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Did you know that the third week in May (May 15-21 this year) is National Backyard Game Week? Yep! Time to go outside and play!
It’s a great time to head outside with your kids and play active fun games that stimulate your brain and keep your body moving!
We’ve put together this 2011 list of our favorite games. Each “how-to” article has all the information you need to get started, including some fun variations on the games.
What are you waiting for? Gather your friends and neighbors and play games!
2011 National Backyard Games Week Games
Pass the Ball – You’ll have a ball with this fun game! The object of the game is to successfully pass the ball between players along a line. It’s not as easy as it sounds!
Patsy Ball – Test your hand-eye coordination with this fun and simple ball game! It’s perfect for kids of all ages, and can be played indoors or outdoors!
Odd Ball – Guard your goal to keep your opponents ball from leaving the circle! This game helps improve hand-eye coordination and balance, and is a lot of fun!
Leapfrog – You’re never too old to play a good old-fashioned game of Leapfrog! Here’s how!
Pickle in the Middle – This team game of tag is a backyard classic! Teach your kids how to play and have fun dodging your opponents!
MORE Backyard Games
For your convenience, here are links to our previous posts for even MORE backyard games!
Backyard Relays – Backyard relay games are so exciting! This post includes nine unique relays for you to play!
Unique Ways to Play Golf – This post includes several unique and really fun ways that you can play golf at home – without all the fancy equipment!
Our 2010 National Backyard Game Week Games – Make sure to check out our blog post for our 2010 National Backyard Game Week Games for dozens MORE fun games to play!
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Copyright © 2007-2011 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “fifth of May”) is a holiday commemorating the Mexican army’s victory over French forces on May 5, 1862 in the Battle of Puebla. It is a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with your kids and make mini pinatas together! Here’s how…
What You Will Need:
- 2 Paper Cone Cups for each Pinata
- Scissors
- 12 inch length of Ribbon
- Crepe Paper
- Hot Glue (used with adult supervision)
- Pinata Filling Items (see ideas below)
What You Do:
- Use a scissors to cut the very tips off of the paper cone cups. This opening should be about 1/8 inch – just large enough to get a ribbon through the opening.
- Cut a 4 inch length of ribbon. Form a loop with the ribbon and tie the ends together in a knot.
- Push the loop end of the ribbon through the hole of one paper cone cup – the knot in the ribbon should be inside the cone. This loop becomes the hanger for the pinata.
- Cut two more 4 inch lengths of riibbon and fold them in half. Tie the two ribbons together into a knot at the folded end to create a tassel.
- Push the tassel ends of the ribbons through the hole of the second paper cone cup – the knot in the ribbon should be inside the cone, and the loose ends hang outside the cone.
- Place small candies and trinkets (see idea list below) into the paper cones.
- Use hot glue to glue the two cones together. CAUTION: To avoid burns, this step should be done by an adult.
- Cut a length of crepe paper to about 12 inches long, then use a scissors to carefully cut fringes all along the crepe paper (be careful not to cut all the way through the crepe paper). If you like, you can fringe both edges of crepe paper.
- Wrap the fringed crepe paper around the middle of the mini pinata (where the two cups are glued together) to add a coloreful decoration. Hot glue the crepe paper in place.
- If desired, glue additional embellishments onto the crepe paper. Items like stickers, buttons, and tags work very well.
- When your mini pinata is complete, it’s ready to hang! Give your kids a small stick and let them knock it down!
Variations:
- If you don’t have paper cone cups, you can make your own! Simply form a cone from any sheet of paper (we like to use Blank White Card Paper) by rolling the paper to shape. Use a glue stick to hold the cone shape together. When the glue has dried, trim the top of the cone so it is even (like a paper cup). Repeat this step to make two cone shapes, then follow the directions above to complete your mini pinatas.
- Instead of using hot glue to attach the two cones together, you can also use a length of clear heavy-duty tape – such as packing tape.
Pinata Filling Ideas:
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 Tonight is Saturday Night Dance Night in our house. Time for my husband, three boys, and I to be as silly as we want to be while we shake it to the music!
