We’ve been busy working on some great new activities and ideas for families – so stay posted! We’re happy you found our blog, and we look forward to providing lots of great posts in the weeks to come!

Stay tuned!

Make sure to check out all our fun Outdoor Play products, too!

Happy Summer!

Vertical gardens are easy to maintain, take up very little space, and they really look unique! The vertical garden can be used as a privacy fence, or a work of living art.

There are many clever ways to grow vertical – brainstorm ideas with your kids to see what they come up with! Here are two of our favorites.

Shoe Organizer Garden

What You Will Need:

• Over-the-door Canvas Shoe Organizer (the kind with pouches for shoes)


• Wood Closet Rod or Large Dowel


• Potting Soil


• Plants or Seeds (see the list below for some plant ideas)


• Water

What You Do:

• Attach a closet rod or large dowel to a shed, side of a garage, or wherever you want to hang your vertical garden. You can attach the rod using curtain rod hardware or other brackets found at a hardware store. (Make sure to hang the rod at a height that allows your shoe organizer to hang without touching the ground).


• Attach the shoe organizer to the rod using strong hooks or wire the organizer directly onto the rod. When the organizer is full of dirt and plants, it will be heavy, so make sure to secure the organizer to the rod very well.


• Use a nail to poke small holes into the bottoms of each pocket – this will allow the water to drain properly. One or two holes should be sufficient.


• Fill each pocket with potting soil so that the soil is about an inch below the top of the pocket.


• Add your plants to the pockets, and pack the soil lightly around the plants. If you are using seed, place 3 or more seeds in each pocket – depending on the plant.


• When it is time to water your plants, slowly add water to each pocket, starting at the pockets at the top. Make sure not to add water too quickly, or the pressure from the water may wash out the plants and soil from the pockets.


• Water daily as needed and watch your garden grow!

Variations:

• To avoid having the shoe organizer hang directly against your shed or garage, attach empty plastic pots to the backside of the organizer to act as a spacer. You can use the plastic pots from the plants you used for your vertical garden! Just attach them to the organizer using zip-ties or twine through small holes punched into the organizer.


• If you want a privacy wall, build a wooden frame using 2×4 pre-treated lumber and cement the posts into the ground. When your frame is built, hang your vertical garden inside the frame. You may want to attach the bottom of the organizer to the frame as well – instant privacy fence!

Frame Garden

What You Will Need:

• Wood Frame (large or small)


• Bird Netting (sold at hardware stores)


• Twist Ties or Plant Twist Ties


• Sheet Moss (sold at garden centers)


• Succulent Plant Assortment


• Scissors

What You Do:

• To prepare your frame garden, find or make a wood frame in the size you want your vertical garden to be. For example, you could use a large wooden picture frame (say 3 feet x 4 feet) as the frame for your garden. If you want your frame garden to be larger, you can build a simple frame by screwing four 2×4 boards together at the corners.


• Lay your frame on a flat surface, such as a table or your driveway, then drape a layer of netting over the frame.


• Secure the netting to one side of your frame using twist ties, then pull the netting tight and secure the opposite site to the frame with twist ties.


• Use a scissors to trim away the excess netting.


• Dampen your sheet moss and wring out the excess water.


• Place the sheet moss on top of the netting. Repeat this step until all the netting is covered with sheet moss.


• Lay another layer of netting over the moss, and secure it in place with twist ties.


• Use a scissors to trim the excess netting.


• To add plants to your garden, twist a twist tie around the base of each plant, then poke the ends of the twist tie through the netting and twist to secure the plant in place. Note that large plants may need more than one twist tie to secure the plant to the garden.


• When all your plants are secured to the garden, it’s time to display your frame garden! Hang the garden on a wall, such as a shed or garage, or hang it on a fence. If the frame garden is very large, you could stake it into the ground or lean it against a wall or fence. (NOTE: You may want to leave your frame garden laying flat for about a week – this allows the plants to root into the moss easier).


