Lora Langston's Blog, page 46

12 Patriotic Crafts and Games for the Fourth of July: Independence Day Activities for Kids

Hey Kids! Celebrate with these Games and Patriotic Activities for the Fourth of July

America likes to celebrate her Independence. We celebrate many holidays with fireworks and patriotic activities. If you like to craft or need activities for summer camp or a family reunion party, you've come to the right place. We are sharing a round-up of our favorite Fourth of July holiday activities for preschoolers, school age, teenagers, and adults too.  Enjoy!






Fourth of July games for children from Better Homes and Gardens.



Some of the best Summer Games from the list below include an Uncle Sam Patriotic Hat competition. This is fun for a family reunion.



Lay out the supplies needed to make a paper hat: Construction Paper, Paper Plates, Tape, Glue Sticks, Scissors, Glitter, even Cheap Birthday Hats to decorate, and Star Stickers. Then, have the party guests (at their own leisure) sit down at the crafting table and make a cool hat for the Fourth of July. Explain it is a decorating contest.





Guest wear the hats while playing games, eating barbecue, and enjoying the party. Pass out squares of paper (post it notes work great) and have everyone vote for their favorite hat. For example, "Uncle Mike's hat is the best" or ""I like Johnny's hat". The winner of the "best patriotic hat" gets a tiny flag to celebrate the win. Don't forget to share all the fun hats on Instagram and Pinterest!



Patriotic Fruit Kabobs from Pinterest
Fourth of July Games for Preschoolers
How to use Sparklers and other Fireworks Safely
Patriotic Games for Kids to play Outdoors
Simple Fourth of July Projects for Preschoolers
Independence Day Games to Play at Summer Camp
Make your own Firework: Candy Rocket from Cardboard Tube
Patriotic Party Games for Adults
How to Make a Patriotic Hat for Independence Day
Make a Star Spangled WhirlyGig to Hang from the Ceiling
Free Printable American Flag



Click the image for Patriotic Party Games for Adults from Reader's Digest.






Recommended Reading:




Other Holidays in July



History for Kids: The Fourth of July for Kids - The Incredible Story of Independence Day - Including an Interactive Fourth of July QUIZ! (History for Children)



A Catered Fourth of July (A Mystery With Recipes)

Explore Indiana_ Home of the Endangered Myotis Bat: Sodalis Nature Park in Plainfield, Indiana

Things to do in Indiana: Take a trip to Sodalis Nature Park to Spot a Myotis Bat
We love to explore new things, especially FREE things to do in Indiana. One day, while exploring in the countryside (of what I thought was Morgan County), we stumbled upon a large area of preserved lands and followed the signs to Sodalis Nature Park. This Hendrick's County park sits near Morgan and Marion Counties down Camby Road, just off 975 East. Since then, we've discovered the many family activities held on Saturdays in the new shelter, travelled many of the hiking trails, and even participated in the catch and release fishing. Yes... we made the bat houses and you should too!





Hike the animal trails at Sodalis Park.



Sodalis Nature Park: Home of the Endangered Myotis Bat in Plainfield, Indiana. 

Nestled at the edge of three Indiana counties, the Sodalis Nature Park is Plainfield's best kept secret and one they'd love to share. The 5 1/2 acre catch and release pond has an ADA accessible fishing pier and picnic areas with charcoal grills. Relax at one of the pleasantly placed picnic tables and you might spot a Great Blue Herron fishing. Walk along the bank and marvel at the little tadpoles and frogs.

In cooperation with the Indianapolis Airport Authority and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Hendrick's County created the 210 acre park to protect the endangered Myotis Sodalis Bat which resides in the area. The park now preserves native wildlife, woods, open spaces, and grassy areas for all to enjoy through the well-marked nature trails named after various animals you might catch along the trails including, Bobcats, Beavers, and White-tail Deer.

