If you’re looking for other interactive sensory Bingo experiences, our Yoga Bingo is a great option. While the suggestions in this Exercise Bingo are more alerting in terms of sensory input, the Yoga Bingo suggestions are perfect for calming.

The Benefits of Exercise Bingo

Wake up the brain. Have you seen what happens to the brain when you exercise? The heat map of the brain after exercise is incredible. All of those neural pathways light up and get ready to receive information. I like to tell my kids exercise is like magic for the brain. If your child is stuck on math, have them take a break. No matter how hard it is to put the pencil down, have the kids step away from math and gather for Exercise Bingo. Ten or fifteen minutes playing this game and you can reset your entire day and wrap your brain around math again. 

Resolve big emotions. Exercise releases endorphins, and endorphins can help calm those big emotions. So if Mom is having a grumpy day after the math struggle, she should join in Exercise Bingo too. 

Sensory Feedback. If a child has lost their place in space (proprioception), exercise is a grounding activity that will help your child get that sense of normalcy and security they crave. Pressure on muscles and joints through exercise is an invaluable sensory experience your kids will come to crave. 

The proof is in the pudding. I know for me, my kids did not believe the power of exercise until they experienced it for themselves. I showed them the pictures of the brain after exercise, and then had them try school work after cardio. Now when they are struggling, they voluntarily find a physical activity. This is something that happens over time, not overnight so don’t give up modeling Exercise Bingo with your kids. 

How to Play Exercise Bingo

Supplies

• Printout of the sheet for each child.
• Laminating the printouts will allow you to use them over and over with dry erase markers.
• If you don’t want to laminate them, you could use stickers in the boxes, which is also fun.

Instructions

1. Complete an exercise. 
2. Mark off the box for that activity. 
3. Complete a row to win.

Variations for Exercise Bingo

While at it’s core, the steps I described above are how to play, I love the fact that bingo gives you so much flexibility. Try any of these variations! 

Work in teams or as individuals.

Reward completion of rows, four corners, or the entire board with different levels of prizes.

You could also give a bingo award for learning four new skills, trying for arm exercises, etc. Get creative with the groupings!

Fun fact: Exercise Bingo is a great way to run off some energy at stops on long car trips! 

What Kids Practice During Exercise Bingo

Balance. Many of the exercises require balance and coordination to be completed correctly. Of course, they don’t have to be correct every time you play, but over time with consistency these skills will improve.

Following Directions. If they are uncertain what a specific exercise is, they will have to listen and follow instructions to get credit for the activity. 

Large Muscle Movement. Coordinating large muscle movement (gross motor skills) is an essential first step in developing small muscle movement (fine motor skills). If your child is struggling with fine motor skills, start with exercise.

Proprioception. Kids who struggle understanding where there body is in relation to the world (sensory perception) benefit so much from grounding activities that provide direct feedback about body position. That’s what exercise is – it’s proprioception practice. Yoga Bingo is another fantastic way to work on this type of feedback.

Names of Exercises. Knowing what a squat is or what tug of war is — these are actual concepts that kids should learn and recognize. It’s a whole new vocabulary. A shocking number of kids don’t know what it means to frog jump or crab walk and all of these exercises are so good for body development, but are also a part of the common shared experience — helping us relate to each other. 

Tips for Exercise Bingo Success

Keep it low key and low pressure. Turning exercise into something stressful is not a good idea, so take it easy at first, set minimal expectations, and keep everything as light and fun as possible.

Participate with your kids. Kids are amazing imitators and if they see you having fun with an activity, they are far more likely to join in. Conversely if they hear you grousing about an activity, they are far less likely to have a good attitude. Set the bar high by having a happy heart and enjoying the game.

Make sure you have plenty of useable space.  Whether inside or outside, everyone needs room to move around without bumping into each other so spread out, and clean up that toy room if necessary. 

Encourage positive participation. You don’t have to offer physical rewards like toys or candy or treats. Encouragement is so powerful! Use life-giving words to encourage your kids when you see them participating in something that stretches them, demonstrating a good attitude, or setting a good example for siblings.

Grab your free printable Exercise Bingo game here:

The post Exercise Bingo Game Free Printable appeared first on The Chaos and the Clutter.

Whether you just moved to the neighborhood and want your kids to make friends or you’re hosting the annual block party, set aside time for this scavenger hunt. Form teams, tell everyone the rules, and watch the fun (and maybe a little chaos) commence. Here’s how to play.

How to do a Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

Supplies

• Copies of the printable scavenger hunt
• Dry Erase Markers
• Camera

Instructions

1. Give each team a copy of the printable, a dry erase marker, and a camera of some sort.
2. Since this is a photo scavenger hunt, the goal is to take a picture of each of the items on the list as evidence before checking it off. These photos will make such fun scrapbook images later!
3. The game ends when the first team gets a picture of every item on the list OR at a designated time to meet back at a central location and assess. If neither of the teams finish, the team(s) with the most pictures wins. 

The items included in this scavenger hunt are the following: 

• Sign
• Shadow
• Circle
• Garbage
• Animal
• Person
• Emotion
• Tree
• Fence 
• Sky
• House
• Feet
• Dancing 
• Garden
• Strong
• Cartwheel

The Benefits of a Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

Whether you play this game with all the neighbor kids or within your own family, you will have so much fun. Be sure to culminate the game with a special treat like ice cream sandwiches to make it even more memorable. But, it’s not just fun and games. So many excellent skills are being built as your kids play scavenger hunt games. Here are just a few of those skills.