• Make sure to keep your garden watered! When the moss feels dry, lightly spray the entire garden with water.

Vertical Gardening Plants

• Cucumbers


• Peas


• Cilantro


• Chives


• Swiss Chard


• Radishes


• Strawberries


• Succulents, like Hen and Chicks


• Sprenger asparagus ferns


• Aeoniums


• Bromeliads


• Marigolds


• Nasturtiums


• Pansies


• Violas

You May Also Like:

• TubTrugs – No gardener should be without a TubTrug! This handy bucket will last forever and makes gardening so much easier!


• 101 Kid-Friendly Plants – This book contains lots of great ideas for plants that are fun and easy for kids to grow. Check it out!


• Grow Your Own Lily Pad – The simple lotus seeds are fun and easy to grow. You supply the frogs!


• Gardener’s Color Wheel – This handy tool helps you choose coordinating colors for your garden! Lots of great plant ideas.


• Moss Milkshake – All you need is water to grow your own moss! A fun project for kids!


• Stone Soup Garden Kit – Grow a garden for stone soup! This kit contains everything you need, including story and activity cards. Fun for kids!


• Garden Game – Learn more about gardens and how plants grow with this fun and educational board game.

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.

Gardening in wide open spaces, in containers, in small places, and in odd opportune places brings out the creative thinking process for children of all ages.

Go ahead – improvise your garden! Here are some ideas to get you started…

Odd-Spot Gardens

What is the oddest place you can think of to plant a few seeds? Where can you and your kids practice random acts of beauty? What drab place in your neighborhood or community could use a tiny touch of floral beauty or a patch of moss?

What You Do:

• Talk a walk with your kids around your neighborhood and around your city. Find that odd spot that could use a sunflower, a scattering of poppies, or a bit of portulaca.


• Scatter seeds, add a handful of fertilized soil and a bit of water, and watch your handiwork grow!

Oddest Container Contest

Have a contest within your family to see who can grow their flowers or plants in the oddest container. Be creative!

Odd Container Ideas:

• Old toys, such as wagons, dump trucks, or doll houses


• Old shoes or boots


• Odd kitchen containers


• An old worn-out suitcase


• An old lunch box


• A hub cap


• An old dresser drawer


• Old pie, cake, or muffin tins


• A paper or canvas bag

Ideas for Plants:

• Try planting succulents, such as Hens and Chicks – they can grow almost anywhere and in almost any condition.


• Petunias bloom all summer long and do very well in containers. They come in a large variety of colors and shapes, and can be placed in full sun or partial shade.


• Snapdragons are an intriguing flower and they grow well in containers. Make sure to show your kids how they “snap” their mouths once the flowers bloom!


• Plant vegetables! Tomatoes, peppers, brussels sprouts grow great in containers.

Additional Notes:

• When planting in containers, make sure the containers have good drainage and can hold an adequate amount of soil for the type of plant you are growing.


• Use a good potting soil to encourage growth in your container. Soil mixed with peat allows for excellent drainage and aeration.


• When growing vegetables in containers, make sure the container has not been exposed to toxic elements, as these toxins may leach into the plant and vegetables.


• Containers need more frequent watering the gardens planted in the ground. Make sure to keep the soil moist and rewater as needed (a good lesson in responsibility for kids). To make watering fun, use our Garden Pourer!


• To help containers retain moisture longer, place a few of our Slippery Spheres into the soil. These polymer spheres retain water for a long time, keeping the soil moist between waterings.

You May Also Like:

• TubTrugs – No gardener should be without a TubTrug! This handy bucket will last forever and makes gardening so much easier!


• 101 Kid-Friendly Plants – This book contains lots of great ideas for plants that are fun and easy for kids to grow. Check it out!


• Grow Your Own Lily Pad – The simple lotus seeds are fun and easy to grow. You supply the frogs!


