Picnic Party (Creating a Perfect Picnic Birthday Party & Indoor Picnic Party Games)

Picnic Party

Creating a Perfect Picnic Birthday Party

Need a fresh idea for a birthday party? A picnic party may be just the thing.


This picnic idea is great because it is so versatile. The obvious picnic birthday party would usually happen outdoors on a beautiful summer day. But what about those of us born in the chilly winter months? After you’ve done all the usual winter birthday party ideas (like roller skating, bowling and laser tag) consider an indoor picnic party.

Invitations
Create birthday picnic invitations using a picnic/outdoor theme:

• Bug themes - ants, bees, ladybugs, butterflies ...
• Teddy bear picnics
• A jungle safari theme
• Indiana Jones theme
• Fish / Finding Nemo theme
• Beach Picnic/Hawaiian theme

If it will be an indoor picnic party, get everyone to wear their summer clothes (or beach wear, safari wear ...), sunglasses, hats (this is especially fun on very cold winter days!).

Decorate

Look for summer-themed graphics on the computer, print them and place them strategically around your home. The "dollar stores" are a great source of birthday party supplies in a variety of themes. Try to look for napkins, paper plates or cups with your selected summer theme.


Spread a large tablecloth or picnic blanket on the floor for your picnic. Scatter plastic bugs or ants around the food. If you have a tent (and the space to put it!), erect the tent in the living room and eat inside it.


You may also consider cranking up the heat in your home to accommodate the kids wearing their summer attire. If you have a fireplace, put on a "campfire" and roast marshmallows.

The Food

Birthday picnic fare could include such things as hamburgers or hotdogs, potato chips and juice boxes. Depending on your picnic theme, you could also serve fish crackers, animal cookies or teddy bear graham cookies. For a healthy snack, consider an ice cream cone filled with freshly cut fruit. Or perhaps fruit kabobs.


Create (or buy) a summer-themed birthday cake. Items like small candies, string licorice and even cereal all make great edible decorating tools.

• Ice cream is a summer staple! An ice cream cake is fairly easy to make on your own, or purchase one and have it decorated to your theme.
  
• Cupcakes - great because of their versatility. They can be decorated individually with things like bugs or flowers. For something different, place them on a serving tray (side by side) in the shape of a caterpillar or snake and decorate accordingly.

Indoor Picnic Party Games

• Cocoon: Have children wrap up a 'caterpillar' in a toilet paper cocoon. Whoever finishes first wins!
• Bear Hunt: Great for Teddy Bear Picnics. Have the children bring their own bears to the party. When the children are not looking, hide them throughout your house and go on a bear hunt. Warning - younger children may not like you taking their teddy bears away!
  
• Bug Catchers: Purchase butterfly nets/bug catchers and plastic bugs from the "dollar stores". Hide bugs throughout the house and go bug catching. Or try hanging butterflies off the ceiling and catch them in your nets.
  
• Skin the Snake: Players form a line, bending forward slightly. Each person puts his right hand through his legs, his left hand grasps the hand of the person in front of him. The last person in line carefully lies down. The others slowly walk backward straddling him, lying down when getting to the end. The chain should not be broken. When everyone is lying down they can try to reverse the process until everyone is standing again.

Getting-To-Know-You Games

Getting-To-Know-You Games

Do you have a large bunch who don't know each other very well? Getting-to-know-you games are a great way to change that and have fun at the same time. They are recommended for all types of groups from birthday parties and youth groups to company picnics.


Back Snatchers
Here is a mixer with lots of action. Pin a name onto each person's back - this may be a phony name or their real name. To use this as a getting-to-know-you game, use their real names.


To start, each person is given a pencil and paper. On signal, each person starts copying names from other people's backs, while trying to keep people from copying the name on their own back. At the end of a time limit, the person with the most complete list of names wins.


Dumb Dolores
Have everyone sit in a circle or place them all at the picnic table. The first person (or even yourself) says his/her name and an adjective that begins with the first letter of his/her name. (Such as Dumb Dolores, Happy Harry, Sunny Sarah.) The next person repeats the first person's funny name and then says his own ("She is Dumb Dolores, and I'm Weird Wayne"). The game continues through the circle with each person remembering everybody before him and then himself. These goofy names will stick with you for the rest of the day!



