I know most birthday parties are held at a ‘play place’ these days, but there is something special about a backyard birthday party. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve backyard games with friends. Now I enjoy re-creating those memories with my kids and their friends. Not only are backyard parties fun and memorable, they can cost less and save you some money.
If you are considering an outdoor birthday party, here are some tips and tricks to make it a memorable day.
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Survival Guide:
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Time: I’ve learned that a backyard birthday is best at about two hours. If you plan to feed the kids lunch, schedule the party from 11AM to 1PM, and let the parents know lunch will be served. If you are just having snacks and cake, then schedule the party from 2PM to 4PM.
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Place: A large grassy area – the front yard, backyard, or at the park.
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Guest list: Try to keep the amount of guests the same number as the age of the child. If your child is turning 8, only invite 7-8 kids.
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Game list: Keep a list of the games you are going to play in your pocket or on your phone so that you can refer to it. Tip – print this post or have it available on your phone! If a game is not going well, scratch it and move on to the next one.
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Safety: An adult should always be watching or playing with the kids. It’s easy for someone to get hurt or tackled if there are a bunch of kids playing with no supervision. One ref can make all the difference.
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Prep:
Put all the game supplies in one container right where the action takes place.
Have a large trash can available close by.
Keep them hydrated! Create a drink/snack table for self-serve.
Have a spot for gifts/gift opening.
Have a side craft or coloring table for kids who don’t want to play games. They can sit and watch/color/craft.
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Etiqueitte: Do not send invites to school unless you are inviting the whole class. I recommend Evite!
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Here are some of our favorite party games:
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Active Group Games
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Crepe paper tag – Put a ‘crepe paper‘ belt around each child, with a 3 foot long tail. When you say “go” – kids will try to tear off the belt of the other players while protecting their own. Last one wearing the belt wins. After the game, ask everyone to grab the trash and throw it away before you move on to the next game. Play more than once if the kids are having fun!
Sharks and Minnows – Identify who will be the shark, either a kid or parent. Everyone else will be minnows. The shark stands in the middle of the play area. At any time, the shark can yell Shark Attack! At with point, the minnows must run to the opposite boundary line without being tagged. If a minnow is tagged, s/he also becomes a shark.
3 v 3 soccer game – Grab a sports ball or soccer ball, set up two goals using nets or cones, divide the kids into two teams, and play!
Simon Says – A parent starts as “Simon.” After the first round, you can choose one child as “Simon.” Simon gives instructions by saying, “Simon says…” telling the kids to perform a physical action. For example, “Simon says touch your nose,” “Simon says shake like a leaf.” Each child must perform the action. If Simon leaves out “Simon says” before giving instruction, anyone who performed the activity is out! Other ideas: Simon says lift your leg, turn around, sit down, clap, bend, laugh, smile, tap your knees, touch your toes, run in place, stretch up high, give a high five, close your eyes, move like a robot, dance, do the griddy, etc.
Balloon Stomp – Tie a balloon to each player’s ankle with a short piece of string. There should be at least a couple feet of string from the ankle to the balloon so the balloon can bounce along the ground. Have all your players carefully stand at the edges of the play area. At “go,” all players rush forward and try to stomp each other’s balloons so they pop (while protecting yours from getting popped). When your balloon pops, you’re eliminated from the game. Go sit or stand along the sidelines and watch until there’s only one player remaining with a balloon on their ankle: the winner!
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Circle Games – have everyone sit down in a circle.
Duck Duck Goose – does this need instructions?
Hot (or Cold) Potato – Pass a bean bag until the music stops. Whoever is ‘holding the bag’ when the music ends is out. Keep playing until there is a winner.
Balloon Bounce – Kids lay down (or sit down) and have to work together to keep balloon(s) in the air.
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Relay Races – Divide kids into two (or more) even teams. Have them line up behind a starting line or cone.
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One shoe off – At the start of this relay, every kid takes off ONE shoe. Put all the shoes in one big pile. Separate the kids into two teams and line them up behind cones. When the relay begins, the first kid on each team runs to the shoe pile, finds his or her shoe, and returns to the back of the line. The relay continues until the last kid on each team has returned to the line. The first team to finish is the winning team. Note: You will want to be sure at the start of the relay that there are no identical shoes in the pile. If there are, you might want to distinguish the duplicate shoes by placing a piece of masking tape with the owner’s name on them.