• Gardener’s Color Wheel – This handy tool helps you choose coordinating colors for your garden! Lots of great plant ideas.

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.

Crack Gardens are so easy to maintain and they look great. Children of all ages enjoy looking for cracks to plant their gardens and are amazed when plants actually grow in such small, unlikely places.

What You Will Need:

• A Crack or Small Spot of Soil along a sidewalk or driveway


• Old Fork


• Plant Seeds (see list of suggestions below)


• Water

What You Do:

• Find a crack in a sidewalk or along side a driveway where you would like your plants to grow.


• Use a fork to loosen the soil within the crack.


• Use your fingernail or fork tines to make holes in the soil that are about 1/2 inch deep and 6 inches apart. (NOTE: Check the spacing requirements on the seed package).


• Carefully place one seed in each hole, then lightly cover the hole with soil.


• Water lightly.


• Within a few days, your crack garden will begin to grow! Water daily as needed.

Variations:

• If you have permission, plant a crack garden along a sidewalk in your neighborhood! Imagine the surprise that people who pass by will have when they see your beautiful plants growing in such an unlikely place!


• Depending on the plant you use and how much traffic your sidewalk gets, you may want to plant your flowers along the outside edges of the cracks.

Recommended Seeds for your Crack Garden:

• Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) – This plant is perfect for growing in cracks! It blooms all Summer long and into Fall.


• Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora) – This low-growing plant grows very well in sidewalk cracks. The flowers are a blend of reds, oranges, yellows, purples, and pinks.


• Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) – This perennial plant is an evergreen succulent, and grows well within cracks. It’s a low-growing plant that is very interesting -kids especially love this plant.


• Nasturtium – This plant spreads on it’s own and fills cracks nicely. The flowers are very bright and colorful, and tasty, too! The flowers are very light, almost like tissue paper.


• Sedum ellacombianum – This is a great drought-proof ground cover that is perfect for cracks in a sidewalk. This perennial plant produces bright yellow flowers – excellent for honey bees!

You May Also Like:

• Moss Milkshake – All you need is water to grow your own moss! A fun project for kids!


• Stone Soup Garden Kit – Grow a garden for stone soup! This kit contains everything you need, including story and activity cards. Fun for kids!


• Garden Game – Learn more about gardens and how plants grow with this fun and educational board game.

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.

While gardens outside are starting to grow, here are two easy and fun garden activities that you can do with your kids indoors. These activities are a great way for kids to learn more about plants and how they grow, and it’s also a great way to get kids to try new foods (but don’t tell them that)!

Grow Bean Sprouts in a Jar
Mung Beans are absolutely unique! They grow fast and seem to appear like magic! They taste great with many foods – as a matter of fact, they are the most widely consumed sprout on Earth.

What You Will Need:

• 1/2 cup Mung Beans (found at a health-food store, garden store, or seed store)


• 1 quart size Jar with Screw-Top Lid (a canning jar or jelly jar works well)


• Water


• Bowl

What You Do:

• Prepare a Sprout Jar by punching holes in the lid of your jar using a hammer and nail. Set prepared jar aside for now.


• Wash the seeds under running water to remove any soil.


• Place the rinsed seeds into a bowl and add enough cool water to the bowl to completely cover all the seeds. Make sure to mix the seeds up a bit to assure water comes in contact with all the seeds.


• Set the bowl aside and let the seeds soak for at least 8 to 10 hours.


• After the seeds have soaked, drain the water off the seeds. NOTE: Use this drained water to water other plants – it’s full of nutrients! Also note that mung beans will pale as they swell with water during soaking. Make sure the seeds have taken up all the water they need before draining.


• Place the drained seeds into the bottom of the glass sprout jar and screw on the lid.


• Place the jar somewhere out of direct sunlight – such as on a kitchen counter. This jar is where the sprouts will grow – make sure to check it often and watch the magic happen.


• For the next five days, rinse the beans two or three times a day in lukewarm water – we recommend rinsing the beans at breakfast, dinner, and before going to bed.