To prepare for Dance Night, we move the couch aside to make plenty of dancing room in our Great Room. We find oldies from our past to play, as well as new music that our boys enjoy. Once the music starts, it’s time to get up and move!
Not only is Dance Night a great way for our family to have fun together, it’s also a fun way to exercise – especially this time of year when it’s cold out, and there is less to do outside.
Tonight we are going to do our favorite Paper Dance. What’s a Paper Dance, you ask? Well… it’s something you really have to try with your family! Here’s how…
What You Will Need:
- Large Sheet of Paper or Newspaper (one for each person)
- Music
What You Do:
- Designate one person in your family to be “The DJ” in charge of the music for this dance, and give all other family members a large sheet of paper to act as their “dance floor”.
- Have each dancer stand on their sheet of paper and when you are ready to dance, begin the music.
- The dancers must stay on their sheet of paper the entire time they are dancing. If they step off the paper, they are eliminated from that dance round.
- When the person in charge of the music stops the music, each dancer must fold their paper in half, reducing the size of their “dance floor”, and the music resumes. Again, dancers must stay on their sheet of paper while dancing.
- Continue repeating these steps, folding the paper in half each time the music stops, until the last dancer remains.
- Unfold the paper, and start again!
Variations:
- Rotate the family members in charge of the music so that everyone has a chance to be “The DJ”.
- Play music for about a minute each time before stopping and folding the “dance floor”. This keeps the dance going and allows everyone a chance to “move it to the music”!
- With Valentine’s Day just days away, make large red paper hearts to use for your dance floor!
Go ahead…. gather your family together, put on your favorite music, and shake, rattle, and Rock and Roll!
Have a fun night dancing!
You May Also Like:
- Beethoven’s Wig Dance Along Symphonies – Boogie with Beethoven’s Wig! This CD is full of zany stick-in-your-head lyrics set to the greatest hits of classical music.
- Jumbo Dance Scarves – These large colorful scarves are perfect for dancing! They also make great tents, super hero capes, and anything else your kids can dream up!
- Activity Rings – This set has so many uses for active play! Toss them, balance them, jump in them, twirl them on your arms or legs – whatever you do will be fun!
Sure… you could give store-bought, prepackaged candy to all your Valentine’s this year, and that’s nice. But why not wrap the candy in a unique way instead?! Something straight from the heart.
Here are some of our ideas to wrap your candy in style! These ideas are all quick and easy – and your Valentine’s are sure to love them!
Get your kids together and have fun wrapping!
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Painted Drawstring Bags
Take plain Cloth Drawstring Bags and turn them into special surprises! Use craft paint, fabric paint, markers, or ink pads to create colorful hearts on the bags. Make sure to insert a piece of cardboard into the bag before painting or decorating to prevent the paint from bleeding through to the other side, then allow the paint or ink to dry before removing the cardboard. When the paint has dried, fill the bags with candy or small gifts.
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Love Potion Candy Test Tubes
Fill Wondertube Test Tubes with red, pink, and white candies for a cool “mad scientist” gift! Add a ribbon around the cap or neck of the test tube with a gift tag that says “I’m Mad about you!” You could even add a sticker to the test tube that says “Love Potion #9″!
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Candy and Gift Sachets
At Christmas, kids receive stockings full of small surprises. At Easter, it’s baskets full of goodies. For Valentine’s Day, fill Organza Sachets with candy and small gifts and hang the sachets on the doorknobs to your children’s bedrooms for a special Valentine’s Day surprise – what a fun treat to wake up to!
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Jelly Belly Doilies
White heart-shaped doilies are perfect for concealing Jelly Belly Conversation Beans! Sew two heart doilies together with red thread (with a sewing machine or hand-stitching) and fill with jelly beans or Red Hot candies before completely sewing the two hearts together. Present the candy-filled hearts to your Valentine with a note that says “You’re a heart breaker!”, “Don’t break my heart!”, or “My heart throbs for you!”
