Do you have suggestions for kids' games at family reunion?

[OhioBlue]

I've been put in charge of kids' games for the family reunion. It is at my Dad's house. My budget is only $50.00 and I'm only going to be able to be there for the first 2 hours.

I thought of doing relay races and such, but since I won't be there to oversee it, I'm thinking of something they can just pick up and do on their own. We've had kids' horse shoes and some other toys available, but the kids have never really gotten into them.. They do have fun on the trampoline (it is enclosed) and like to go out to the barn to look at the horses and to my brother's who lives next door to go swimming and play on the swing set.

Do you have any ideas for things that could create a bit of a "wow" factor for the kids on a budget? There is a range of ages, but I'm looking at the 5-12 yr olds.

Thanks for any ideas.

[malta blue]

1. twister

[OhioBlue]

3. good idea

maybe just hold it down outside with some small sandbags?

[Arugula Latte]

2. Slip n slides are always big ...

assuming it's still hot.

[OhioBlue]

7. it should be... it is Aug. 12

good idea - I'll have to see if my Dad has an outside tap on the house. We usually use the hose from the barn.

[ohiosmith]

4. Yes. You will need a checker board, a keg of cheap beer, two

gallons of bourbon,a pair of needle nose pliers, a ball-peen hammer and shot glass for each kid. Oh yea, lawn darts.

[OhioBlue]

5. ...

I remember that game from my younger days at family reunions.

[babylonsister]

6. Pin the tail on the...

horse?



I kid!

[OhioBlue]

8. yeah

I don't think my step-mother will go for that - she's pretty protective of the horses... lol....

[flvegan]

9. A pinata, blindfolds for everyone, big sticks, yell "pinata!!!" and run

like hell. The sheer violence unleashed upon the planet by a multitude of blindfolded children with large sticks, hell-bent to destroy something should be worth taping.

I kid.

[OhioBlue]

17. actually a pinata isn't a bad idea

kids love them at birthday parties. Even if I'm not there, I'm sure it wouldn't be too much of a burden to ask someone to oversee the pinata.

[skygazer]

Hide and seek?

How about a treasure hunt - we used to do those at parties and they were cheap and a lot of fun. Give each kid a list of things they have to find (mostly things that are common but could be a bit of a challenge with some oddball stuff added in). Give them a certain amount of time to find them, whoever finds the most items on their list gets some sort of prize. You can vary prizes so everyone gets something (least amount found, most unusual item, furthest travelled, or whatever).

We used to do it so each kid got a different list so they weren't all looking for the same things but you can do it any way that's easiest. Kills a lot of time and is fun. Can also do teams.

[OhioBlue]

14. they do tend to play hide n seek on their own

and a treasure hunt is a good idea - I think I'll save that for next year tho when I can be there longer. Some kids will come late, and I'm afraid any "organized" activity for them isn't going to work b/c of my time constraints.

[MrScorpio]

10. Poker

I hear that it's all the rage

[babylonsister]

11. Sounds like there might be property; any croquet sets around?

I have fond memories of playing that as a kid, and adults can play, too.
Decks of cards-Old Maid?
Watermelon-spitting contests?
Any nets around? Badminton...

But if a trampoline, swings, a pool and a barn with horses are available, I'm
thinking I wouldn't worry too much.

Sounds like fun; have a great reunion!

[OhioBlue]

12. yes, I wasn't too worried about them

keeping themselves entertained. My Aunt puts her whole heart into the family reunions. Her daughter was supposed to do kids' games last year and didn't. So she called me last night and told me she needed me to organize some kids' games and that she had $50. I want to do something that will make her happy and something that the kids will like too. I'm thinking If I can get a twister games set up outside, a slip n slide and maybe a pinata - the kids will think it looks like fun when they get there.

croquet is a good idea too - I'll see if I can find someone that has one or if there is an inexpensive one at the dollar store.

[xmas74]

13. Instead of just doing on their own, why not play some

old fashioned games and even get some of the adults in on the fun?

Three legged race
potato sack (could use pillow cases or even garbage bags)
egg balance (w/ the egg on the spoon)
-or the one where you pass an egg or water ballon under the neck of each team member w/o dropping it.

Make bubbles. Get some cheap fabric paint and have all the kids bring an old t shirt to paint.

If the yard is big have both the kids and adults play softball. Growing up the youngest kids were the "runners" for the older adults who didn't like running the bases. The adult would go up to bat and the kid would run for them.

The other races up there-I know I have plenty of adult family members who would play, just for fun and the chance to be silly. Otherwise, spend a couple of dollars on a kickball. Nearly anyone can play that, even the youngest ones.

[OhioBlue]

16. I would have loved to do

some old fashioned races like that - sack races, three legged, etc. But, unfortunately, our reunion falls on the same day that I volunteered to be on a host committee for a fund raiser for Jennifer Brunner... So, I won't be able to organize anything with people arriving at different times.

Next year, hopefully I can do a more organized theme for games and get some little ribbons or certificates they can win.

[xmas74]

19. Then you have ideas for next year!

And just make your own certificates.

[JVS]

15. Pin tail on the donkey. Wrestlemania! Chubby Bunny

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chubby_bunny

[Lars39]

18. Red light, green light, kickball, squirt guns, easy card games

And any other freebie game kids used to play a few decades ago.

[trof]

20. JARTS!

[SOteric]

21. Scavenger/Treasure Hunt.

Make some maps (you can dip them in tea and fray the edges in a flame to give them an 'old' look). Put together some 'pirate' clues. Hide several small prizes (candy bars, cheap party-favour type toys, etc...) and have one big prize (a little dressed up shoebox filled with cheap goodies).