The park is open from dusk to dawn and offers Saturday programming. Admission is free but some programs require registration. Park naturalists do outreach at area libraries, "Animal Tales".  Schedule of Events



Make a day of it and visit these Mooresville area attractions:

Mum Farm, Gravity Hill (This didn't work for us. It isn't a smart choice either), Treasure's Flea Market (This is awesome! You will find great deals here.), Anderson's Orchard (Try an Apple Slushy), Pioneer Park (Great playground for preschoolers and early elementary age kids), Zydeco's Cajun Restaurant (Known for their alligator), Academy of Hoosier Heritage Museum, Gray Brother's Cafeteria (Try the giant, pork tenderloin), and Fairfield Friends Quaker Church.



Recommended Reading:




National Geographic Readers: Bats



Bats by Gail Gibbons

July Calendar of Special Days and Holidays for Curriculum Planning

Plan lots of Fun Activities with this July Calendar of Special Days and Holidays.

Don't let summer break get boring. Change it up by celebrating each and every special day. Did you know July is the National month for Blueberries, Hot Dogs, and Ice Cream? It is also National Anti-Boredom Month. Who could get bored in July? Idk, it gets pretty hot here in Indiana. So, a lot of kids probably stay inside and play video games  Minecraft.





July calendar of special days and holidays.





1 International Joke Day. Whether you say Ha-ha, lol, or lolz, tell a joke to get a belly laugh out of a friend today.




1 CANADA Day. Here are some activities for Canada Day. I also rounded up some posts from the Kid Blogger Network. Oh my, my favorite is this post on Canadian Peg Dolls. 





Canadian Mounted Police Peg Dolls from Clothespins by East Coast Mommy.




Canada Activities
Canada Crafts and Activities Round Up
Fun Facts about Canada
Snacks and Desserts for Canada Day
Top 10 Reasons to Love Canada



2 World UFO Day. Roswell July 2, 1947. No aliens here, perhaps these futuristic activities for kids will help you celebrate.





3 Compliment your Mirror Day. I don't know about this day. Shouldn't this be everyday? Anyway, maybe let the kiddos choose what they want to wear today- no matter what it is? You can do it, Mom. Build self-esteem with self-expression.





4 Independence Day. Here are some Firework Safety Tips and Fourth of July Activities from Pinterest.





6 National Fried Chicken Day.  





10 Teddy Bear Picnic Day. Celebrate today with teddy bear activities. Maybe your teddy bear would like a purse or a hat or a cookie?




14 Bastille Day (French National Day).  What is Bastille Day? I got nothin' except this post on how to make French Toast. So, eat some while you read up on this French holiday.




15 Cow Appreciation Day! From our friends at Chick-Fil-A. How about celebrating with a cow coloring sheet?





20 National Ice Cream Day (Third Sunday) Ice cream is awesome on a hot July day, even better, Ice Cream Snowmen.





23 National Hot Dog Day. Only in America, right? Angie has a yummy recipe for Chicago-style Hot Dog Pizza Bites.





24 Ameila Earhart Day. So... I've got a groundhog flying an airplane coloring page. It can be your catalyst for a discussion on the history of Ameila Earhart.





24 Cousins Day. I've got some cousins, but not here on the blog. How can you celebrate? Tell them, "Happy Cousins Day" on Facebook. Wait. I am so virtual. Meet a cousin for lunch today! (That's better.)





30 National Cheesecake Day. Hooray for Cheesecake! 



Recommended Reading:



July and August Monthly Idea Book from Scholastic



Happy Fourth of July Coloring Book: For Kid's Ages 4 to 9 Years Old

Weekend Quotes: Better Days are Coming

Teenagers Live for Weekends! Here's a Quote to Share

Looking for fun quotes to share on social media? The weekend is here, and you've been waiting all week long to relax and enjoy it! Share this with your Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, or Google+ friends so everyone will know, "Better Days are coming".





Quotes to Share: Better days are coming!





Recommended Reading:





15 Slumber Party Games for Girls




Quotes for Teenagers

Don't let kids play with fireworks? Here are Safety Tips for a Happy Fourth of July Celebration

Kids can Play with Sparklers if you Follow these Safety Tips for the Fourth of July.


I don't like fireworks, especially sparklers. They are marketed toward young children, but can be more dangerous than other varieties of fireworks, and they look like mini magic wands. Children should never play with ANY fireworks without adult supervision... a real adult, a sober adult, a safe adult. Hope you know someone :) Enjoy!





When is Independence Day in America? 