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Elegant Glassine Bags
Fill Glassine Bags with pink, white, and red candies. Fold the top of the bag over and punch two holes in the fold. Thread a red ribbon through the holes and tie into a bow. Add a special gift tag and you have an elegant Valentine’s Day treat! Put a bunch of these glassine treat bags into a large clear bowl, and place the bowl on a table for a Valentine’s Day Party – a nice decoration and a party favor, too!
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Handle Boxes
Make a special Valentine’s Day party favor box! Just add a sheer red ribbon and a few heart stickers. A quick and easy way to wrap your treats! Click Wire Handle Box for more information and ideas.
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Silk Gift Wrap Ideas
Make your Valentine’s Day gifts extra special… wrap them in silk! It’s two gifts in one! Not only is wrapping gifts in silk a unique, fun activity – it’s eco-friendly! The silk can be reused again and again for other presents, and can be played with for imaginative play. Wrapping gifts in silk squares is also easy for young children to do. No tape, no scissors required. Be creative! Click Silk Gift Wrap Ideas for more information and for folding instructions.
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Copyright © 2007-2011 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 Looking for a fun holiday game that engages adults and children? Become artists with this very interactive game, and see how well you can draw a Christmas scene without looking!
What You Will Need:
What You Do:
- To prepare for the game, give each player a sheet of paper on a clipboard and have all the players sit where they can reach your supply of markers and stickers.
- To play, have each guest place the clipboard flat on top of their head – they will draw on this paper without looking.
- When you say “start”, turn the timer over and begin instructing the players what to draw on their paper. For example, draw a fireplace and mantle. When the players are done with their fireplace drawings, instruct them to draw five Christmas stockings hanging from the mantle.
- Continue giving instructions to the players of things to add to their drawing. For example, draw a Christmas tree next to the fireplace. Now add a sticker to the top of the tree. You could also have them use the markers to color in their drawing – for example, draw six ornaments on the tree and color them in. See the list below for more ideas of things to draw.
- When the time is up, allow the players to quickly finish whatever they are drawing at the moment, then have each player put their clipboard in their laps to show the group.
- The drawings are fun for everyone to see! If you choose, award points to the drawings – 1 point for every stocking that is actually hung on a fireplace; 1 point if the sticker made it to the top of the tree, etc. Award the player with the most points a small prize!
Additional Ideas of Things to Draw:
- Draw two Christmas gifts underneath the Christmas tree.
- Draw bows and ribbons on each of the gifts.
- Draw a bowl of Candy Canes next to the fireplace – make sure to make them red and white striped.
- Draw mistletoe hanging above the fireplace.
- Draw a reindeer peeking in through a window next to the fireplace.
- Draw a train circling around the Christmas tree.
- Draw Santa Claus coming out of the fireplace.
Variations:
- Instead of drawing a Christmas room scene, draw a nativity scene.
- This party game can easily be adapted for any kind of party! Just have guests draw items related to the theme of the party. For example, have your guests draw snowmen, complete with a hat, scarf, and a carrot nose!
Make sure to have someone take pictures of your guests while they play this game! Have fun!
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 Old-fashioned party games are fun to play with friends and family during the holidays. Don’t feel LEFT out! This game is just RIGHT for your holiday parties!
What You Will Need:
- One small wrapped gift box for each player – only one of these gifts will contain a small present, the other boxes will be empty (see below for variations)
- 3 or more Players
- The Right Family Story (click here to download and print)
What You Do:
- To start the game, hand one small gift to each player.
- Have all the players sit close together in a circle – either on the floor or at a table.
- Choose one person to read the story aloud for this game.
- The reader begins the story. When the players hear the word “RIGHT”, they pass their gift to the player on their right. When the players hear the word “LEFT”, they pass their gift to the player on their left.
- When the story is over, each player opens their wrapped box – the player with the actual gift wins the game!
Variations:
- If you would like, include one small gift in each gift box, but make one of the gifts extra special. This way, all players receive a small gift, but one player wins the special prize. Need ideas for unique gifts? Check out our Stocking Stuffer Gifts for hundreds of inexpensive ideas! (There’s STILL TIME to receive your order before Christmas)!
