This week is turn off the TV week, so why not get some friends and family together for a fun game night. I’ve been writing about family game night over at Play Library, but you can invite friends and their families over to join in the fun and make it a party. I put together a few tips and ideas to help with the planning.

Have everyone bring their favorite board game and prepare to laugh your way through the night.
You can keep everything simple and order pizza, or have everyone bring their favorite appetizer or finger food.
Set up tables, you …read more

Fall is a fun time to host a kid’s party, whether it’s a birthday party, Halloween party, or harvest party, the weather is crisp and cool, and the leaves are turning brilliant colors. All to provide the perfect backdrop for a fall celebration.

Here is a list of games that would be fun for a fall kid’s party:

One of my favorite fall games is a scavenger hunt.
Fall is a great time to have a scarecrow building contest. Have clothes, straw, and other materials sorted into piles, and let the kids create their own scarecrows in groups of three or four.
Let the …read more

If you’re a do it yourself party person, you can make your own simple pinata. One warning, it’s a messy job, but it is a ton of fun! Since it’s fun, and messy your kids will be glad to help you mix up the papier mache, tear the strips (I use newspaper), and stick them on the balloon.

If you’re having a sports party, a simple round balloon pinata can be decorated like a ball. If your party has a different theme you can use a single balloon and make a simple round pinata, or use a couple balloons fastened together …read more

Disney Pixar’s Up will be hitting theaters this weekend, and I can’t wait to check it out! If you’re planning a birthday, or movie viewing party around the Up movie there are several theme ideas you could use to go with the movie. One of the biggest themes in the movie is balloons.
Penny Warner at Balloon Time put together a list of Up movie party ideas centered around the balloon theme. Balloon Time is also offering a $2.00 off coupon for their Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kits right now.
Tips for Throwing a Themed “Up,” The Movie Party
By Penny Warner …read more

It’s almost time for a Summer pool party. Swim Ways ™ sent me some fun ideas for Play Library (one of my other blogs). When I took a look at them a couple of them looked like they’d really be fun for a summer pool party, so I thought I’d share them here.
First up check out these Ocean Art Light Up Jellies(tm), for an evening barbecue around the pool, or a late night swim these cute little jelly fish could light the way.
Or keep cold beverages at your fingertips, even when you’re floating in the pool with this Kelsyus Floating …read more

New Years Eve party games don’t have to be complicated to be fun. Here are a few ideas to get you rolling.

Get out some board games like Pictionary, Scene It, or Partini, check out the She Knows Parties Game Guide for more board game ideas for parties.
Come up with your own trivia game where you have guests answer questions about events that have happened over the last year. You can use local, national, or celebrity news, or a mixture of all of them to create your questions.
You can turn the trivia game into a fun game of charades, …read more

If you’re planning a Halloween or harvest party, a fall theme scavenger hunt will be a fun activity for  children and adults. You can also use the scavenger hunt to help children learn more about nature and the world around them.
Here are some things to use, or hide in your fall scavenger hunt:

Leaves- Draw a picture of the leaf, and add the name of the leaf, this is great for teaching children to identify leaves.
You can also provide crayons and paper, and have them make a leaf rub.
a pumpkin- either hidden in a display, or growing in the …read more

With the Olympic games only a couple weeks away, why not plan your own backyard Olympics party.  Get your friends together and plan some fun competitions. Divide into teams to represent different countries.
Hold an opening ceremony, and have a team parade. Let each team decorate team t-shirts with their teams emblem, or name. You can also let each team create a team flag.
Elevate your favorite backyard games to Olympic status. Give out gold, silver, and bronze medals to the winners. You can get them from an awards store, or make your own out of cardboard, and ribbon. …read more

My son woke up this morning and announced he wanted to go see Wall-E today. I said sure (it’s one of the perks of working from home). I decided I could call it research if I wrote down some Wall-E party ideas in my notebook while we were watching the movie (another perk).

We went to see Wall-E this afternoon so we beat the crowds that will be at the theaters this weekend. The movie is the latest collaboration between the Disney- Pixar powerhouse, and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s a really cute tale, with a great environmental message, about a …read more

Here is a really fun Christmas Party Game idea for the kids from Family Fun.com:
Don’t limit your tree-trimming traditions to your evergreen. Transform Dad into a decorated Christmas tree in this hilarious after-dinner activity. Supply your kids with green and red crepe paper, aluminum foil, and masking tape. When they’re done, gather ’round the tree and take a photo to add to your family album or send as next year’s holiday card.
Doesn’t this look like fun?! I know my kids would enjoy this game and it sure would make some great pictures.