Critical Thinking. In a photo scavenger hunt like this one, there is room for interpretation and some of the items on the list are pretty open ended. What does it mean by “shadow”? The picture taken does not have to exactly match the image on the page. Kids have to think through the intent of the game and figure out how to get an acceptable match. 

Observation. Once kids have completed the neighborhood scavenger hunt once, they will forever be on the lookout for circles in the neighborhood. Everywhere you go, they will be looking for items on this list. Its such a fun lesson on observing the world around you, and an excellent skill to have. 

Teamwork. Forming teams with a variety of ages and abilities can foster deeper bonds and challenge kids to learn to work together with others for a common goal. This is a valuable life skill since working on teams is a central part of many different careers. This practice is incredible training for life. 

Photography. Hand over a kid-friendly camera or even a phone camera to the kids and expect them to take recognizable photos in order to win the game. You can even coach them ahead of time about framing the subject and checking the lighting and focus. Again, this is great practice even if the results are less than stellar the first time or two.

Tips for an Incredible Scavenger Hunt Experience

Laminate. My number one tip for these printable scavenger hunt is to laminate the copies. By laminating color copies you prevent accidents like someone’s paper getting torn or ruined by sudden rain. It will also allow you to use the game over and over. 

Get dry erase markers or crayons. If you can find them, the dry erase crayons are much harder to accidentally wipe off than the markers. 

Assign a parent to each team. Have an adult or older teen go along so that they can help kids work through harder questions like “What does strong mean? How could we represent that in a photo around the neighborhood?” This will help prevent gridlock.

Use a child-friendly camera. This puts more of the fun and responsibility in the hands of the kids and gives them an important task. Kids will step up to the plate so beautifully when we empower them with tools and gentle expectations.

Capture scrapbook worthy photos. To make this event something you will look back on for years and smile, you can make a rule that every photo has to contain a member of the team. Photos with our people in them are so precious! 

Grab your free printable Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt here: 

Be sure to check out our other scavenger hunts.

• Indoor Photo Scavenger Hunt
• Printable Road Trip Scavenger Hunt
• Family Scavenger Hunts Bundle
• Camping Scavenger Hunt
• The Put Away Scavenger Hunt
• Photo Scavenger Hunt

The post Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt for Kids Free Printable appeared first on The Chaos and the Clutter.

Yoga poses are just one tool in your “calm-down” arsenal. At The Chaos and The Clutter, we are all about arming kids with the tools they need to gain control and self-regulate on their own. Your goal is to help your child become an independent adult who can navigate tricky emotions and stressful situations successfully on their own. You’ll find ideas for sensory bins, strewing, and games to help your child learn self-regulation throughout this website.

The Benefits of Yoga for Children

Vestibular System Function. The vestibular system is one of the sensory systems that helps create a sense of balance and spatial orientation to coordinate movement with balance. Yoga provides direct feedback and practice for this system.

Proprioception. Understanding one’s place in space is not as easy for some children as you might expect. Neurons in the muscles, joints, and tendons help a body feel grounded and aware in any environment, able to experience and understand self-movement, force, and body position. Yoga provides practice for all of three of the components of proprioception.

Tactile Sensory Play. The sense of touch may seem normal to you, but what is normal? Not everyone experiences touch the same way. Tactile play can help children who struggle with touch to interpret those brain signals more effectively. Sensory bins or bags are another great way to incorporate tactile play into your day. Yoga, especially when moving through different environments, provides direct tactile feedback for the body.

Physical Strength. Yoga is well known for building core strength and developing the muscles of the limbs as well. Children with sensory disorders often lack muscle strength because of avoidance of certain types of feedback. So any time you can participate in strengthening activities that don’t feel threatening, it’s a good thing. As an example, basketball practice builds physical strength, but because I am no good at it and it’s all about competition, it’s a very threatening experience for me. Yoga, on the other hand, is a competition with yourself. Can you do that pose better today than you did last week? That’s progress. That’s a win. As long as you keep yoga fun and low-key, it won’t be a threatening experience at all. 

Grounding. There are two types of grounding. Grounding for mental health is the process of providing your brain with a distraction. Anything that uses the left brain will help take your brain away from the emotional right sphere and regulate your response. Yoga can be a left-brained activity. Counting, deep breathing, marching to a beat, and naming items in a list are other ways to engage the left brain. The other type of grounding is the process of connecting with gravity or the earth’s electrical energy. There are many theories on this, but yoga outside in the grass would qualify as grounding in this way.

How to Use Yoga Bingo for Kids

As soon as you download this printable, I recommend that you print at least one copy and laminate it so that it will survive the mom purse. Carry it with you as you are out and about with kids, and keep a copy handy at home, too. Make Yoga Bingo a habit with your kids, and they will learn all of the poses quickly and be able to take the pose when asked. Try to fit in ten to fifteen minutes of yoga per day in non-stress situations. Practice when everything is low-stress so that it is an easy ask during high-stress situations. Deep breathing in mountain pose can be done almost anywhere as long as you have practiced.

Finding Time to Fit Yoga into Your Day

Once you have a laminated copy to keep on hand, you can start working yoga training into your day. As you start making yoga bingo a habit, you will find ways to get more and more creative while out and about. Here are some ideas to get you started. 

• Standing in line at the grocery store? There are actually several yoga poses you can practice while waiting in line. Start with the mountain pose, and then try the tree pose. Once your children complete a pose, have them mark it off on the chart with a dry-erase marker or removable sticker. Then, look for another pose you can do without disturbing others in line. Once you learn them all, it gets easier! 
• Waiting between appointments? Find a grassy area in the parking lot where your kids can get a little more elaborate. Here, they can practice and learn the cat-cow pose, the downward-facing dog pose, and the camel pose. Bonus: These poses all have animal names, so you can also practice animal sounds and sing Old McDonald Had a Farm, depending on the ages of your kids.
• Does your wait have to be in a carpeted room? Try some of the seated or floor-friendly poses like the frog pose, boat pose, or the seated forward bend pose. Some of these can even be done in a chair! 

