Hi everyone.

Well the kids are finally having a birthday party next weekend. We're doing a Halloween theme, decorating the basement with spiders and witches, you name it. It will be a costume party.

Here's my dilemma. I have a few games picked out, but we need more to keep these kids occupied for the 2 hours they'll be here. Both kids are having a separate party, Jared's is on Friday night, Syd's is Saturday afternoon.

I would like Halloween themed games if possible, but at this point anything will do. We've come up with an apple game, where we tie an apple on a string, hold it up, the kids have to try to take a bite out of it without using their hands. Also egg races (no worries, the eggs will be hard boiled).

So, any ideas? Jared's age group is 11-12 year olds. Syd's age group is 7-8 year olds. We need games that the kids can do in costume, so nothing too athletic. ;)

I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with. :)

This one is good for both age groups.

Get a package of cotton balls and place them in a bowl. Blindfold the child and spin them 3 times then place them in front of the bowl. Give them a wooden spoon. They have 60 seconds to get as many cotton balls out as they can.

It's really fun since the cotton balls don't have any weight, so you can't tell how many you are or are not getting out.

I love it J. I'll definitely be doing that one at the parties. I'll take lots of pictures, so you'll get to see how well they did. :)

Thanks. :)

Another one. Tie balloons to their ankles with VERY long string. They have to "protect" their balloon. While the music plays the kids run around and try to stomp each others balloons. One rule... keep your hands to yourselves. No touching the other kids.

Here's a great website with fun games.

Halloween Games - Halloween Games That Keep Kids Moving (http://familyfitness.about.com/od/seasonalsportsandfun/tp/halloween_games.htm)

My a sort of 'pin the tail on the donkey' game but more halloween themed maybe a pin the broom brush on the witch riding the broom


Or since sweets are big at halloween a pumpkin pinyata (sp) maybe :)

Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin!

Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin!!

Much better idea than mine as I just thought the picture of the witch riding the broom without the brush end being there could look rather dodgy

Monster freeze dance and pumpkin bowling for the win :D

Wonderful ideas! I love it!

Thanks J and Bear.

Wonderful ideas! I love it!

Thanks J and Bear.
Instead of a wooden spoon for the cotton balls, you can use a pancake flipper thing.

Instead of a wooden spoon for the cotton balls, you can use a pancake flipper thing.

Yeah, a spatula would be great fun!

Jared loves the spatula idea. He's excited now, really excited.

I just hope the kids show up. That's always my fear. You invite 10, and only 3 show up, then you child is crushed. :(

I was also thinking about the Twister game. Lots of fun, but probably not easy depending on the costumes. Also, only a few can play at a time. Still, always one of my favorite games. :)

I'm loving the ideas. You're all the bomb diggity. :)

Jared loves the spatula idea. He's excited now, really excited.
A bunch of us adults played this game. The spatula person was blindfolded, and the rest of the group shouted encouraging comments and told him how many cotton balls were on the spatula (but they could have been lying, which added to the fun). The player moved the contents of the spatula to a pie pan to his right (or left, if he was left-handed) and sometimes overshot the pan, dumping the cotton balls onto the table or floor. Oh, and it was timed, with the timekeeper announcing every 15-second point. Of course, we kept track on a big chart that listed our names for each game (prize for a game won, and major prize for most games won, with runner-up, etc. prizes).

I'll post more game ideas later. Am involved in a family feud right now, plus am baking center-cut pork chops and stuffing, etc. for dinner.

It's really a fun game. Glad WG remembered all the details. We haven't played this for years so I kind of forgot.

When is dinner ready? I got to work tonight, so please make me a plate to take.

Pork chops? I'm drooling. I'll take mine to go too, I have a lot to do before next weekend, can't sit down for long. :)

Thanks for all the ideas everyone. Keep them coming, 2 hours is a long time to keep 10 kids entertained. ;)

Take turns with a child being the "GhostBuster." Send him out of the room. Select 2 children, one of whom will be the "Ghost" and the other will be the "dummy" who remains out of sight. (The Ghostbuster may be able to figure out who's missing from the room, so you remove TWO kids to make it harder.) The Ghostbuster returns, and Ghost, covered with a white sheet, is led back into the room. The Ghostbuster has to guess who the Ghost is. If he is stumped, he can ask the ghost 1 question (other than who are you), and the Ghost must answer in a ghostly voice. The Ghostbuster then has a chance after that to say who the Ghost is (so the question had better be a good one!). The Ghost is revealed and becomes the next Ghostbuster.

Halloween Eyeball Bounce

Decorate a ping pong balls with markers to look like blood-shot eyes or something Halloween-y. Line up five plastic pumpkins.

Give each child an eyeball, mark his name or initial on it, and place the plastic pumpkins at the bottom of (wooden?) stairs or on a flat wooden or tile surface, say, ten feet away, but with obstacles in the way. Have each child toss or bounce the eyeball down the stairs or across the room. The goal is for an eyeball to bounce into or to be tossed and land in a pumpkin. Have practice sessions first?

Each time an eyeball ends up in a pumpkin, a prize is won by the owner of the eyeball.

Try this before you play it for real. It's tricky to set up a reasonable distance for the eyeball to travel/bounce.

Love it!

You guys are the best! :)

Guess What's in the Halloween Box

Decorate a cardboard box with Halloween paper or drawings/painting. Put a hole in the side big enough to be able to reach inside. Buy 5 or more Halloween items to put inside the box. Give the children paper and pencils to write down what each item is that each child feels inside the box. Have a time limit. No peeking onto each other's paper, so don't let them sit right next to each other.

This is something that will amuze them and amaze his friends with.

How to Turn "water" into Balls - Video (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1693189/how_to_turn_water_into_balls/)

That is so cool!

I'm definitely trying that.

Jared is in awe.

This is something that will amuze them and amaze his friends with.

How to Turn "water" into Balls - Video (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1693189/how_to_turn_water_into_balls/)

That is magic. I want to play. :D

How to Turn "water" into Balls - Video (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1693189/how_to_turn_water_into_balls/)
They spelled vinegar incorrectly. (I couldn't resist.)