Balloon Waddle – Start at the starting line, place a balloon between their knees and race out and around a cone, run back and pass it to the next team member without dropping or bursting their balloon. If the balloon drops, they must put it back between their knees before moving forward.
Egg race – Give each team a large spoon and one egg. One team member at a time runs out and around a cone, while holding the egg in the spoon, without dropping it. If the egg drops, the runner has to retrieve it and replace it back on the spoon before returning to running.
Balance a bean bag on top of your head and race around the cone.
Shoebox Slide – Provide each team with two shoeboxes (or amazon boxes). At the start of the race, the first member of each team puts one foot into each shoebox, slides his or her way around a cone set up at a destination point, and then slides back to the team. When that child returns to the team, he or she jumps out of the shoeboxes and the second student “puts them on.” The relay continues until the last member returns to his or her team. The first team to finish is the winner.
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Parachute Games
Who remembers playing Parachute games?
Who has fun childhood memories of playing with a parachute? My mom purchased this as a birthday gift for my boys many years ago, and we’ve been playing games with it ever since. Our kids and their friends love it. Here’s the link to find one, here are games to play:
Mushroom – This is a great starting activity to get everyone used to moving the parachute and working together. Have everyone grab one handle, then lift the parachute above their head and back down to the ground. Have them do this three times. Then have them lift it high, bring it over and behind their back and sit on it. This creates a mushroom canopy.
Popcorn – Have everyone grab one handle. Place several soft balls on the parachute and have the kids try to keep them on, while popping them up like popcorn.
Merry-Go-Round – Have everyone grab ONE handle. When the music starts, they should walk in a circle, then skip, hop, stop and go the other direction, etc.
Sharks and lifeguards – Kids sit down, holding the parachute above their legs. One kid should stand outside the circle – they are the lifeguard. One kids goes under the parachute and is the shark. All kids holding the parachute should shake it like waves. A shark has to try to pull a kid under the parachute. The kid can call for the lifeguard to help pull them back out. If a kid gets pulled under, they are a shark. Keep playing and give other kids a chance to start as the shark or life guard. Remind kids not to kick the shark. Also remind the lifeguard not to yank a kid by the arm. Pull under the armpits.
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The goal of the party: PLAY and have fun!
Supplies: Here are affiliate links to party supplies.
It is very important that children learn from their fathers and mothers how to love one another – not from school, but from you. It is very important that you share with your children the joy of that smile. There will be misunderstandings, every family has its cross, its suffering. Always be there first to forgive with a smile. Be cheerful, be happy.
Mother Teresa
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In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
– Thomas Jefferson
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When raising children, it’s best to spend on them half as much money and twice as much time.
– Dear Abby (Abigail Van Buren)
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Before I got married I had many theories about bringing up children. Now I have many children and no theories.
John Wilmot
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Mama, where you are weak, He is strong!
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There was. time when we expected nothing of our children but obedience, as opposed to the present, when we expect everything of them but obedience.
– Anatole Broyard
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We spend the first 12 months of our children’s lives teaching them to walk and talk, and the next 12 years telling them to sit down and shut up.
– Phyllis Diller
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Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.
– James Bladwin
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Outings are so much more fun when we can savor them through the children’s eyes.
– Lawn Blackwell
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We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.
– Franklin D Roosevelt
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Your children need your presence more than your presents.
– Jesse Jackson
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If you want your children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.
– Abigail Van Buren
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Even as the cell is the unit of the organic body, so the family is the unity of society.
– Ruth Nanda Anshen
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A good home must be made, not bought.
– Joyce Maynard
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In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, and look around you.
– Leo Tolstoy
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What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us, what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
– Albert Pike
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If you send out good people into the world, you know you’ve done something good.
– Carl Reiner
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“…The Mother is the one supreme asset of the national life. She is more important, by far, than the successful statesman, or businessman, or artist , or scientist.”
