. At the head of each line put a bucket of water. At the other end put a pitcher with a line drawn on it. Give a sponge to the person at the head of the line where the water bucket is. That person has to dip the sponge in the water to soak in as much water as they can. They have to then pass the soaking wet sponge over their head to the person behind who then passes the sponge to the person behind them through their legs. The sponge makes its way back over the head of one person and between the legs of the next till it gets to the person standing next to the pitcher. That person must squeeze whatever water is left into the pitcher and run the sponge back up to the head of the line. When this occurs, everybody moves back one position and the person who was at the back of the line now is at the head of the line. Continue process till the pitcher is filled to line. Fun game on hot day. (Suggested to play outdoors)

8. Water Balloon Dodgeball
Required: Water ballons, 2 plastic tubsPlayers: Small to large groups
Have at least 5 water balloons per player. Divide into 2 groups on opposite sides of a line with each side having their balloons in a plastic tub. If you are hit with a water balloon you are out (like dodgeball). Last one in wins.

9. Water Balloon Relay Race
Required: Water ballons, chairsPlayers: Small to large groups
Game of the Month 8/07
You can have as many teams as you want. Set up a chair for each team with a water balloon in the seat. Each player must run to the chair, sit on the balloon till it pops,then run and tag the next player. You will need to put a new balloon in after each one is popped. First team to pop all balloons and cross the finish line wins.

10. Alka Seltzer Game!

Items Needed:**Alka Seltzer**Netting (Fabric store- usually 89 cents a yard, You will need just a 2 inch by 2 inch square per person)**Yarn** Water GunsPrep: Take on Seltzer put it in the Netting make a sort of bag and tie with yarn. Then hang around neck of each player. Each player also gets a full water gun.Object of the game: Squirt others Seltzer and the last one to have theirs wins the game.

Everyday A Summer Game!

So on Family Fun they have a place that lists and explains fun games. It gives you one per day all through the Summer. Anyway check out June:

http://familyfun.go.com/games/indoor-outdoor-games/specialfeature/summer-games-june/

Summer Fun!

I found a new website that I really like. It is called Mrs. Bee's busy classroom. I found it accidentally, but I really liked what I saw. What I was looking at was the Camping Out Section. It was really a cool section. It has tons of camp crafts, outside crafts, recipes for camping, Camp Ice breakers, 5 minute filler games, Camping indoors, songs, safety, Mini survival kits, and book recommendations. Anyway you can go to her main site:

http://www.dcrafts.com/contents.htm

or if you want to see the specific Camping Out Section just click here.

http://www.dcrafts.com/camping.htm

I think I am going to make a things to do in Summer, and copy her crafts in the camping out section and put them in the jar. It seemed like so many fun ideas! Alot of it can also be used for Any age!

Some of my family Easter traditions

We all have traditions that make us who we are. Here are a few of my family's traditions for Easter. Some of these my mom started, some I started, and some I got from others. Hopefully you will find one new one to do this year!

1. Dyeing eggs

2. Doing Craft Eggs (see below posts)

3. Egg hunt at Grandma's House in orchard

4. Egg hunt at home (one egg has a 5 dollar bill in it) FYI the older they get the more sneaky you have to be- put some candy with the bill so they can't just shake every egg and throw it back down.

5. Easter Dresses and Fancy outfits

6. Easter Sunday Pictures taken by me!

7. Easter Bunny fun is on Saturday (did you know you can write him and tell him when to come to your house? Amazing!)

8. Easter Sunday we celebrate religiously- no Easter Bunny at our house!

9. Easter Resurrection Cookies (I will post next post about this)

10. Peanut Butter Eggs (Yum Yum- Post will come soon)

11. Candy on the floor from where the Easter bunny hopped to hard and it made trails all over the house.

12. And of course really hidden Easter baskets. And I mean hidden. Some spots in the past have been: Up high, on the fireplace, under the bed, in the dish washer, in the oven, in the washer, in the dryer, up in a closet, in the tub, in the car, etc. Sometimes it takes a few hours for everyone to find theirs! It makes Easter last a whole lot longer. Here is a picture on one basket from last year. Boy that bunny can really hop! Anyway if you have a fun tradition let me know in the comment section. I would love a new fun tradition.

Leprechaun Treasure Hunt!

Here's a fun way to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day! Cut out lots of shamrock shapes out of green construction paper. Take these, and some chocolate gold coins, and hide them in the backyard, or a neighborhood park. See who can find the most leprechaun treasure!

I found lots of fun games for St. Paddy's Day! These would be fun for all sorts of parties and ages!

Pin The Shamrock on the Leprechaun
Supplies:Big picture of a Leprechaun green shamrock, for each child, Blindfold
How To Play: Blindfold the player, spin 'em around and let them try to stick the shamrock where it's supposed to go. Give a prize for the player that gets the closest.


Irish Hot Potato
Supplies:Potato, or Irish Jig Music
How To Play:Sit the children in a circle. Hand one child the potato. Explain to the children that when the music begins they will pass the potato to the person on their right. When the music stops whoever's holding the potato scoots out of the circle and playing resumes.
This game also provides a great opportunity to discuss agriculture in Ireland. Perhaps they could pass while you talk and when you stop (every once in awhile) the person holding the potato has to recap what you said.


Gold, Gold, Who's got the Gold
Supplies:A large gold coin
How To Play:A child is chosen to be the Leprechaun and hides her eyes as a gold coin is given to a child to hide in his lap or behind his back. The Leprechaun then has three chances to guess which child has their gold coin. (All children hide their hands in their laps/behind their backs like they have it.)

Pot of Gold Toss
Supplies:Large cardboard pot. Good size hole cut-out in center of pot, or a few small holes for older kids.Gold circular bean bags (gold coins)Bucket to hold bean bagsTape to mark distance line
How To Play:Place cardboard pot a little distance from a wall with a paper box lid on floor to catch chocolate bean bags. Mark your distance line according to age and skill of children. Line children up behind the line and place a bucket of gold coin bean bags beside them. Give each child three tries to get their bean bag through the hole. Get all three gold coin bean bags in and earn a 'chocolate' coin reward.

Church Website!

So I just found out about this, even though it was changed about 2 months ago. I found out about it through the church news. I thought that others might also not know. The LDS Church Website has changed for the better. They have updated the Friend and New Era parts. For the friend they now have: coloring (while listening to church music), Slide Shows, Listen to Stories, Little Friends Stuff, Games, Scripture Stories, and much more. Try it out it is really cute! Or better yet let your kids try it out!

The easiest way to get to it, is to go to www.lds.org then on the right side click on prepare a talk, Then hit the friend!

Game Website!

Planning a Birthday party, adult party, Murder Mystery party, Scouts, Activity Days, etc. Go to this website and you will find tons of games! It is amazing!

http://www.partygameideas.com

Leprechaun, Leprechaun where's your shamrock

Here is a game I found and I thought I would play it with my kids. Modify Doggy Doggy where's your bone to be Leprechaun, Leprechaun where's your shamrock
1. One child is the leprechaun -- sits in the middle of the circle with eyes closed
2. One of the children in the circle hides the shamrock behind their back - I always have an adult distribute the shamrock so all the kids get a turn.
3. Circle children say: "Leprechaun, Leprechaun where's your shamrock? Somebody has it in their Pocket! Guess who? Maybe you? Maybe a monkey from the zoo! Come on Leprechaun find your shamrock."
4. Leprechaun opens eyes and has 3 guesses as to who has the shamrock.
5. Child with the shamrock becomes the next leprechaun.