Make Yoga Bingo a Game

Keep it fun and low-key so that yoga is never a chore. If competition is a positive thing, you can give each child a card and have them work towards an individual bingo for the win. But, if competition is threatening or unpleasant for any of your children, work towards a family bingo instead — everybody wins, and as long as everyone participates, you can enjoy a group reward. It doesn’t have to be something you announce, and it doesn’t have to cost money. Just some form of encouragement. Here are some ideas for encouragement when everyone participates in family yoga bingo.

• group cheer
• high fives or fist bumps all around 
• group hug
• a stop at a local park
• pizza night (for bigger wins, like a week or month of consistent participation)

So, to recap. Print your copy of yoga bingo for kids right away so you don’t forget about it. If you have a laminating machine, get it laminated for protection, and consider making a copy for each of your kids. Practice yoga for ten to fifteen minutes per day to make sure everyone in the family learns the poses in a short period of time. Make it a game, but don’t make it a competition unless that is good for everyone. Reward positive behavior. When you are ready, encourage yoga poses in stressful situations when appropriate. 

Download and print your Yoga Bingo for kids:

The post Yoga Bingo for Kids Free Printable appeared first on The Chaos and the Clutter.

You can make this a raucous game and burn off energy by choosing teams for competition, sending everyone out in droves across the campgrounds, and awarding prizes at the end. Keep it in the family, or join up with other friends for the fun. If you’re looking for even more fun, be sure to try our Camping Minute to Win It Games.

Camping Scavenger Hunt Ideas

The beauty of a printable scavenger hunt with both words and pictures is that it works for all ages. You can get everyone involved from the smallest to the tallest. Little kids can look for the pictured items and circle them or check the boxes. Older kids can practice reading skills as they complete the hunt. Tweens and teens can practice critical thinking skills, observation skills, and teamwork. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

This list includes a variety of things your kids will commonly find around a campsite. We have so many different scavenger hunts available though! Be sure to check out our Road Trip Scavenger Hunt, or purchase our Scavenger Hunt Bundle for lots of choices. to have on hand. I recommend printing several copies of each scavenger hunt in full color and laminating them to keep them nice and re-useable. Then purchase dry-erase markers to keep with each set. 

If you are looking for a fun gift idea, laminate these and add markers as I described, then make a fun Camping Basket gift with S’mores ingredients, roasting sticks, bug spray, a picnic blanket, fire starters, and our Camping Minute To Win It Game!

Our Camping Scavenger Hunt list includes sixteen simple-to-find items including: 

• Animal
• Marshmallow
• Tent
• Campfire
• Cooler
• Bird
• Firewood
• Insect
• Pinecone
• Picnic
• Wildflower
• Fungus
• Sky 
• Leaf 
• Backpack
• Roasted Item

Learning with the Camping Scavenger Hunt

As I mentioned earlier, kids can work on lots of different skills while they are completing a scavenger hunt. Not only will you be giving them a fun activity, you’ll be stretching their learning muscles at the same time. Here are some of the things they are learning.

Observation Skills. Kids will have to slow down and look around to find a bird at your campsite, especially if they have been noisy. They will have to adapt and get quiet! Finding a fungus might prove to be a challenge and will your kids becoming sleuths. They might even have to look up where fungi like to grow! What a fun chance to get your kids to actually look at the world around you.

Teamwork. Build your teams with a variety of ages and you’ve instantly created a fun lesson in teamwork. Adults can coach the team through any relational issues that come up and the teammates will work together towards a common goal. Learning through play is so powerful.

Memory Work. The more the team members can remember from the list, the more quickly they will be able to work. Encourage the teams to work in batches, looking for three or four items at a time before returning to the list to cross things off and remind themselves what to look for next. 

Critical Thinking. Young students can practice reading the simple words we have included in the scavenger hunt, and can turn on their critical thinking skills to ponder where an item is most likely to be found. 

How to Play A Camping Scavenger Hunt Game

Participation. You can either split your family or group into teams or have everyone participate individually.

Game End. The game can end at a specific time (5:00p.m. EST), after a certain length of time (twenty minutes), or whenever the first person or team finds all of the items. If you want to set a specific time to meet back at a central location, that allows everyone to regroup and determine the winner. The team leaders can all set a timer on their phones to give players a specific length of time such as thirty minutes. If you want to work until someone completes everything on the list, have some way to signal each other. 

Completion. You might find it fun to require picture proof for each item on the checklist. Its also fine to take each person at their word. You decide! Scoring is as simple as one point per item, or first person to complete everything on the checklist. 

Prizes. I recommend finding something simple and fun for everyone to enjoy after the scavenger hunt, like ice cream bars you’ve kept hidden in a cooler, or lollipops. 

Camping Scavenger Hunt 

Supplies Needed:

• Printable scavenger hunt for each child 
• Laminator or page protector
• Dry erase markers

Instructions:

1. Print out one scavenger hunt sheet for each child or team who will be at the campsite. Get your copy here.
2. Laminate each page or put each piece of paper in a plastic page protector so it can be used more than once.
3. Pass out dry erase markers to each child or team leader.
4. Arrange a time when everyone will complete the scavenger hunt. In order to keep from disturbing other campers, you should probably compete before dark. When someone finds something on their page, they can place an X or checkmark in the box next to it or circle the picture.
5. The first person or team to mark off everything on their list wins.
6. If no one is able to finish their list by the time you designate, the person or team with the most checkmarks on their page is the winner.