Independence Day is always celebrated on July 4th, thus the more common name, "The Fourth of July"!









Never point a sparkler at anyone, even if you think it is a dud.



Always hold your sparkler at arm's length and off to your side.



Party poppers, Snappers, and Snakes are good fireworks for children

(if there is such a thing). Beware the Party Popper pointed at your face.

Did you know there is gunpowder in there?

Shoot your popper straight in the air high above your head.



Don't pretend a sparkler is a magic wand (get a stick for that) and never hold your sparkler over your head. Do you want flaming hair? Yeah, no way! Holding your sparkler to your side is the safest, but if you hold it straight in front of you, always extend it at arm's length.




Firework Safety Tips for Kids

People all over the world love to celebrate special occasions with fireworks. Americans have been celebrating the Fourth of July with fireworks since our country was set in motion. It is important to know and obey your city and state firework laws.


Always use common sense. Read the labels on the box and follow the usage directions. Make sure you know what to expect from your firework. Remember some fireworks take longer to ignite, so leave a "dud" set before running to reignite it. 


There are no "safe" fireworks! All fireworks should be lit by adults. If you must use fireworks that are marketed to children, such as, snakes, sparklers, and poppers, do so with close, responsible, adult supervision. Children should not handle or play with fireworks. Children should NEVER light fireworks.




A responsible adult is an adult not under the influence of alcoholic beverages or recreational drugs.




All fireworks should be lit on a flat, level, hard surface, preferably concrete. Lighting a firework in the grass can cause a the firework to tip over and shoot in an unexpected direction. It can also start a fire. If you must light fireworks in your yard, always use a flat wooden board as your launching platform.


Keep a good distance between you and the firework. Never use fireworks indoors (duh!). Use fireworks outdoors in an open area away from vehicles, animals, and buildings. Also, keep away from dry grass or anything that could catch fire. Children and other spectators should stay away at least 25-40' for fountains and even farther for flying, spinner-type fireworks. Remember, the wind can change the direction of the sparks and flying debris.


Never hold a lit firework in your hand! Never look in or stick anything inside a firework that doesn't go off. Don't stand over a firework... you know this - just use common sense. To be safe, you should light fireworks with a punk stick or a hand butane lighter stick (not a pocket lighter). NEVER try to ignite that dud! Wait several minutes and douse it in water. It is better to waste a good firework than to lose an eye!!! Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of emergencies.


Always handle fireworks with care. Never stick them in your pocket. Never, ever aim them at someone else (even if you think the firework is extinguished). Keep your animals safe. Remember animals may walk too near the firework, they may become frightened, and they may run away from home. It is best to keep animals inside during holiday fireworks displays.




Recommended Reading:



Firework Safety Tips



The Fourth of July Story



Corduroy's Fourth of July



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Blogger Perks: Chick-fil-a Backyard Barbecue Celebration

How will you do a Backyard Barbecue? Consider Chick-fil-a




Some of the perks of blogging include getting FREE stuff or special treatment. Chick-fil-a invited us to have a backyard barbecue inside their Avon, Indiana restaurant. Despite the recent controversy, I love Chick-fil-a. I respect their rights, just as I respect the rights of all others. Chick-fil-a is a great place to dine with the kids, especially preschoolers. It gives Mommy (me) a few moments to relax while the kids play. The staff pampers you, always clearing your table, bringing you refills, and smiling. So, it is my pleasure to share the latest, new menu items with all of you. You know you like the food.






Our Chick-fil-a Backyard Barbecue and a rare look at me. I'm in the blue.




My blogging buddies and local friends joined me at the backyard barbecue. The Avon staff is truly lovely. Though I live closer to another restaurant now, this one is my favorite. Everyone loved the service and the food. Thank you so much to Ashley and the staff :)





My favorite new menu items are the grilled chicken nuggets. If you read this blog, you might recall, I'm somewhat of a poultry-tarian. Well... I was until we got chickens and ducks. That makes it difficult for me to prepare or eat chicken sometimes. I never eat duck. I try to stick to turkey when possible. But... these nuggets are too good to pass up. Right? There's a whole 'nother controversy there. So, please let's just think about the cows. This is what they want. Eat Mor Chickn!