If you know me, you know I love a good book. I don’t just read any book though; life’s too short for bad books. Before I begin a new book, I visit Goodreads and do a little research. A book needs a rating of 4 (out of 5) or better for me to begin.
Because my criteria is high, I’ve read some OUTSTANDING books this year. It was hard to choose just TEN for my TOP TEN of ’22. But here they are.
From left to right: Colleen, Kathryn, Shauna, Erin and Abbi
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Review: Though I’ve only met/chatted with Shauna a couple of times – our lives have followed a similar course. We were born the same year and grew up going to the same beach. We both have dads who love to sail on Lake Michigan. We got married the same year, have two sons the same age, and lived in the same part of the country for most of our lives! Maybe this is why Shauna is one of my favorite authors. I own every one of her books. I wasn’t sure I’d like this one as much as some of her others. However, I loved every single page of her newest book.
Shauna and her family moved to NYC around the same time our family moved to Minnesota. Each chapter of this book is a story from her life, and what she’s learning in that story. I deeply resonated with her insights on transitions, starting over, and finding joy. I cried, I laughed, I stopped to think, pray, and express gratitude.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:
Get outside and be on the lookout for beauty, especially in nature, read books for comfort. Fresh air helps everything. The world is still good, still beautiful, still interesting and worth savoring. God is still good, still faithful, still kind.
Keep walking, keep loving, keep writing, keep praying. Keep learning, keep forgiving, keep apologizing, keep moving forward. Keep inviting, keep listening, keep opening my arms to all of life.
It doesn’t help to pretend everything is okay. Tell the truth. Allow yourself to be supported by friends and family.
I’m learning home isn’t singular. You don’t lose one, instead, your world and your heart expand with each new home and new set of experiences. The old ones stay and the new ones make your heart and your world bigger.
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This was my favorite book of the year, and I will go back to it again and again.
Review: This is a 40-day devotional that is PACKED with goodness. It would be an EXCELLENT book to start your year.
Here are a couple of great quotes from the book:
Thoughts are like trains, they take you somewhere. Instead of stopping a thought, REPLACE it. You have to actively FEED the POSITIVE and STARVE the negative.
You will FEEL how you speak and FIND what you seek.
Public victory comes from private discipline.
God loves the people in your life so much that He put YOU in their lives. He gave you a means to communicate with them so they could be better off because they encountered YOU!
Review: Part of why I wanted to read this book was because I loved the title. For an Enneagram 7 (the Enthusiast), the idea of “everything sad” being “untrue” just made me smile.
The book tells the story of a family moving from Iran to Oklahoma – written from the perspective of a middle school boy. Because I read it while I had two sons in middle school, I really connected with the author’s perspective and story. It made me laugh, cry, think, and learn. I was filled with joy by the kindness shown by some, and shocked by the cruelty expressed by others.
The book will give a reader an amazing, up-close perspective on what it looks and feels like to be a refugee in America. This book was outstanding, and I recommend it to anyone 14 or older.
Review: This was the first book I read in 2022, and it was a FANTASTIC way to start the year. If you haven’t read it – I recommend it be your first book of 2023 (with Take Back Your Life)! The author is someone I admire and respect. He’s a great teacher and a fantastic writer. I loved his first book, Chasing Wisdom, and this second book is just as good.
The Power of Place is about the value of putting down roots and investing in the place you call ‘home.’
Review: This book shares the beautiful relationship that developed between CS Lewis and Ms. Davidson. They were pen pals, later met and became great friends, and eventually married. I already loved CS Lewis, but this story makes me love him even more. The author did a fabulous job of re-creating their love story. I recommend the audiobook because the narration brings the story to life. It’s free on the Hoopla app.
Here are two quotes from the book that I loved:
God does not love us because we are lovable but because He is Love.
CS Lewis
Sometimes we want to stay and goof off in a mud pit when God has an entire seashore for us to play in.
Review: This narrative unfolds the captivating journey of a young woman transitioning from Islam to Christianity. Her compelling tale resonated deeply with me, serving as a poignant reminder of the unparalleled freedom we enjoy in America and within our Christian faith, especially when contrasted with the experiences of individuals in other countries and adherents of different religions. Exploring our shared faith from a fresh perspective was truly enlightening. Unfortunately, it’s all too common to overlook the profound goodness of God when it has been a constant presence throughout one’s life.