• In five days, the bean sprouts will be ready to eat! They taste great in salads or on sandwiches.


• Make sure to drain your sprouts as thoroughly as possible after the last rinse. You can store the sprouts in the refrigerator when they are dry to the touch.

Variations:

• If you want to grow short mung sprouts, rinse and drain the beans every 8 to 12 hours for two to three days. To grow larger mung sprouts, rinse and drain the beans every 8 to 12 hours for four to six days. Taste the mung sprouts at every rinse/drain to see what taste you like best.


• When you rinse the beans, try not to disturb the seeds/sprouts. The sprouts will form a mass and you want them to stay together.

Grow a Cress Garden on a Dish
Cress is full of flavor – almost spicy in a way. It’s easy to grow and has very unique leaves, making it an attractive plant for a windowsill.

What You Will Need:

• 2 Plates


• Paper Towel


• 1 pack of Cress Seeds
• Water

What You Do:

• Place a paper towel on a plate, such as a dinner plate.


• Wet the paper towel well with water.


• Sprinkle the cress seeds onto the wet paper towel, spreading the seeds evenly.


• Cover the seeds with a second plate, turned upside down.


• Set the plate aside and check every day to make sure the paper towel is still moist – moisten as needed.


• The cress will start to grow after about three days. When the cress is about 1/2 inch high, remove the top plate and place the cress garden in a sunny window.


• Make sure to keep the paper towel moist, but not soggy. We prefer using a spray bottle to mist the paper towel. If watering directly by pouring water, make sure to pour the water on the side of the plate to avoid injuring the tiny plants.


• When the cress is about 3 inches high, it’s time to take out your scissors and harvest your crop! Cut the cress sprouts in half, then use the cuttings on a sandwich or in a salad. Delicious!

Variations:

• Cress seeds can also be grown directly on moist soil or even a baby blanket in a tray! Virtually any medium that can retain moisture will work to grow cress.

Grow a Bean Teepee
Why not take what you’ve learned about beans outdoors and grow a bean teepee that you can play in?! Click Grow a Bean Teepee for our article on how to do this. Have fun!

You May Also Like:

• Magic Beans Fairy Tale Garden Kit – Fee-fi-fo-FUN! Imagine growing a bean stalk all the way to the sky! Kids will enjoy planting their very own bean stalk and watching it grow… and grow… and grow!


• Think Outside the Bean – Need a great way to have fun AND practice thinking skills? Play and learn about Mexican Jumping Beans with this unique activity book!


• DuAll Box – This box allows you to grow plants, watch pond creatures, insects, and more! It’s a great box to have on hand for learning adventures!

Now is the perfect time of year for starting sunflowers in your garden. Children of all ages enjoy the anticipation of watching that first seedling appear, followed by the first sunflower!

Sunflowers (Helianthus) have a special appeal to children because they grow so quickly, and so tall. It’s hard for young children to realize that a flower can grow taller than they are – and they watch in amazement throughout the summer as their sunflowers grow to tower over them. It’s also fun for kids to watch as the sunflower face turns toward the sun throughout the day.

Sunflowers are easy to grow, and there are a large variety of sunflowers to choose from. Choose your favorite variety – then get planting today! Here’s how…

What You Will Need:

• Package of Sunflower Seeds (our favorite is the Russian Giant, which grows to a height of 12 feet with a 12 inch flower head)


• Think Tank or pot (we like using the clear Think Tanks because you can see the roots of the plants when they start to grow)


• Potting Soil


• Water

What You Do:

• Fill a Think Tank or pot with potting soil, then add water to just moisten the soil (be careful not to overwater).


• Let your kids poke their fingers into the soil to make a small hole, then drop a seed into the hole. Cover the seed with soil, then lightly mist the soil.


• Place the planter in a sunny location – either indoors or out.


• When the sunflower seeds begin to germinate and push out of the soil (usually in 8 to 14 days), watch them daily to chart their growth. Water as needed.