So, what was on the menu? They call it Grilled Love. I've listed some menu items below and tidbits from the Press Release.





 On April 14, the Atlanta-based restaurant chain will officially roll-out three new entrees – the Chick-fil-A® Grilled, Chicken Sandwich, Chick-fil-A® Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich and Chick-fil-A® Grilled Nuggets – in an 

ongoing effort to provide more flavorful and “craveable” grilled options for its nutrition-minded customers. 

 

Chick-fil-A’s new recipe features an unmatched backyard grilled taste. Each grilled chicken breast is freshly marinated with a blend of sea salt, lemon, garlic and savory herbs, and cooked on a state-of-the-art, proprietary grill developed by Chick-fil-A. The technique creates a tender, juicy filet with just the right amount of smoky flavor. 

 

To make this menu enhancement possible, Chick-fil-A invested seven years of testing and more than $50 million to reinvent its grilled chicken recipe. The largest portion of the investment came as the company worked with Garland Grills to create a proprietary grill. This grill sears chicken perfectly on cast-iron grates like it was cooked on a backyard grill, only faster. 

  





















The sandwiches were a big hit, and so were the condiments. My favorite condiment is the Avocado Lime Dressing. Apple Cider Vinaigrette is yummy too. If you like a little spice, try the Polynesian Sauce!





The Chick-fil-a Cows want you to eat more chicken! I can help. I am giving away 4 Backyard Barbecue Cards! What does that mean? You will get a free sandwich in June and July so you can try out the new Backyard Barbecue Menu for Free. Just leave a comment here (if you don't use Google+ find the post about this on our Facebook Page) and Voila! You are entered in the drawing.




Recommended Reading:





Chick-fil-a New Menu 2013




Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe




Chicken Art




Chicken Jokes




The Chicken Encyclopedia

14 Circle Time Activities and Ideas for Preschoolers

Preschool Circle Time is for Group Lessons, Games, and Interaction

Running out of ideas for Preschool Circle Time? Every preschool program needs circle time for group interaction. This is a time to build structure into the program, so the children know what to expect each day. It is great to offer circle time at least twice a day- once in the morning, and once just before time to go home. These ideas will help build a sense of togetherness (community), a time for sharing, and a fun learning environment for the kids. Enjoy!






Circle Time Games, Activities, and Ideas for Preschoolers.






 14 Ideas and Activities for Circle Time

1.  Dance Freeze - Play some music or sing a song. Everyone dances willy nilly. Suddenly, stop the song, but don't sing to the end of a verse, that is too predictable. Everyone must freeze in their position. Is one leg up? Are they doing the worm? If they move, they must sit frozen in that spot, criss cross applesauce and wait to see who can freeze the longest. No blinking or twitching allowed.





2.  Bug in a Rug - This is an oldie, but a goodie. Everyone sits in the circle. Before you begin to play, explain EXACTLY how the game works. Grab a blanket or a big beach towel. Now, pick one child to leave the room or wear a fun blindfold. Teacher picks a student. Shh! Just point at the child, grab their hand and take them away from the group. Now, point at another child and then to the "rug". Hide the child under the "rug". Bring the other preschooler back. Can they guess who is missing? 





3. Pass the Movement - I played this for years with preschoolers and school-age children in summer camps, but I didn't give it a name. I found the name at Preksharing Blog. She says it is adapted from a book published in 2011, but we used to do this years ago in summer camp and afterschool programs. Just goes to show, great minds think alike! It is simple to play. Teacher starts with a movement. Perhaps, you wave your hand in the air. Now, the person sitting to your right must wave their hand and add a movement like wiggling their nose. The next person to the right, does those movements and adds one of their own. It is a "WAVE" of different movements.





4. Shake the Sillies Out - Need a game to get kids' moving?  Find some Dragon Tunes from the cartoon, Dragon Tales, and every morning, "Shake the Sillies Out"! Just play the song, and follow the instructions. Kids love this one!