Getting to Know You
This is a definite Getting-To-Know-You game! The object of this is to quote as many people as possible. It is very similar to Dumb Dolores (above).


The players sit in a circle. The first person makes a simple introduction ("I'm Sally, and I think this game is Silly"). The person beside Sally goes next and says "I'm Michael, and Sally says that she thinks this game is silly". The players continue the quotations as long as possible ("I'm Bob, and Michael says that Sally says that she thinks this game is silly", etc. etc.).


If the length gets too long, you may start again with the next player and, if they wish, a new introduction.



I Never
This is a getting-to-know-you game which fosters open communication among people. Each person is given 10 tokens of some kind (jelly beans, pennies, marbles). They must collect other people's tokens by telling them "I never ...". Players take turns relating some life experience they have never had (i.e. "I have never ridden on a roller coaster"). Then everyone who has done this must give a token to that player.


The only rule is that you must speak truthfully! You may also want to make some rules about good taste.


This game shows that everyone has missed doing something in their lives. At the end of this game, the person who has missed the most ends up taking home the most!



Instant Replay
In this wacky game, everyone needs to stand in a circle (about an arm's length away from each other), facing center. The first person begins by taking a few steps towards the center. He will introduce himself and perform any silly movement that he can think of. (i.e. He may hop around the circle and announce "I'm Marc and I am a frog!) After Marc has returned to his place in the circle, the rest of the group must do exactly as he did, in unison, mimicking his words and actions as closely as possible.


Next, it might be Susan's turn. She may choose to slither like a snake into the center, hissing "I'm Sssssussssan". The rest of the crowd must slither too!


By the end of this wacky game, everyone will be laughing hysterically, the ice will be broken, AND everyone will know each other's names! And, if you think you will play it safe and timidly walk into the circle saying "I'm Kevin", just wait until you see yourself on instant replay!



Interrogation
This is a great get-acquainted activity for larger groups. It is especially fun for youth groups when the leaders are the objects of the "interrogation".
Divide your group into any number of teams. Each team will designate one person to interrogate. Each group is then told that the leader has prepared a list of 20 questions (such as "What is is your favourite color?" or "When is your birthday?"). Unfortunately, the group does not know what those questions are.
The groups have 10 minutes to interrogate their person. When the time is up, the leader gives each group the list of questions and they must try to answer them. The team that answers the most questions correctly is the winner.



Name Train
This getting-to-know-you game is definitely for train lovers! Everyone needs to stand in a circle and face center. One person needs to volunteer to be the "locomotive". He may like to take a few chugs around the circle, choo-chooing his way around.


The locomotive makes his first stop and introduces himself to someone in the circle. "Hi, I'm Shaun." "Hello, I'm Laurie." After learning the person's name, Shaun the locomotive breaks into cheer, chanting "Laurie! Laurie! Laurie!"


Laurie then joins the train, placing her hands on Shaun the locomotive's hips. Then the two of them chug along the circle until the next train station. The train picks up another person and the chants begin again. Continue adding cars to the train, cheering each name as you go along.

Toddler Outdoor Games

Toddler Outdoor Games

Many of these toddler outdoor games can also be played inside if the weather turns nasty. It is very easy to plan too much where toddlers are concerned. Therefore, these games are short, sweet and fun!



Alphabet Ball

The more, the merrier for this game. Arrange the group into a circle (about an arm's length away from each other). The first person throws a ball (or bean bag) to a friend calling out "A". The person who caught it returns it to someone else calling out "B". Everyone is working together to see how far through the alphabet they can get. If the catcher misses the ball, the alphabet must start over. This makes it a fun challenge to see if you can get through the entire alphabet!
This game can also be played using numbers instead of the alphabet.