The post Camping Scavenger Hunt Free Printable appeared first on The Chaos and the Clutter.

Thanksgiving Games

The Best Minute to Win It Thanksgiving Games

These Minute to Win It Thanksgiving Games are hilarious! We even laughed long after we had finished playing.

The games included:

• Pumpkin Pie
• Turkeys of a Feather
• Pumpkin Seed Suck It Up
• Pumpkin or Candy Corn Relay
• Turkey Basting (with balloons)

Get Full Instructions

Homemade Prize Punch Game

Making your own prize punch board is easy and adding some festive flair requires only that you choose fall colored tissue paper. This is certain to make the holidays more memorable this year.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: livingwellmom.com

Pin the Tail on the Turkey

This Thanksgiving-themed version of the classic "pin the tail on the donkey" is a recipe for fun for the whole family.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Funny Thanksgiving Would You Rather Questions for Families

These Would You Rather Questions are a great icebreaker to put out on the Thanksgiving table. There are some really silly questions which makes it really fun. Here's one example:

"Would you rather only be able to gobble to talk or oink to talk?"

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: lets-get-together.com

Turkey Tag

This DIY Turkey Tag doesn't have to just be for the kids. Imagine the hilarity if adults get in on the action!

The goal of the game is to grab the turkey tags (made with clothespins) of others. The winner is the last player standing with at least one of their turkey pins still attached.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: www.partygameideas.com

Turkey Waddle Relay Race

Laughter will be abundant while playing this turkey waddle relay race. Use inflatable turkeys to hold between your legs while you race towards the finish line!

Read More

Photo Credit: temeculablogs.com

Thanksgiving Bingo Cards

Just for fun, you can use candy corn as markers. Bingo is a great game to play while waiting for Thanksgiving dinner.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: moneywisemoms.com

Thanksgiving Charades

These printable cards are a great holiday twist on the classic game of charades. I love that they include some picture clues so that even the youngest kids can participate.

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Grab Bag Game

Use holiday themed prizes to create a memorable game everyone is sure to enjoy.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: www.yourtherapysource.com

Thanksgiving Group Card Game

Super fun challenges for a group! As an added bonus, these activities work on fine and gross motor skills.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: www.sisterssuitcaseblog.com

Thanksgiving Mad Libs

I remember doing Mad Libs around a campfire when I was a teen. These are always fun to do and a great ice breaker before your Thanksgiving feast.

Get Full Instructions

Thanksgiving Games for Kids

Photo Credit: frugalfun4boys.com

Flying Turkey Nerf Targets

This is hilarious! What kid doesn't love playing with Nerf guns and these turkey targets only add to the satisfaction.

Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls always has awesome ideas! After your kids finish knocking down their turkey targets, you can have them make turkeys out of LEGO using their tutorial.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: kidfriendlythingstodo.com

Stuff The Turkey Game

This game can be made with items you likely already have at home. It's fun for kids of all ages and can be adapted to make it more challenging for older kids.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: happytoddlerplaytime.com

Turkey Balancing Activity for Toddler

Toddlers can get in on the holiday fun with this cute gross motor activity with a turkey theme.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: kidfriendlythingstodo.com

Turkey Leg Ring Toss Game

This cute festive twist on a ring toss game is sure to be a hit. Since the rings are glow-in-the-dark necklaces from the dollar store, this can be played in the day or at night.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: organized31.com

Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

These scavenger hunt ideas can keep kids entertained while their mom and dad are making preparations for the Thanksgiving feast.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: jinxykids.com

Thanksgiving Memory Game

Print two sets of these memory cards so that kids can match them together.

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Photo Credit: momwifebusylife.com

Turkey Feathers Color Matching Game

This is both a craft and a game and really a sweet idea for little ones.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: lets-get-together.com

Gratitude Photo Scavenger Hunt

Focus on the things you're grateful for with this photo scavenger hunt.

Get Full Instructions

Thanksgiving Printable Games for Kids

5 in a Row Thankfulness Game for Kids

This adorable Gratitude Game for kids is a great one to play in the lead-up to the holiday. It helps them talk about thankfulness and get into the right mindset for the upcoming holiday.

Get Full Instructions

Pumpkin Emotions Game

This simple pumpkin themed emotions game can be played while kids are waiting for the meal to be ready.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: www.playpartyplan.com

Thanksgiving i Spy

This cute seek and find activity is an easy one for your child to complete on their own or kids can race against each other to see who can find all the items first.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: thepurposefulnest.com

Free Printable Fall Matching Cards

Matching cards and memory games may be simple, but they are very beneficial for kids' development. Plus, they're easy and fun!

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: craftsbyamanda.com

Thanksgiving Word Scramble

Guests can pass the time while they're waiting for dinner to be ready by filling out this Thanksgiving word scramble.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: alittlepinchofperfect.com

FREE Thanksgiving Activities Pack for Kids

This free printables pack includes coloring pages, Do-a-dot, math, and language activities for children.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: rockyourhomeschool.net

Alphabet Game for Holiday Fun

This simple activity is an easy way to put fun and learning together.

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Photo Credit: crayonsandcravings.com

Thanksgiving Word Scramble

Beat boredom with these Thanksgiving Word Scrambles.

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Thanksgiving Learning Games

Photo Credit: royalbaloo.com

Free Thanksgiving Turkey Trot Addition Game

This DIY board game is so cute that kids will hardly notice that they're doing math!