5. Circle Time Collaborative Painting - I like the idea of painting circles in collaboration like the one from Art Project Girl in the link. You know, where Teach lays out a big sheet of paper and painting supplies and everyone paints concentric circles? What if we do it as a part of Circle Time? Pass the painting and make a PROGRESSIVE PAINTING. This idea teaches patience. Everyone must wait their turn. It builds excitement too. Lay out a large painting tarp, sit the children in a circle on the tarp, give each child a cup of paint and a brush. No painting unless it is your turn. To make it less frustrating, pass two large poster boards around starting at opposite ends. Children are allowed to paint only 1 circle or shape of their choice per turn. While they are painting, teacher shares an art lesson on shapes!







Collaborative Concentric Circle Painting from Art Project Girl.




6. Click, Clack, Moo Story Starter - You know the story about the unhappy cows in the barn? They have a typewriter. They are making demands. An electric blanket would be nice. What else might the farm animals want from the farmer? 





Click Clack Moo Story Starter Circle Time Game.





Play a Circle Time Game where each child is given an animal. Before the game, print out cards with farm animal pictures on one side and their name on the other. Each child draws a card from a hat. Give this example to the kids: What does the (insert animal here) pig want? "Dear Farmer Brown, the barn is smelly. Please send air fresheners". Have each child come up with their own idea for what the animal on the card might want from the farmer.



7. Animal Movement Game - Take the game above one step further. Get the kids moving like the animals. Ask, "What does a pig say?" Now, "How does a pig move?" The children take turns walking around the circle like the animal on their cards. 






8. Quiet Mouse, Still Mouse - When Circle Time is done, keep children in a circle to release them to the next preschool activity. The teacher explains, the child who sits as quiet as a mouse (the quietest) get to line up first. Continue until everyone (or almost everyone, I don't like to single out those who can't sit still or quiet) is in line.





9. Calendar Time -  Sing "Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday Friday, Saturday. Suunday, Munday... TUUESday" Emphasize the current day of the week. Sing the song and then check the calendar. Who can find today on the calendar? Here's another days of the week song sung to the Addam's Family theme. 





10. Alphabet Shopping - Using the first letter of each child's name, pretend to go shopping for an item that begins with that letter. For example, “Jake will buy a jump rope.” Go around the circle until everyone has had a turn. This helps with letter recognition. For more ideas like this visit Early Childhood News.





11. Talking Stick - Bring in a cane, or recycle a cardboard wrapping paper tube. The kids can help decorate the "Talking Stick" with Washi or Duct Tape, Glitter, or Feathers. During Circle Time, grab the stick. Now, explain to the group that this is a talking stick. Only the person who holds it may speak. This is a great tool to use for Show and Tell or other situations where children take turns sharing. More lessons in patience and turn taking.









12. Birthday Day of the Week Bags - PreK Pages Blog has a fun idea for Day of the Week Bags. Make a brown paper bag for each day of the week. Give it a colorful label, and fill it with the names of classmates who have birthdays on this day or other special things that happen on this day of THIS week.





   13. Pictures with Facial Expressions - Hold up magazine pictures of facial expressions. Ask, "What is this person feeling". Have the children take turns making the face. After you play this game, have the kids draw themselves like this emotion art lesson.





14. Play Duck, Duck, Goose? - This old standby might be boring to you, but it is likely new to the toddlers and preschoolers in your class. Change it up each day. After they get the hang of the game, add a creative play element by acting it out. Have the kids act and walk like the animal as they toddle around. Walk and Talk like the animal. For older or school-age children, change the theme to pig, pig, cow or ghost, ghost, vampire.







Recommended Reading:



Preschool Circle Time Activities



Chicken Art Project for Preschool

Make a Call of Duty Black Ops Medal Afterschool Activity

 Make your own Black Ops Call of Duty Style Medal

Call of Duty Black Ops and Ghosts are so popular with teens and their gaming Dads too. We've been posting Call of Duty birthday party activity themes or after-school boredom busters.




I know, how can you get bored when you have your games to play?


Well, sometimes you mess up and lose your tech time. Grounded. Don't leave your soldiers all alone. Remember when you used to get dressed up and play make believe? Yep. Now they call it role-playing, and it is cool to be a nerd.




Get your own Official Black Ops Medal.






Make your own Call of Duty Medal.





Official Call of Duty Black Ops Prestige Medal.