• When the sunflowers are large enough to be planted outdoors, choose a sunny place in your garden to transplant your flowers. An area that is out of the wind is ideal.


• To transplant your sunflowers, dig a hole in the garden that is larger than the root base of the seedlings. Make sure to handle the seedlings carefully to avoid damaging them and to avoid having the soil fall off their roots. Place the seedling roots into the hole and fill the hole with soil. Water gently. NOTE: You may also want to place a wooden stake near the plant to give it extra support until it grows stronger.


• Watch your plants daily and water as needed in order to keep the soil moist.


• Chart the growth of your sunflower each week to see how quickly it grows, and watch for that first flower! Most sunflowers reach maturity in about 80 days.

Variations:

• Sunflowers can be grown in containers and kept on your patio or deck! The “Sunspot” is a dwarf sunflower that is perfect for growing in containers. It grows to a height of 24 inches and has a 10 inch flower head.


• Want to grow a Sunflower Fort? Click this link for our how-to article!


• When selecting the type of sunflowers to grow, choose a range of colors – from the traditional bright yellow to orange and even lime green! A variety of heights will also add to the appeal of your sunflower garden (make sure to place the taller plants in the back of your garden to allow the smaller varieties to receive sunlight.)

Sunflower Seeds:

• Sunflowers make excellent natural bird feeders! Birds will enjoy the seeds from the sunflowers all summer long! Observe the birds that visit your natural feeder!


• If you would like to save the sunflower seeds as a tasty snack for yourself, you may want to cover the sunflower head with cheesecloth to protect the seeds from the birds. When the flower head starts to turn brown, cut the head off the stalk and hang it in a warm, dry place (away from insects and other pests). The cheesecloth over the flower head will catch the seeds as they fall. After several weeks of drying time, the seeds will fall out easily and are ready to be eaten raw or roasted!


• For more information about the sunflower, visit National Sunflower Association website. This website includes the history of the sunflower, uses for a sunflower, as well as a free “The Story of a Sunflower” coloring book for kids.

Extra Activities:
What?! There’s more?! Here are some additional ideas for enjoying your sunflowers…

• Once your flowers have started to bloom – name them! It’s so much fun calling your plant by name – they really seem to take on the personality of the name, and your kids will love doing this! Will there be a Vincent? Camille? Or even Shaggy? Be creative!


• Let your kids take pictures of their plant! Show them how to take close-up pictures, and pictures from a variety of angles. For example, have your kids lay on their backs and take a picture of their sunflowers as seen from the ground. Make sure to take pictures of your kids standing next to their sunflowers, too!


• Spend an hour sketching the sunflowers. Give each of your kids a Blank Book and some colored pencils and encourage them to draw what their sunflower looks like to them. The drawings don’t have to be perfect, let them improvise!


• Pick sunflowers and display them in a vase on your diningroom table! The flowers will last a long time and can be dried for seeds when they start to lose their luster.

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!

You May Also Like:

• MOOV Street Kit – Make it! Moov it! A wooden toy for self-construction! Make your own vehicle in no time at all! Perfect for kids of all ages.


• EzyRoller – It’s not a luge. I’s not a bike. I’s not a scooter. It’s the hottest new roller from New Zealand!


• Junior Stomp Rocket – 3…2…1… Blast off! Kids absolutely love to launch rockets in their backyard! This quality set will last for years!


• Backyard Play Pack – Ropes, Strings, and Twirly Things – Our Backyard Play Pack brings together classic games and toys for creative, active backyard play!


• Backyard Play Pack – Rockets. Balloons, and Flying Things – Our Backyard Play Pack is a classic way for kids to play in the backyard!


• Backyard Play Pack – Let’s Go Retro! – This fun play pack has everything you need for classic, retro backyard fun!


• DirtBag Footbag – Show us your moves! This classic “hacky sack” is great for improving coordination and sparking creativing!