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Photo Credit: mathgeekmama.com

Fun Thanksgiving Math Puzzles for Older Kids

Learning games don't have to just be for younger kids as these math and logic puzzles prove.

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Photo Credit: mathgeekmama.com

Thanksgiving Fractions - Printable + Digital Challenges

These cute fraction puzzles feature turkeys and pumpkin pies. What could be more festive than that?!

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: abcsofliteracy.com

Turkey & Pie Addition Game

Kids are sure to love “feeding” the turkey addition problem pie in this Turkey & Pie Addition Game!

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: fluffytots.com

Turkey Counting Mat

This 1-10 counting activity is great for home or the classroom.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: www.littleladoo.com

Turkey Busy Bag Printable

Test your child's Visual perception skills with these turkey feather matching cards.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: supergodnotsupermom.com

Free Turkey Bump Game

Print out these cards. Using dice and math manipulatives or blocks, kids can play a holiday themed math game.

Get Full Instructions

More Turkey Day Games and Activities:

• Printable Gratitude Game
• More Thanksgiving Would You Rather Questions
• Thanksgiving Word Search Game
• Thanksgiving I-Spy Printables
• Free Kids Thanksgiving Printables Games
• Pumpkin Pie Counting Cards
• Turkey Count and Sort Playdough Game
• Thanksgiving Themed Cutting Practise Pages
• Thanksgiving Matching Game
• Turkey Handprint Printable
• Thanksgiving Playdough Mats
• Turkey Feathers Game
• Holiday Activity Worksheets for Kids
• Turkey Number Matching
• Mini Thanksgiving Doodle Books
• Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt in Spanish

Grab your free Minute to Win It Build Edition printable pack for a Minute to Win It game night using LEGO.  

The post 50 Thanksgiving Games for Kids and Families appeared first on The Chaos and the Clutter.

I love to host parties. And games are such a great icebreaker when not everyone there knows each other. Party games can be easily adapted to account for the crowd and theme or holiday. They provide opportunity for team building, laughter, and creating memories. Some of these games take little to no time to set up and all are inexpensive and easy to plan.

The Best Party Games

Prize Punch Game

Make your own prize punch game where party guests can win a gift. This is great fun for all ages. You can customize the theme easily so that it can fit for a birthday or any other celebration.

Get Full Instructions

Minute to Win It Family Fun Night Games

Minute to Win It Games are hands-down our favourite. They are easy and inexpensive to set up and they bring down everyone's guard so they are the perfect way to break the ice.

They are hilarious and good for anyone from preschoolers to seniors, so they work in any setting. These games also work well for small groups and super large ones, making them the perfect choice for any gathering.

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The Bag Game

All you need is a paper bag or cardboard cereal box to create lots of laughs with the Bag Game.

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The Flour Game

Oh my goodness! This is so. much. fun! Easy to set up and sure to bring on the laughter.

Get Full Instructions

Saran Wrap Ball Party Game

This classic large party game is again great for all ages. It does take some preparation to set up, but it really is so much fun, especially for kids.

Get Full Instructions

Grab Bag Game

For party favors or a unique gift exchange, try this Grab Bag Game. It can be easily adapted for kids or groups of adults and has instructions for use at birthdays or Christmas gatherings. The prizes can include gifts or candy.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: www.familyeducation.com

Charades

Charades is a classic game that can be initiated on the fly. Because you play in teams, it's a great way for people to get to know each other. All you need is a pen, piece of paper, and timer.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: www.everythingmom.com

Two Truths and a Lie

The first time we hosted our Supper Club, the other couples didn't know each other so we played this game as an ice breaker. It worked so well!

It was a great conversation starter. By the end of the evening, everyone was talking easily and sharing some laughs.

It's also easy to play and no supplies or planning required.

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: www.itsalwaysautumn.com

Spoons

Spoons is easy and hilarious. We play often at get-togethers, Our kids get super into it.

The only drawback is that once the competition really gets going, it can get pretty loud!

Get Full Instructions

Photo Credit: gameonfamily.com

Pictionary

Make your own Pictionary Game so that you can play without needing to buy the board game. Get the full game rules and instructions to have a fun game night at home.

Get Full Instructions

Vintage Games Sure to Get Laughs:

Everyone likes a bit of nostalgia from time to time. When you take activities you remember fondly from your childhood and play them as adults, it creates tons of laughter and fun. These great party games are sure to get everyone’s guard down!

1. Twister. Yep, there’s nothing like a bit of twisting and contorting to break the tension and get everyone at the event talking!
2. Musical Chairs – Set chairs up in a circle with one less chair than the number of players, start the music, and when the music stops, everyone scrambles to get their bum on a seat. Whoever doesn’t get a seat is out. The last one standing, or should I say sitting is the winner. We used to play this one in school for our Cake Bake fundraisers!
3. Pin the Tail on the Donkey – Get out that blindfold and see how accurately you can attach the tail to the mule. 
4. Egg and Spoon Race – Race to the finish line with an egg (preferably a hard boiled one!) on a spoon. Another option is to play this in teams as a relay race. The first team to cross the finish line wins!
5. Hot Potato – This game is similar to Musical Chairs. You can use a ball, balloon, or an actual potato. Sit in a circle. Pass the object to the next person and continue to pass it from person to person while the music plays. When the music stops, the person caught holding the “hot potato” is out. The game continues until there is only one player left.

Grab your free Minute to Win It Build Edition printable to have family fun with LEGO. 

The post The Best Party Games appeared first on The Chaos and the Clutter.