We made our look-alike (shh, I know it is a stretch, don't hurt my feelings!) medal with recycled cardboard from a cereal box, blue felt, aluminum foil, some Sharpies, and Tacky Glue.





How to Make a Call of Duty Medal
We took the image above, printed it out in black and white and then traced it to make a template. It's not an exact match, but it makes a fun activity for kids. After, we cut out our images, we traced them onto the cardboard. There are 5 separate cardboard pieces making up the medal.



Here it gets dicey! We covered each piece with foil by wrapping the cardboard cut out and rubbing over it with fingers to reveal where to make the cuts. No need to glue the foil down, just wrap the edges so they fold over the back.



Next, we stacked each piece as pictured and glued them down with tacky glue. Take a break, let it dry. Later, we took the Sharpie and colored the bottom layer. We used brown, but gold looks best. Then we drew the features of the skull.



Finally, we cut the felt in an odd bow tie, folded it in half, glued it at the top, and then to the wings at the top of our cardboard medal.



If you print out the Call of Duty template pattern stencil (see what I did there? That's weird, right?), and cut the pieces out prior to the party, it makes a quick, fun activity for a boys' birthday party.



Need a stencil pattern template - whatever you want to call it, you can find it here as a FREE PRINTABLE CALL OF DUTY pdf on our Mediafire page. If the link isn't clickable, I haven't scanned it in yet. Hold on. I'm getting to it. Enjoy!

15 Slumber Party Games and Activities for Teen Girls: Best Sleepover Ever

15 Fun for Teen Girls Activities: A Sleepover, Slumber Birthday Party

A teenage girl sleepover party with fun games, activities, and swag bags is the best slumber party ever! Don't just read these titles and think, been there done that. We've added a little twist to each birthday party activity.


Slumber Party Sleepover Games and Activities for Teen Girls.




1. Balloon Charades. Grabs some stationary and write down ideas for Charades. What are charades? How do you play charades? You know, when you act something out, pull on your ear for "sounds like", put two fingers in the air to signify two words, but you never speak. Yeah, that game. So, fold the paper up into skinny rectangles, slide it inside a balloon, blow it up, and use it as a party decoration. When you are ready to play charades give each guest a balloon. Have her pop it - sitting on it is the most fun, read it, and act it out for the other guests to guess. Super Fun!



Yeah, you can do this with "Truth or Dare" too, but oh how I loathe Truth or Dare. Shouldn't it be called "Humiliation or Bullying"? 

Hate it! 





2. Sleeping Bag Switch. For this game, each girl brings a sleeping bag to the party. To start the game, the girls unroll their bags and lay them out on the floor. Then, one girl goes out of the room and the remaining girls pick someone else's bag to hide in. The girl then returns and tries to guess who is who or who is where. You can also have only two girls switch, and see if she can tell who switched. Fun times!





3. Crazy Makeovers. Time to pull out the make up, and let the girls give each other makeovers. No peeking until it is done. The beautician can choose to make a crazy makeover or a beautiful, glamorous one. The girl getting the makeup has to guess which type of makeover she got before the big reveal. 



4. Spin the Nail Polish Bottle. Each girl takes a turn picking out a color and spinning the bottle. This works best on a table. Who ever the bottle points to when it finishes spinning paints a nail with that color. Then, she chooses the next color to spin. When everyone has 10 nails painted, take a picture and share them with your friends on Instagram. Make sure you have lots of colors to choose!







Choose a variety of colors for Nail Polish Spin the Bottle game.



5. Make your Own Glitter Body Scrub. Find small jars that seal tightly, fine glitter (white is nice), coconut oil (a wonderful moisturizer for the scrub), scented extract, and sugar or coarse salt. Sugar is best. Salt is great for exfoliating, but bad if it gets in your eyes. Choose an extract: Peppermint, Almond (my favorite), Coconut, or Vanilla. Add a few drops of extract to the sugar and glitter to make a paste. Now you have your own moisturizer and exfoliator. When purchasing coconut oil you want this kind, extra virgin coconut oil.







Coconut Oil for Glitter Scrub.