I recommend this book to anyone on a spiritual quest or those 16 and above who identify with the Christian faith.
Review: This memoir delves into the life of a young woman who spent many years in and out of the foster care system. Candidly recounting her experiences, she unveils both the uplifting and challenging aspects of her journey. She is now actively engaged in bringing positive change to the broken system. If you’re interested in hearing a first hand perspective of the foster care system, or hold a genuine concern for the well-being of foster children, this book offers a compelling and insightful exploration.
Review: I read this book with George, and we both decided that Alan Gratz is a fantastic writer! He pulls you into the story and makes you feel like you are part of the adventure. This is fiction, but gives you insight into what it must have felt like to be in the Twin Towers on 911. Great for any reader age 12 and up who may want to know more about what happened on September 11, 2001.
I read this with Clark, and we both loved it. It’s a short book that can be read in one setting. The author writes brilliantly and expresses such beautiful and deep emotion in very few words.
It’s the story of a young boy coming to live with his aunt in Minnesota to escape his war-torn country of Sudan. We felt the wonder, optimism, fear, sadness, and hope through the eyes of the main character (Kek). This would make a great read-aloud for parents and kids ages 8 and up.
Review: An outstanding book written by a survivor of Auschwitz. She writes about her escape “physically” from prison, and how she later learned to escape the prison of the mind. She is the female version of Victor Frankl (Man’s Search for Meaning). There are parts of this book that are really hard to read, but it’s also a book filled with hope and redemption.
The sign above the entrance to the author’s prison camp in Aushwitz says: Arbeit Macht Frei, meaning: Work Will Set You Free. Dr. Eger writes:
Work has set me free. Not the work the Nazis meant, but the inner work. Of learning to survive and thrive, of learning to forgive myself, of helping others do the same. When I do this work, I am no longer a prisoner. I am free.
Dr. Eger
Here are a few gold nuggets I pulled from the book:
You can live in the prison of the past, or you can let the past be a springboard that helps you reach the life you want now.
Get the feelings out. Expression is the opposite of depression. You can’t heal what you don’t feel.
You can’t feel love and fear at the same time.
It’s easier to hold someone or something else responsible for your pain than to take responsibility for ending your own victimhood.
Our painful experiences aren’t a liability, they are a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and strength.
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You can’t change what happened, you can’t change what you did or what was done to you. You can choose how you live right now. You can choose to be free.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on Christmas to make it memorable. Get a game or two and PLAY together. Your kids will remember your PRESENCE more than your PRESENTS!
Teenagers may act like they aren’t interested at first, but if you set the game up and ask them to play “just one round,” many will do it.
There is SO MUCH VALUE in playing games with our kids. You learn together, laugh together, and just get to BE TOGETHER.
This game makes us laugh so hard our stomachs hurt. It’s like Pictionary but every person has their own “book” instead of a board. It’s so fun to play with a group of 5-6 people.
We love this game because you learn fun facts and while playing the game.
We do not play by the regular rules. Here is how we play:
One person reads a question from a card.
Every player writes an answer on their small white board, then sets the board in the center of the group.
Each player puts their colored circle on the person they think gave the best answer.
The player whose answer is closest to the correct one earns a chip. If someone gets the correct answer, they earn two chips. Anyone who voted for a winning answer also earns a chip.
This game will have everyone cracking up. It’s similar to Apples to Apples (which is another fun game) but with PICTURES. You pick the best words to go with the “Meme.”
This is a fun and easy-to-play game for kids and adults of all ages. You just have to SPOT something matching on the card you are holding with the card on the top of the deck. If you are the first one to spot a match, you get the card. The person with the most cards wins!
This isn’t a board or card game, but is basically a ‘charades’ or guessing game you can download on your phone. It’s super handy if you have a long wait with your kids!
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Does your family have a favorite board game? Leave a comment!