Following Directions

This is a slightly more complicated game of the famous "Simon Says". The object of the game is to listen carefully to directions and to follow them exactly.
The leader will tell a child a specific set of instructions (i.e. "Stand up, walk over to that tree, and give it a hug"). The child must listen carefully and follow the directions exactly. The next child is given a new set of instructions. Game continues until all children have participated.
This can be made a simple or as complicated (and silly) as you wish. This makes it ideal for groups of varying ages. You could also make it much more demanding by calling the child's name after the directions are given. This requires everyone to pay close attention every time.




Lollypop Scramble

Equipment: A bunch of small objects to scramble for, like lollipops, wrapped candies, chewing gum, small toys etc., plus a "goodie bag" for each contestant.


The object of this toddler outdoor game is simple: to grab as much loot as you can and shove it into your bag. It's like having a pinata without the danger of swinging a bat around while blindfolded!
You can mark off an area with rope or ribbon, within which the contestants must remain. Or have the children stand on a start line, and run to the "loot line", where all the material is evenly distributed.
To increase difficulty, children could be required to wear mittens. There is a big difference in ability for children under the age of five. The 4-5 year olds have a big advantage over the 2-3 year olds. You can either separate the two age groups, or give the younger ones an advantage.



Look and See

This is a great memory game for the little ones. All you need is 5-10 small objects of any kind.
Have the children sit in a circle or at the table. Place the objects in front of the children, perhaps describing what each object is. Ask the kids to close their eyes (no peeking!). When they open their eyes again, one of the objects will be missing - the question is, which one?
Too easy? Try these variations:

• Objects are all in full view, but no special attention is drawn to them.
• A greater number of objects are used.
• More than one object is removed.
• Time allowed for observation before they close their eyes is shortened.
• Move the objects around, plus remove an object, while eyes are closed.
• If you have a large group of players, instead of using objects, use the people. Remove one person from the room while the eyes are closed.

Sideways Crawl

Here's a fun and simple toddler outdoor game: Arrange the children in an even line at least 3 feet (1 m) apart. They bend over and put their hands on the ground, distributing their weight evenly between their hands and feet. Holding this position, they crawl sideways for a distance of 10-15 feet (3 to 5 m).
This picnic game could be made into a relay race combined with other types of races (crawl sideways, then backwards, then...).



Silly Snake Race

All you need for this game is a bunch of kids ready to get a little silly. Please note that they should be dressed in play clothes, and be prepared for some possible grass stains.
Mark off a start and finish line. Have the first child sit on the ground with his legs out. The second child sits in front of the first, in between his legs. The first child wraps his legs around the second childs waist. The third child sits in front of the second, and the chain continues until the "snake" is complete.
On "Go!" the silly snake starts inching forward by wiggling their bums on the ground in unison. You can make it a bit more difficult by not letting them use their hands.
The race is over when they reach the finish line or collapse into a fit of giggles.
If you have a larger group you could make two snakes and have them race each other.


Steam Roller Race

Better not be too dressed up for the steam roller race, because the kids will have a few grass stains when this is all over.
Here's how it goes: The contestants lie down lengthwise along the starting line, spaced out so there's about 3 feet (1 m) between them. The finish can be as little as 20 feet (7 m) away.
One, two, three - roll! And the children are off, rolling over and over toward the goal. Or at least they try to roll toward the finish line. Some will be rolling in semi-circles, and others into each other. The longer the distance, the more chance there is of a collision!



Spider Race

This toddler outdoor game will bring a lot of giggles. The children are instructed to bend over, put their hands on the ground, and walk. They must walk or run on their hands and feet - not their knees. Every child will want to have a practice run before the race. The course should be only 30 feet (10 m) or so.


The judges will have to watch out for contestants who stand up and run before they reach the finish line. Children are apt to do this. They see someone ahead of them, are anxious to win, and forget they must be "spiders".



What Time Is It Mr. Wolf?

A definite classic! Choose one child to be the wolf, the rest get to be the piggies.
The wolf stands a good distance away from the piggies with his back to them. The pigs shout out "What time is it, Mr. Wolf?" The wolf answers with a time of day (i.e. "3 o'clock"). The piggies count out loud, taking 3 steps towards Mr. Wolf (or 6 steps if it is 6 o'clock, etc.).
The game continues with the pigs asking the time, and the wolf answering. The pigs are getting nearer and nearer to the wolf. Eventually the wolf will yell out "Lunchtime!". He will turn around and chase the pigs back to the start line. The first pig to get caught becomes the next Mr. Wolf.

