Halloween Games

There's lots of games you can play on Halloween! Here are a few of our favourites!

Apple Snap Feast Game

String up apples by piercing the centre and threading through string. Tie a knot to secure. Then you hang each apple on it's string and tie it on a line. Each person has to try to eat the apple with hands tied behind your back. The winner is the person who can eat it the quickest!

Frogs and Fairies Game

You tell the children they must dance like giants to the music. When it stops they have to grab a partner, hold hands and freeze. Then you tell them the new character they will have to be when the music starts again and they have to dance in the new style. Choose the best overall dancer as the winner.

Summer Party Games!

Source: Party Pieces

Summer time is here and it's time to get out into the garden and play some fantastic games with the kids' and their friends! So I'm going to outline some of my top outdoor summer party games for you so take a read and get enjoying!

1. The sack race! As you see in my image, this is a great deal of fun! All you need are some hessian potato sacks, a start/finish line and away you go!

2. Hot potato! This is great fun, you can play using a potato or a ball... alternatively on a hot sunny day a water bomb could be great fun! The aim is to catch and pass the "potato" as quick as possible - if you drop it or are too long then you are OUT!

3. Three legged race! A sports day favourite, you team up in pairs, tie together the middle legs with rope or a scarf, then "READY STEADY GO"!

4. Wheelbarrow races! Another classic, although more suited to stronger, older children. Simply create a start/finish line, pair up and then race a series of heats and then a final!

5. Treasure hunt! So a slightly calmer game, you can get some great treasure hunt kits or simply create your own!

Great Post for Pre-school Websites

On the PC

With technology becoming a big part of the pre-school kids' life these days, it's important to point them in the right direction and there's some great websites out there that can do this!

This article is a must read!

http://www.realparenting.co.uk/wordpress/06/29/seven-fun-websites-for-pre-schoolers/

Great Party Invitation Ideas

Cupcak Invite

When it comes to party invitations there is a great deal of choice! Some people are lucky enough to have the budget for bespoke invites, but there's plenty of options lower budget, and this should not mean you expect to receive lower quality! Your celebration is important and this means that the first impression is important – and the invitations are generally the first impression that your guests are going to receive.

There are some places on the internet that offer a service where you can enter your party information and they will print your invites out – although these are generaly low quality and I don’t think offer that level of personalisation that a quality hand written invite has.

There is a huge choice of invitation options and the content within each will vary depending on the occasion. Generally, you will send out invitations for birthday parties, engagement parties or general themed celebration parties – but you may also choose to send out invitations for other occasions like hen parties, stag nights or christenings. When sending out your invitations consider what extra information you are going to require as some occasions will require extra details such as dress code, gift list information, local accommodation information and directions to the location. As well as extra information, you may also want to include an RSVP card that your invited guests can complete and return to you informing their attendance. Don’t forget to include a reply by date deadline, as most venues and suppliers will have given you a deadline to inform them off the attendance numbers.

Ive found some great invitations online here:

Kids party invites »

Party invites »

Hope this helps you a bit! :-)

Get in the Spirit for the Royal Wedding! :-D

So as everyone else is getting prepared for home parties, street parties or other celebrations for the Royal Wedding - I've been doing the same!!!

We are holding a party for friends and family in our back garden, hopefully we should have around 30-40 people so it should be lively! We'll be having the TV on to watch as much of the proceedings as possible. We've setup a stereo outside by the BBQ & buffet area to blast out some music after the event to celebrate and of course we'll be sinking a few glasses of champagnge (I've made a non-alchoholic fruit punch for the children!)

You like my cakes?!

I've been a busy bee this morning as well, preparing everything and finishing off my celebratory cup cakes which I have pictured on the right! What do you think? Not blowing my own trumpet but I can tell you they are VERY tasty!

As always party pieces provided my party themes

Simpler Times

Stumbled across a great site aimed at grandparents (apparently!) It features lots of traditional games and really does inspire you to kick off your crocs, put daisies in your hair and run out into that garden (well maybe not quite - best leave the sturdy old crocs on!)

View page here » http://grandparents.about.com/od/projectsactivities/tp/OutdoorGames.htm

On reading the introductory paragraph about how in "Simpler Times" children relished playing games and created so many variations, and the fantastic quote about children in days gone by "They were set out in the yard in the morning and brought in at night like cats" Don't know about you...but personally unsure how my children would cope with that, and if I did that now how could I possible make sure they had their 5-a-day, and who would keep them topped up with Factor 50+!?

However, you get the idea - the games are wonderful and we certainly enjoyed playing "Swing The Statue" and "Kickball" so have a nosey and see what you think!
 

CBeebies - A real help at times!

As a parent who relies too heavily on Cbeebies (please say I am not the only one!) I find myself regularly humming along to various theme tunes whilst walking round the supermarket (not something I should admit too??)

Actually I am a massive fan, although I always told myself (before children) that my children would not watch television (mind you, I also said that no toddler of mine would use a dummy, or eat chocolate, and...well...!)

We have recently discovered the cbeebies website and we are amazed at how much it offers, especially for your rainy day emergency activity kit!  Your children can play games, sing along, make and colour, or watch and listen, with activities on offer from literally dozens of favourite shows, such as Green Balloon Club, Timmy Time, Kerwhizz and Tinga Tanga. 

Follow this link for more info » http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/

Easter Party Fun & Games - My Ideas

Egg Hunt Kit

I've been doing a bit of digging around at some ideas for games and activities for Easter party time as I will be holding one for my family and friends (yes the adults will be joining in too)! No there are some obvious choices of course, but there's also some other ideas that you may not have thought of - so take a look below! :-)

Easter Egg Hunt

Yes, of course the most obvious choice! I'm actually holding two egg hunts myself - one for the kids' and one for us adults! I've bought some plastic eggs for both and the kids' will be filled with prizes and goodies like sweets, stickers and toys. The adults are going to be filled with minature spirits, novelty gifts and chocolates. Both of versions I've decided to have a winner egg - which will have a gold note inside advising they've won the special prize! So maybe from my reasearch and what I am going to be doing - you'll pick up a few ideas!

Egg & Spoon Race, Three Legged Race and Sack Race

Classic sports day events, but perfect at Easter time! You can buy various kit's online - billed as "sports day" kits, or simply use your own resourses! For the egg and spoon race you can hard boil eggs and use large spoons from your kitchen draw. The 3 legged race, simply tie together the middle legs with some thick rope. The sack race use some old hessian sacks, which you may be able to pick up from a local supermarket or shop who are throwing them out.

Egg Decorating

Although chocolate eggs are generally given, it's also great fun to decorate real eggs! To do this you will need to empty the egg contents from the shell. Do this by piercing two holes with a needle, one in the top and one in the bottom of the eg. One hole must be bigger than the other. Wiggle the needle aroung to break the yolk and then blow through the small hole with the egg over a bowl to empty the contents. Once this is done you need to wash the egg, let it dry and then you're ready to get decorating! You can use gems, glitter, paints and other decorative craft goods to create some beautiful Easter decorated eggs!

Welcome!

Well, I've never ever been involved in something like this, so I thought I'd have a go! Set one up and start blogging! This came as a result of a blog I came across (which I added a feed to on here as the articles are always really good!) and really enjoyed! So, well I guess you'll be hearing a lot more of me now!!