Review: This book is one of the best I’ve read all year and is PACKED with goodness. If you just read one book in the next 6 months – pick this one! Get it for someone you love too.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
Thoughts are like trains, they take you somewhere. Instead of stopping a thought, REPLACE it. You have to actively FEED the POSITIVE and STARVE the negative.
You will FEEL how you speak and FIND what you seek
Public victory comes from private discipline.
God loves the people in your life so much that He put YOU in their lives. He gave you a means to communicate with them so they could be better off because they encountered YOU!
Smile and you’ll eventually feel better. Your body doesn’t know why you are smiling but will respond.
Here is an interesting Ted Talk with more info on this:
Review: I like to read books by successful writers on how to be a better storyteller. This is part memoir and part advice. I found it interesting and helpful.
Review: I read this book because I really want to improve my listening and communicating skills. The author does a great job in educating the reader on the art of listening and how necessary it is for life. This book encouraged me in HOW to be a better listener. I want to read this one again, there is a lot to learn and implement.
I’m not usually a mall fan. I’m one of those rare females that doesn’t love to shop. However, I do enjoy going to the Mall of America. Mostly because there is so much more than shopping. You never know what you will see or experience when you visit MOA.
Donuts, cookies, chicken, mexican food, cream puffs, ice cream, sushi, steak, burritos, cupcakes, burgers and SO much more. If there’s a food you are craving, MOA will have it!
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5. Have a min-bending experience at Museum of Illusions
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6. People watch
Sit and enjoy watching all the people who visit.
Did you know more people visit Mall of America than Disney World?
Photographs of Fair on 4 in Bloomington, MN. All images by The Restaurant Project Copyright 2022
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9. Have a problem-solving adventure in an Escape room
Mall of America has the BEST Escape rooms around! My 15-year-old tried one for his birthday and absolutely LOVED IT! He did the Gold Rush but can’t wait to go back for the Prison Escape or another challenge.
Join their free rewards program and you will have access to:
Treat Yourself Tuesday ($5.00 Tickets) and FREE small box of popcorn with the purchase of a movie ticket with the opportunity to upgrade to larger sizes for a discounted fee! Subject to any applicable premium upcharges and tax. Blackout dates apply
FREE same day refills on large popcorns and sodas
FREE #1 combo coupon on your birthday and more!
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12. Attend one of the 400 free events every year
Celebrity meet-and-greet, fashion shows, and concerts around the mall.
This is one of our FAVORITE experiences at the mall – whether you are 6 or 60 – you will have so much fun ‘flying over’ the US and experiencing it in an entirely new way! Click here to read our story!
Handing your kids a phone of their own is a big deal. You’re handing access to nearly everything in the world – the best and the worst. A phone can be helpful in many ways, and can be harmful in many other ways.
My recommendation is to hold your children off from getting a phone of their own as LONG as possible. The older and more mature they are before getting a device, the wiser they will be with their words and actions.
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What your child posts online may be more permanent than their permanent record. What they watch online may have a permanent impact.
Parent Cue
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5 questions to discuss before giving a child a phone:
1. What you post is public, even when you may think it’s private. It can be permanent. What are some examples of this?
2. Have you seen people say something online that they would not say to someone’s face? Why do you think that happens?
3. How are in-person relationships affected by devices for good or bad?
Examples for good: Connecting with family or friends who are far away.
Examples for bad: bullying or spending too much time on your phone and less time face-to-face
4. Who do you/would you like to follow online?
5. What rules do you think we need to put in place to keep you safe and monitor your time online?
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Cell phone contract to review and sign together:
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Parents, let your kids know from the beginning that you will be checking their phone periodically. This builds some accountability and may help them ’think twice’ about what they do on their phone. My son’s received texts that I’m so glad I saw. It has led to several teachable moments. .
Also, I’d recommend your child charge their phone anywhere but their bedroom overnight. A middle school teacher told me:
If I could make a rule for all kids with phones, it would be to keep it out of their bedrooms at night. Kids are sleep-deprived because they’re on their phones past midnight on school nights and parents have no idea it’s happening,
Heidi Pitzenberg
What are your thoughts about children and cell phone use? Are there resources you use that help you navigate this new world?
