Use a sandbox or find a great spot at the beach to bury plastic dinosaurs and/or bones in the sand. If you do this at the beach, mark out the location with some tent stakes and string. Also, remember how many items you hid. Assign points to different types if you want to give the game an extra twist, but it's not necessary. Kids will enjoy the thrill of digging for the buried fossils regardless. If possible, give each child a pail and a shovel. Then, let the hunt begin. The child who finds the most dinosaurs/bones in the allotted time wins. If the children are very young, let them keep the dinosaurs they find as a prize.
Panning for Gold
Spray paint some tiny stones gold and use a hard plastic swimming pool or sandbox to mix more unpainted stones and lots of sand and water. For this hunt either get a steel sieve for each of the kids (they are available at most discount stores) or cut pieces of plastic screening for them to use to pan for gold. The child who finds the most gold in the allotted time wins. Please note: It is important that the stones you use are very tiny or it will be too easy for the children to spot them without sifting through the sand and other stones.
Jigsaw Puzzle Hunt
Get a kid's jigsaw puzzle that has large pieces (20 or less is optimal). Hide the puzzle pieces all over the play area. Kids have to find the pieces and put the puzzle together to win. If you want more than one team to compete, paint the backs of each team's puzzle pieces a different color.
Clean Up Hunt
Make a list of things that are routinely left around the yard and have your children compete for who can find the most items in the allotted time and put them back in their proper place.
Nature Scavenger Hunt Bingo
Make up some blank bingo cards and get the kids to write or draw in a different nature item in each square. Then, have them trade cards with someone else and send them out to find the items on their card. Play till someone gets a bingo or a full card.
Internet Scavenger Hunt
Rainy days are perfect for an internet scavenger hunt. There are usually several available if you do a search on the web. Some even offer great prizes. Bonus: You'll have fun visiting interesting sites together with your children and you'll probably learn a few things along the way.
Sleeping Arrangements Choose a room in your home that has an ample amount of space for all kids to layout out their sleeping bags without feeling cramped. It's always a good idea to have one or two extra kid's sleeping bags on hand to avoid someone feeling left out of the group. Today there are many bright, fun, kids sleeping bags available online at affordable prices. Even with extras, kids sleeping bags usually get their fair share of use throughout the slumber party years.
When guests arrive, show them around the house beyond the main party and sleeping room so they can get acquainted with their new surroundings. Not knowing what lies down hallways and behind doors can be a source of anxiety for kids at night as they try to fall asleep. Show them where to find the bathrooms and keep extra toiletries out for when they run out.
Activities Kids want to feel like they're dong their own thing and as they get older, they tend to want fewer structured activities. However, as a parent you can still plan activities that they can initiate themselves when the time is right. Karaoke is an activity for kids of all ages and can keep a group entertained for hours. Check your local directory for places that rent karaoke machines for parties.
Scavenger hunts can be great fun for kids and allow them to engage in a constructive activity while being independent. Preparing the scavenger hunt theme, puzzles, and prizes before the slumber party allows you to give structure to the action without having to directly lead it.
Having ample amounts of dress up clothes for young girls or make-up and hair products for older girls can keep them happy and busy for hours. Boys may enjoy a selection of movies or video games. Before the party, take your child with you to the video rental store and pick out games that are fun for multiple players. With a large group of boys, parents may want to consider moving an extra TV in to the room where kids have parked their sleeping bags and borrowing a second game system from a friend.
Food and Snacks Every kid has their likes and dislikes when it comes to food. Try choosing food for the party that allows kids to build their own meal such as tacos or individual size pizza that kids can design then eat later once they're cooked. Kids love to experiment with food and do-it-yourself food items can be a great source of entertainment.
Every slumber party needs s'mores to eat while sharing stories at the edge of a sleeping bag, but not necessarily a campfire. With some graham crackers, chocolate cake frosting, and marshmallow spread, kids can make their own tasty s'mores snacks that rival the traditional fire-melted recipe.
A well-planned slumber party can be a fun experience for both kids and adults. By preparing activities before hand that give kids independence without running wild and aimlessly through your home, everyone can have a great experience.
Both Wendy Legendre & Christine Harrell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Wendy Legendre has sinced written about articles on various topics from Women, Thanksgiving and Parties. The author has hosted hundreds of community programs and events over the last 25 years. If you're planning a party or would like to try an internet scavenger hunt visit. Wendy Legendre's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.
Christine Harrell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mortgage, Careers and Job Hunting and Personal Desktop. Author is a writer for My Polka Dots which specializes in and other slumber party needs. For more information you can visit. Christine Harrell's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.