- If you are going to put a gift in only one of the boxes, make sure to add weight to the other “empty” boxes to fool your guests.
- Make up your own gift exchange story! Just make sure to include the words “LEFT” and “RIGHT” within the story.
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 Playing games during the holidays is a great way to bring friends and families together to interact, laugh, and create memories.
Here is a fun game to play at a holiday party, or when you are looking for something fun for your kids to do during the busy holiday season.
What You Will Need:
- 1 Christmas Stocking (a stocking that you cannot see through)
- 1 Candy Cane
- 1 Peppermint Candy (round candy wrapped in cellophane)
- 1 Ornament
- 1 Pine Cone
- 1 small bough of a Christmas Tree
- 1 Jingle Bell
- 1 Mitten
- 1 small Teddy Bear
- 1 Walnut
- 1 Gingerbread Cookie (well, okay – that could get a bit messy!)
- 1 small Wrapped Present
- 1 small square of Wrapping Paper (crumpled)
- 1 Roll of Tape
- 1 Candle
- 1 Christmas Light Bulb (from a string of lights)
- 1 Gift Bow
- 1 sheet of Paper for each player
- 1 Pencil for each player
What You Do:
- To prepare for the game, place holiday related items (such as those mentioned above) inside a Christmas stocking.
- Tape or sew the top of the Christmas stocking together so it is closed – this eliminates anyone from peeking inside the stocking.
- Give each player a piece of paper and a pencil so they can record their guesses.
- To play, pass the stocking to the first player, who must feel the stocking to figure out what the objects are inside. They then must write down their guesses on their sheet of paper, without letting other players see their guess list.
- When the first player is done, they pass the stocking to the next player, and that player writes down their guesses on their sheet of paper.
- Continue passing the stocking from player to player until everyone has had a chance to guess the objects in the stocking.
- To determine a winner, open the stocking and remove each object, one at a time. Players check-off each object they guessed correctly.
- The player with the most correct guesses wins the game!
- Also have each player read their list of guesses to the group – it’s fun to hear the crazy guesses some people make!
Variations:
- Any type of stocking will work for this game, as long as you cannot see through it.
- Award gifts to the winning players! You can even use objects from the stocking as prizes.
Are you looking for FUN gifts to fill stockings this year? Make sure to check out our Stocking Stuffer Gifts for lots of great ideas!
There is still time to place your orders and receive them in time for Christmas!
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
“Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble…”
This bewitching game is sure to be a hit at your Halloween party! It’s an easy game to set up, but challenging to play.
Witch Hat Ring Toss
What You Will Need:
- 3 or more Witch Hats (either purchased or made – see variations below)
- 3 or more Glow Necklaces, activated and put together to form a ring.
- Crumpled Newspaper
What You Do:
- To prepare for the game, stuff crumpled newspaper into the cone portion of each Witch Hat. This keeps the hat standing upright.
- Place the Witch Hats on the floor in a grid pattern, spaced about 12″ apart.
- Measure about 4 to 6 feet from the Witch Hats and place a marker – this will be the “throw line” your guests stand behind for this game.
- To play, give the first player 3 or more glow necklaces and have that player stand at the throw line.
- Toss the glow necklaces and try to get them over the cone of the Witch Hat – a “ringer”! Score 1 point for each successful ringer toss.
- Give each guest a turn at the ring toss game, and award a prize to the player with the most ringers.
- How about awarding bonus points? Toss one ring onto each hat and that person gets double the points! Toss two rings on one hat and receive a special prize. You make the rules!
Variations:
- If you don’t have premade Witch Hats, make your own from two pieces of black construction paper. Cut a large circle from one piece of paper, and use the other sheet of paper to form a cone. Tape the cone onto the circle shape and you have an easy Witch Hat! For a sturdier hat, use black cardstock or tagboard instead of construction paper.
- Witch Hats aren’t your thing? Make them into Wizard Hats! Just add a couple of gold stars for decorations and throw glow necklaces (Wizard Wands) over the Wizard Hats!