Growing up, there were always loot bag (also known as treat bags or party favors) at our birthday parties. It’s something that I continued doing for my own kids, but I noticed that over the years, they became more expected and seemingly less appreciated by party guests. 

That’s when I began to think of new ways to incorporate that into the event. Sometimes, that meant having an epic Put Away Scavenger Hunt and having the treat bags be the prize at the end of the hunt. This was usually somewhere like in the dryer when they returned the dryer balls or in the garage when they returned the wrench.

Setting up a homemade prize punch game is another twist to the usual favor bags.

This grab bag game is another idea that keeps the favor bags exciting and memorable.It also creates another party activity that helps pass the time. And if you’re a parent, you know that that can be a very important thing on those party days!

I’ve also included suggestions below on how to adapt the game for adults and how to create a Christmas grab game game or gift exchange version.

How to Play the Grab Bag Game:

Supplies needed:

• Brown paper bags
• Permanent marker
• Candy
• Small treats or toys (see list of suggestions for bag fillers below)
• Dice

Instructions:

1. Put a pile of treats on the floor or in a tray on the table.
2. Write names on brown paper bags in black marker and put the bags in a circle around the pile down so that names are showing.
3. Have each person sit in front of their bag.
4. Take turns rolling the dice.
5. When you roll doubles, you get to pick a treat from the pile and add it to the bag with your name on it.
6. When all the treats are gone, the game is over.
7. Everyone gets to keep their bag filled with treats.

Variations of the game:

• For teens and adults, you can play so that on your turn if you don’t roll doubles, the dice pass to the next person. When playing with younger kids, it’s usually best to let everyone continue rolling until they get doubles and then continue on.
• Tailor the prizes to the theme of the party. For instance if you’re hosting a dinosaur themed birthday party, you can choose dinosaur shaped candy, dino figurines, dino crayons, dino temporary tattoos, etc. You can also use coloured paper bags that coordinate with the party’s colours to go along with the theme and decorations.

Grab Bag Gift Exchange Game:

To play this as a gift exchange game, have each party guest bring one or two items to add to the pile. You can give them a suggested dollar limit or even request that all the gifts be along the same lines such as all gift cards or all books, socks, or holiday ornaments.

The first person to roll doubles will get first dibs on what they most want in the treat pile. The game continues until all the gifts have been taken.

This may of course result in some guests walking away with multiple gifts while others get none. For this reason, this version of the game is best played with adults. It creates a frantic race to roll doubles and lots of hilarious ribbing back and forth!

Christmas Grab Bag Game:

It’s easy to create a Christmas version of this game. At your holiday party, you can play either the gift exchange version of this game or the regular version. Make it more festive by using Christmas candy or Christmas themed gifts. 

You can decorate brown paper bags with Christmas drawings or stickers or you can use red and green paper bags to add even more of a holiday feel. 

The great thing about this game is that you can include anyone from preschoolers to grandparents. 

List of suggested favors for kids:

• candy
• playdough
• small figurines
• toy cars
• temporary tattoos
• spinning tops
• crayons
• costume jewelry
• silly straws
• slinkys
• slap bracelets
• slime
• stretchy animals
• coins
• bubbles
• sensory items
• fidget toys
• pencils
• notepads
• mini flashlights

List of suggested favors for teens and adults:

• gift cards
• nail polish
• makeup
• lotions
• face mask packets
• playing cards
• candles
• books
• candy
• socks
• markers
• money
• gardening seeds
• homemade or store bought soap
• cookie cutters
• tools
• keychains
• drinks
• chocolate
• coffee mugs
• reusable water bottles
• pens
• notebooks
• flashlights
• wine
• hats 
• lip chap
• wooden or metal logic puzzles
• headlamp toques/beanies

Suggested favors for Christmas:

• any of the items on the above lists
• candy canes
• hot chocolate packets
• hand warmers
• Christmas ornaments
• Christmas decorations
• hot chocolate bombs
• Christmas crackers
• holiday cookie cutters
• holiday baking
• poinsettas
• pinecone fire starters
• snowman bath bombs
• stockings
• ugly Christmas sweaters

Get your free printable Christmas Gift Exchange Dice Game. 

Check out some of our other party games:

• Minute to Win It Games
• Minute to Win It Dollar Store Games
• Minute to Win It Build (LEGO) Edition
• The Flour Game
• The Bag Game
• Prize Punch Game
• Saran Wrap Ball Game

The post Grab Bag Game appeared first on The Chaos and the Clutter.

This DIY punch a prize party game is a welcome addition to any event. It’s a great idea for birthday parties, family game nights, or school or community fairs or carnivals.

This game is based on an old Price is Right game called Punch-a-Bunch. In that game, contestants would punch through for higher ticket prizes, but the concept and fun is the same.

Homemade Prize Punch Game

How to Make a Prize Punch Game:

Supplies needed:

• paper or plastic cups
• tissue paper
• ribbon
• tape
• scissors
• poster board
• poster board stickers
• prizes 

Directions:

1. Fill each plastic cup with small items such as toys or candy. (see our list of ideas below)
2. Cut the tissue paper into squares, large enough to fit and fold over the top of the cups.
3. Cover each cup with a tissue square. Tie a ribbon around the tissue paper and tie in a knot.
4. Curl the ribbon ends.
5. Repeat this process for the desired number of cups.
6. Decorate a poster board with stickers. Set the cups on top of the poster board.

How to Play the Prize Punch Game:

There are several ways to play this game. You can choose which one would work best depending on the type of event you’re planning.