6. Dress Up Divas. Go to a thrift shop and find evening gowns or formal wear and fancy heels the girls can use to dress up. Place the gowns in a large bag. Before you let the girls see the gowns, have them make blindfolds that double as beauty masks. Once everyone is blindfolded, have them choose a dress by touch alone. After they model the dresses, they can trade and have a fashion show or make up a reality show. Don't forget a full-length mirror.







For a blindfold or sleeping mask tutorial visit Henry Happened blog.







7. Pillowcase Decorating Activity. Purchase pillowcases to decorate. Grab fabric makers, tacky glue, and ribbon. You can also find fun, iron on transfers to embellish. If you plan in advance, you can decorate a large gift bag for each guest. Load it up with all that Birthday Party Swag!



8. Pillow Fight. A classic game. As part of the swag bag items, create mini-pillows. You can often find little pillows at the dollar store or use travel pillows. Decorate them as mentioned above. When it is time for bed, be a cool party host. Tell the girls to grab their mini-pillows. On your mark, set, pillow fight! Just watch out for the lamps :)



9. Flip Flop Decorating Activity. Find out the Flip Flop shoe sizes of each guest before the party. Get some yarn, baubles, Sharpie Markers, and cloth scraps. Decorate to your heart's desire. Toss them in that swag bag to take home.




10. Cup Stacking. When you are buying party supplies, get some extra cups for the party guests to stack. Take turns to see who can get the most cups stacked in a minute or who has the most creative tower. Even better, everyone can start at the same time. This makes it more nerve wracking and chaotic! Hey, don't knock my tower down!






Minute to Win it Games for a Birthday Party.


11. Minute to Win it Games. Imagine the possibilities! Just like cup stacking, come up with several activities that can be completed in one minute. Everyone grab one of those cups. Set it in the middle of a table, grab a Ping Pong ball, and with only one bounce allowed, bounce the ball into the cup. Hurry! The clock is ticking. Tick Tock. You can also use the a cup to fill a bucket with water (use a colorful sand pail). 



12. Dance Off. Time for the girls to get their dance moves on and have fun. This is great to play after the Dress up Diva game. She who dances the longest wins. Ha! You thought it was a game of skill. Nope. It is a game of "get them tired so they don't put your panties in the freezer"!  Sweet Dreams. What's that? You're dreaming of popsicles?



13. Board Games. Don't think bored games. These board games are fun because each girl makes her own game to play or collaborate on one super, cool game. Cereal boxes, paper plates, and the white side of the wrapping paper are great ways to make a board. Paper plates make game spinners. Old, recycled business cards make excellent playing cards or game cards. Stickers are fun too. Fold paper and cut it into a cube pattern to make your own dice. Still boring? Take those balloons and fill them with game topics. For example, "Make a game about Rock Stars" or "Make a Mall Shopping Card Game" or "Make a game of questions". Let your imaginations run wild. This can be especially fun for preteens and tweens.




14. Classic Board Games. Find out who your moguls are when you pull out the Monopoly game or start up the giggles with Trouble. But that's boring, right? Pass around a basket of accessories. Think grandma glasses, nerd spectacles, giant clip-on earrings, men's ties,

satin gloves, and cowboy hats. Now, play those games in character with silly accents.



15. Slurpin' for Worms. Gummy Worm Game Grab a bag of gummi worms or gummi bears and a can of whipped cream. Place the worms on a paper plate and cover them with the cream. It should look like a fake pie, you know, the kind you get in the face? Yeah, you might want to wear a raincoat for this one, and Mom might want to lay down a painting drop cloth. Players must keep their hands behind their backs at all times. Dive in. This is a great game for "Minute to Win It" too. Who can slurp up the most worms? Who can eat the most?




Recommended Reading:




Happy Birthday Mad Libs



Minecraft Birthday Party Activities



Marshmallow Party Games and Activities

Minecraft Free Printables: Word Search Finder

Minecraft! Word Searches are Fun Activities for After School
Are you or your kids Minecraft crazy? We've got lots of Minecraft free printables. This word search is a printable PDF, click the links to visit our MediaFire page and download your FREE Minecraft word activity.





Minecraft Free Printables: Word Search Finder.






Recommended Reading:





Make your Own Minecraft Balsa Wood Figure




Minecraft: The Adventures of Steve