- For a more challenging ring toss game, use Glow Bracelets instead of necklaces! The smaller diameter of the bracelets make them more of a challenge.
- Want to make the game even more challenging? Play it in the dark! The glow necklaces and bracelets will be easily seen, but the witch hats will blend into the dark, making this a game of chance and luck, versus skill. Especially fun for older kids!
We’ll be posting more game ideas leading up to Halloween – make sure to check back each day for more Halloween fun!
You May Also Like:
- Glow Sticks – Glow Sticks make great Halloween party favors and decorations. Click this link for our ideas!
- Glow Bracelets – Glow Bracelets are fun to wear for Halloween fun! Available in 5 glowing colors!
- Ein-O Science Luminous Mucus – This glow-in-the-dark slime making kit is eerie fun!
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 “The truth it is, and not a myth
That once there lived a man named Smith.
And it became his mournful lot
To be murdered quite near this spot.
We now will pass out his remains.
You first will handle poor Smith’s brains…”
Peeled grapes for eyeballs, dried corn for teeth, a wet sponge for a brain…
Gruesome storytelling games at Halloween are made creepy, gooey, and gross when you add “remains” to the game! These props allow your guests to touch and feel the story as you read it. Classic spooky Halloween fun for all ages!
Click Storytelling Games for two spooky tales that you can print and use, as well as a list of props to use (for example, a dried apricot for an ear).
Have a fun party!
You May Also Like:
- Glow Sticks – Make your spooky stories even spookier and ready by glow stick!
- Noggin Bops – Lighten the mood on Halloween and dance along with the Noggin Bops! (Click this link to watch the video)
- Scary Stories Boxed Set – This collection of spooky stories is perfect for Halloween storytelling, sleepovers, camping, and more! Scary fun!
- Vintage Halloween Postcards – The postcards in this collection are fun to use for decorations, Halloween party invitations, or Halloween crafts. Vintage fun!
Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
 Halloween parties are fun for children of all ages – the crazy costumes, the colorful candy… and the games!
This Halloween Game is a fun way to get your party started.
Have left-over Candy Corn? Make sure to see the recipe below!
Count the Candy
What You Will Need:
- Large Clear Jar or Bowl
- Candy Corn Candies
- Guessing Sheet (click here to download and print)
- Prizes, optional
What You Do:
- Fill a clear jar or bowl with Candy Corn – make sure to count exactly how many pieces you are putting into the jar and write down the quantity.
- Place the candy jar on a table, along with the Guessing Sheet.
- When your guests arrive, have them guess how many pieces of candy are in the jar, then write their name and their guess on the Guessing Sheet.
- The guest who guesses the exact number of pieces, wins a prize! If no one guesses the exact amount, you can award the prize to the one who guessed the closest amount high or low, or closest without going over. You decide the rules!
Variations:
- Instead of using Candy Corn, fill your jar with Green M&Ms or Eyeball Gumballs for ghoulish fun.
- Need an idea for a prize? How about this: send the entire candy jar home with the winner!!
- WHAT?!? You have left-over Candy Corn?!? Here’s a howling good recipe to make the sweet candy even sweeter! You will need: 16 chocolate sandwich cookies, coarsely chopped (Oreo cookies work very well); 1-1/2 cups yogurt pretzels, coarsely broken; 1/3 cup raisins; 2 6-ounce packages of white baking chocolate; 1/2 cup candy corn, and 1/4 cup of brown sprinkles. What you do: spread cookies, pretzels, and raisins on a lightly greased baking sheet. Melt white chocolate in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. When chocolate is melted, drizzle it over the cookie mixture on the baking sheet. Top the mixture with candy corn and sprinkles, then lightly press into the chocolate mixture. Cool until firm, then break into pieces and serve. Store left-overs in an airtight container at room temperature. Yum! Make enough ahead of time to send some home with your party guests, too! Just package the pieces in a Glassine Bag – a perfect sweet treat party favor!
We’ll be posting more game ideas leading up to Halloween – make sure to check back each day for more Halloween fun!
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Copyright © 2007-2010 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.
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