1. Have the birthday child punch the cups for prizes. You can decide how many cups you would like them to punch, either all cups, or as many as the age they are turning. (For example, when my son turned 6, we made 12 cups and he was able to keep the prizes from 6 cups. My daughter is turning 14, so we created about 25 cups and she’ll keep the prizes from 14 of the 25 cups.)
2. One at a time, have each child at the party punch one cup. They are then able to keep the prize from the cup they chose to punch. This method works very well for classroom parties as well. 

What Should I Use as Prizes?

Anything small enough to fit inside your cups will work as a prize. It can be fun to use things that go along with your party theme such as candy necklaces and rings and costume jewelry for a princess party or matchbox cars for a car themed party. This doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. I’ve even included some things on the list that are free!

Here are some prize ideas:

• candy
• money (coins or bills)
• confetti
• small figurines
• matchbox cars
• bubbles
• costume jewelry
• crayons
• small containers of playdough (homemade or store bought)
• beads
• small plastic toys
• trading cards
• gift cards
• stickers
• erasers
• socks
• hair accessories
• makeup or nail polish (think teen girl party!)
• pieces of paper with affirmations on them
• homemade coupons for things like a later bedtime or special time with mom or dad

Variations on the Punch a Prize Game:

• Advent Calendar. Use it as an advent or countdown calendar. Number each cup and every day, your child can punch through and take their prize of the day as they count down towards Christmas or another event. Each cup could contain a chocolate, a small prize, or a paper with a holiday activity written on it.
• Christmas Punch a Prize. Make this a Christmas Punch Prize Game by using holiday tissue paper and filling the cups with holiday themed surprises. Wonderful for all ages!
• Punch Prize Board. Use hot glue to secure the bottoms of the cups to a foam board. Once dry, prop the board up or hang it.
• Pair with Another Game. Use the punch prizes to reward the winners of another game such as the winning team in a Minute to Win It challenge.
• Customize. Depending on the theme of the party or time of year, you can customize your game by changing the colour or design of the tissue paper on the cups, the colour of the cups themselves, the decorations on the poster board, and the prizes inside the cups. 
• Incentivize it. Set up the punch prize board and use it as a reward for chores being done, goals reached, books read, potty prizes, etc.

Check out some of our other awesome party games:

• Minute to Win It Games
• Saran Wrap Ball Game
• The Bag Game
• The Flour Game
• Christmas Gift Exchange Game

The post Homemade Prize Punch Game appeared first on The Chaos and the Clutter.

I’ve purposely chosen games that share some of the same supplies. This helps keep it simple to plan and more affordable.

Most of the supplies needed can be purchased at the dollar store. You probably already have many of them in your home. Throw this together at the last minute and still manage to impress.

Use our Minute to Win It Christmas Edition printable decoration kit to make things even easier! 

Minute to Win It Christmas Games:

You can play these games individually or as teams. If you play as teams, be sure to come up with awesome team names to add to the fun!

I’ve added videos of most of the games below to give you a better idea of how to play them. My kids and our neighbour had so much fun trying out all the activities.

Face the Gingerbread Man:

Supplies needed:

• small gingerbread men (at least one per person)

Begin with a gingerbread man on each person’s forehead. The players have one minute to get the cookie into their mouth using only their facial movements. This is a great game to play in a large group. Everyone can play at the same time or you can play head to head.

Snowman Stack:

Supplies needed:

• large marshmallows (6 for each player)

Each player has one minute to stack three marshmallows on top of each other twice to create two “snowmen” using only one hand.

This is an easy game to complete within the time allotted. I included it because it is nice to have a game that younger children can easily play.

If you’re playing these Minute to Win It Christmas games in teams, choose the youngest players to complete this challenge. Even toddlers should be able to do well at this.

If you are playing with only adults, you may want to skip this challenge or increase the difficulty by requiring players to stack the marshmallows using only their mouths.

Reindeer Nose Dive:

Supplies needed:

• 1 inch red pompoms
• ribbon
• petroleum jelly

Tie a red pompom onto the end of a ribbon. Make one of these for each player. Place petroleum jelly on each player’s nose. The player starts with the other end of the ribbon in their mouth. They then have one minute to attempt to swing the ribbon and land the pompom onto their nose and stick there. No hands are allowed to be used in this challenge.

Christmas Cliffhanger

Supplies needed:

• ten Christmas cards

Place 10 Christmas cards in a row on a table close to the edge. You want to set them up so that they form a tent. Blow the cards gently to move them across the table. The goal is to have one card hang over the edge of the table without falling off. Each player has one minute and ten tries to reach the objective.

Candy Cane Catch

Supplies needed:

• garland
• candy canes

String garland up between two chairs with the seat facing out to create a clothesline-type effect. Give each player a handful (or small bowlful) of candy canes. Have the player stand on the chair and drop candy canes, attempting to have them hang on the garland. You can have another player on the opposite chair playing at the same time.

You can either give the point to the person who hangs a candy cane first or see who can hang the most in one minute.

Jingle Bell Clock

Supplies needed:

• craft stick (wide or narrow depending on age and ability of players)
• jingle bells (6-8 for each player)

Have each challenger place a craft stick in their mouth and line the jingle bells across the stick in one minute or less. For young children, use the wider craft sticks. To make it more challenging for adults, use regular sized popsicle sticks. You can also vary the size of the jingle bells to create more difficulty.

Snow Shovel

Supplies needed:

• bowls
• plastic spoons
• 1 inch white pompoms or cotton balls

Give each player two bowls, one with fifteen white pompoms and a plastic spoon in it. Once the clock starts, the players have one minute to transfer the pompoms (snowballs) into the empty bowl using only their mouth and the plastic spoon. This game is quite challenging, so for younger kids, start with less pompoms or cotton balls in their bowl.