• Djubi – The ultimate way to play catch in your backyard! Get your set today!

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.

Gardening with kids is an enjoyable activity! When children have the opportunity to create their own pots using recyclable material and plant their own seeds, they enjoy gardening even more!

This activity also allows children to observe nature up close, and to help recycle and make our world a better place. It’s a great lesson in patience, nurturing, and even science!

What You Will Need:

• Paper Pot Maker


• Newspapers or recyclable decorative papers (such as old music sheets, maps, or wrapping paper)


• Scissors (optional)


• Potting Soil


• Flower Seeds (Marigolds and Sunflowers are easy and quick to grow)


• Water

What You Do:

• Give your children old newspapers or other recyclable paper to rip or cut into approximately 3″ wide by 10″ long strips (the measurements don’t have to be exact).


• Wrap a strip of paper around the Paper Pot Maker, tuck in the bottom flaps, and twist onto the Pot Maker base to form a paper pot.


• Continue making paper pots until you have the number you need.


• Scoop potting soil into your paper pot and pack the soil lightly.


• Show your children how to poke a shallow hole into the potting soil with their finger to create a hole for the seeds, then add one seed per hole and put soil over seeds (follow flower seed planting directions for the type of flowers you are planting).


• Add a little bit of water, then set your pots in a sunny window and watch them grow!


• Encourage your kids to check their plants daily and water as needed (a Garden Pourer is a great tool for kids to use). You may even want to have them document the growth of their plants in a small blank book. Record the growth of the flowers, the date it blooms and how many flowers there are, keep track of watering, and create sketches along the way.


• When the plants are ready to be planted outside, help your kids find a suitable place to transplant their flowers, and then continue to watch them flourish!

Variations:

• Use a variety of colored papers to make your pots. The bright colors look great while you are waiting for your plants to grow!


• You may want to place your hand-made pots on a tray to avoid water spills.


• Host a Garden Party! Invite your children’s friends over and have all the kids make their own pots to take home.


• Have your kids make planted paper pots to use as gifts! Perfect for grandparents, neighbors, and party favors! This craft idea also makes great Mother’s Day gifts and May Day Baskets!

You May Also Like:

• Moss Milkshake – Grow your own moss and make a fairy garden! Click this link for more information.


• Plants Savings Set – Use this set to help your kids learn about plants and grow their own!


• Stone Soup – This kit contains everything you need to create a unique garden! Fun for kids of all ages!


• Jack’s Magic Beans – The Fairy Tale Garden Kits include everything you need to create a magical garden, even the story cards!


• Grow Your Own Apple Tree – Help your children grow their own fruit trees!


• Gardening Wizardry for Children – Learn the history of flowers and plants with this handy book!

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:

• Mini Test Tube Touchable Bubbles – These colorful test tubes of long-lasting touchable bubbles make perfect pinata prizes!


• Jar of Stars – Place a dozen or so mini glow-in-the-dark stars into your pinata for glowing fun!


• Fortune Telling Fish – This classic novelty is always fun for kids!


• Glow Bracelet – Kids love things that glow-in-the-dark! This bracelet is a perfect fit for a pinata!


• Wikki Stix Fun Favor – Colorful Wikki Stix are versatile and fun! You can even use them to decorate the outside of your pinata!


• DirtBag Classic Footbag – Footbags (hacky sacks) keep kids active and help improve coordination. Oh, and they’re fun, too!


• Jelly Belly Jelly Beans – Everyone loves the unique flavors of Jelly Belly Beans!


• Original Silly Putty – A classic toy that’s perfect for a pinata!

You May Also Like:

• Multicultural Calendar Activity Set – Learn about festivals and holidays from around the world with this set.


• Mexico Activity Book – 40 Activities to Experience Mexico, Past and Present


• Inflatable Globe – Help your kids learn about our world with this handy inflatable globe!


• A Life Like Mine – A book about how children live around the world.