Outdoor Game (Tips for Success & Safety Tips)

Outdoor Game
Tips for Success

All outdoor games have inherent risks, but there are many things you can do to foster safe play for everyone. Keep in mind these outdoor game tips for success:

1. Before beginning, get a sense of the group you will be playing with (How are they dressed? Kids and adults playing together? Does everyone know each other?)
   
   
2. Plan something for everybody - children, teens, parents and grandparents.
3. Mix it up. Alternate kids games with games for adults. Keeping variety keeps interest.
4. If necessary, stick to a time schedule.
5. With larger groups (especially young children), avoid games requiring more than 10 minutes, because boredom can soon set in. Individual participation games, such as horseshoes and lawn bowling, get more interest if you run them as separate events.
6. "Breaking the ice" is easy when the games start with some well-known members of the group participating in some special event that is devastating to their dignity!
7. Adult mixed-couple games take first place for crowd entertainment, but kids games are a close second.

Outdoor Game Safety Tips

1. Scan the play area before game time, spotting potential hazards (tree stumps, low hanging branches, gopher holes, barb wires, broken glass, etc).
2. Keep age limitations in mind. Young people like to move around, older folks like calmer, social games.
3. Don't plan running or crawling games if the play surface is gravel or very uneven.
4. Do not ask players to run while blind-folded - that's just asking for trouble.
5. Have volunteers posted near any natural hazards in the play area - or use something to mark off the hazards (orange traffic cones, lawn chairs, up-side down buckets, etc).
6. Have the race finish parallel to or away from the crowd (not towards them).

Outdoor Games for Family Fun

Playing outdoor games is a great way to stay healthy, keep fit, and have fun with your family and friends. It can also be an awesome way to build team spirit at company picnics!


The power of play builds creativity, connects kids to the outdoors and creates social networks. Active games help a child's body develop, building coordination and body awareness.


Great outdoor games for kids should be simple - something that everyone can learn on the spot. And it must be funny! Laughter, after all, is the best medicine - it has been found that laughter relieves stress, shows total acceptance, creates positive interactions, and is totally contagious!



Before jumping in, I highly recommend checking out these Tips for a Safe and Successful Game Day.
Please note, the age groups listed here are just suggestions. You are the best judge of what your own groups would enjoy. If your group wants to modify the rules to their preferences, let them - it helps keep their interest. Just remember to mix it up and have fun!



Getting-To-Know-You Games
Getting-to-know-you games provide a fun way to introduce people to each other. All are suitable for both the old and young alike - all they need is a willingness to participate!


Toddler Games
No special equipment needed for these toddler games. Aimed at 3-5 year olds, these are fun and quick. Many are suitable for indoor birthday picnic parties.


Kids Outdoor Games
Outdoor kids games for high-energy 6-10 year olds. All best played outdoors.


Youth Games
These games are for the slightly older kids. Some are competitive, some require a little coordination, and all are just plain fun!

Observation Games
Observation games and memory games are a great idea when everyone is getting pooped out from the more physical games mentioned here. Test out your memory and observation skills while you sit down at the picnic table or on the grass, perhaps with a few snacks from our recipe pages.
Observation games are also perfect for indoor birthday parties.


Frisbee Games
Frisbees are just as popular now as they were when they were introduced in the 1950's. Most people tend to have a flying disc with them at any type of outdoor event. Most of these games provide a fun way for larger groups of people to play Frisbee together.


Teddy Bear Picnic Games
Games for birthday parties and Teddy bear picnics.


Romantic Picnic Games
Planning a romantic picnic for two? There is nothing more romantic than playing together in an atmosphere of complete trust and freedom - and you can play all of these games in public!


Beach Games
Damp sand makes an awesome playground for these beach games. Perfect for beach picnics!


Swimming Pool Games
Planning a picnic at your favourite swimming pool? Check out some of these wet and wild water games!