Bobbing for Candy Canes

Supplies needed:

• bowl
• wrapped candy canes

Fill a bowl with wrapped candy canes for each player. Challengers place one candy cane in their mouth and attempt to hook the candy canes in the bowl and transfer them to the table. The goal of the game is to move 5 candy canes out of the bowl. The time to beat is one minute.

Peppermint Twist

Supplies needed:

• uncooked spaghetti noodles (one per player)
• Christmas Life Savers or similar peppermint candy (six per player)

Set out one piece of uncooked spaghetti per person. Place six holiday edition Life Savers or similar peppermint candy with a hole in the center on their side so that the hole is facing the contestant. The player must pick up all the candy using only the spaghetti noodle in their mouth. They must stack all six candies onto their noodle in under one minute.

Snowball Run

Supplies needed:

• plastic spoons
• 1 inch white pompoms or cotton balls
• buckets or large bowls

Place two buckets or bowls at the far end of the room. Lay out white pompoms at the other side of the room and give participating players a plastic spoon. This game works with groups as a relay or with two players racing against each other. Each of the players places a white pompom (snowball) on a plastic spoon and races to place it in a bucket across the room. The player or team to fill the bucket with the most “snowballs” in one minute wins.

Good Things Come in Small Packages

Supplies needed:

• Christmas wrapping paper
• household items
• oven mitts

Before the event, wrap some small boxes and cans with holiday wrapping paper. Have each player put on a pair of oven mitts. See how many gifts players can open in one minute while wearing oven mitts. This is quite a funny one to watch!

As you can see from the video, one of our daughters found the game too difficult and used her mouth to open “gifts”. In case it wasn’t clear in the instructions, using your teeth is not allowed!

White Christmas

Supplies needed:

• toilet paper rolls

One person stands still while the other wraps them in toilet paper. This game is best player head to head against another two player team. The team that completely uses their toilet paper first wins. It’s fun to see what method the teams come up with to do this quickly.

These Minute to Win It Christmas party games are great for office parties, family get togethers, holiday parties with friends, or even winter birthday parties.

You can easily adapt the games for all ages from preschoolers to grandparents.

Set the mood by having Christmas music playing in the background. Use holiday decor as your decorations. This means that the lights and tree that are already in the room are all you need!

Pop some popcorn, put out some drinks, set out a few appetizers, print out the game cards and party kit, and it’s time to play. I’m sure the whole family is going to love these Minute to Win It Christmas games!
Looking for more creative ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

Check out our other Minute to Win It games and easy family games:

Minute to Win It Build Edition (contains bonus Christmas challenges)

Minute to Win It Family Fun Night games 

Dollar Store Minute to Win It 

The Flour Game 

The Bag Game 

The post Minute to Win It Games Christmas Edition appeared first on The Chaos and the Clutter.

When done well, these gift exchange games can be the central activity at your gathering. They are a great ice breaker and can help everyone get in on the fun. 

Gift Exchange Games for Parties

Christmas Gift Exchange Game

In this gift exchange dice game, you just never know which way the gift is going to go until the dice get rolled. Print off the easy to follow instructions and get playing!

This twist to the usual gift opening is sure to become a new holiday tradition.

Read More

Photo Credit: www.itsalwaysautumn.com

The Christmas left right game

With this printable story, you pass the gift left when you hear the word "left" and right when you hear the word "right".

If you're hosting a holiday gathering this year, the left right game is one way to keep all your guests engaged and entertained.

Read More

Photo Credit: www.whiteelephantrules.com

White Elephant Gift Exchange Rules

Sometimes also called Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa, the White Elephant Gift Exchange is kind of the original present swap game.

There are many variations, but in all, the goal is to walk away with the best gift of the night!

Read More

Photo Credit: www.playpartyplan.com

Christmas Never Have I Ever

Looking for a hilarious spin to this year's gift giving? Add in these holiday themed "never have I ever" questions and let the laughs begin!

Read More

Saran Wrap Ball Party Game

This game is a fun way to ensure that everyone walks away with prizes. It's great for all ages. It can get quite competitive so be sure to come prepared to play!

Read More

Photo Credit: laughdreamexplore.com

Secret Santa

Whether for an office party or a friend group or within your family, Secret Santa is a nice way to ensure everyone gets a gift without you personally being responsible for buying one for each person!

Be sure to set a budget and to be clear on the expectations (example: that every gift be homemade or re-gifted or purchased) to ensure the best results.

Read More

Photo Credit: www.playpartyplan.com

Scrooge Your Neighbour Gift Exchange Game

A fun twist on the usual, this game has a Christmas Carol theme. It's a cute way to involve everyone at the party. It's kid-friendly festive fun!

Read More

Photo Credit: www.playpartyplan.com

Gift Exchange Card Game

Using the printable cards, create a fun game that gets everyone involved. In this game, it doesn't really matter which gift you originally pick because chances are, you're going to trade it anyway.

Get Full Instructions

Christmas Party Scratch-Off Card

If you want to put a much more competitive twist on the gift exchange, have less gifts than there are people and use these scratch off cards to determine who will get to go home with a present and who will go home empty handed.

Read More

Photo Credit: christmas.lovetoknow.com

23 Fun Christmas Gift Exchange Themes

No need to get the same box of chocolates every year when you choose a unique theme for your gift exchange.

Read More

Other Gift Exchange Ideas:

Ornament Exchange – Every year for the past 17 years, a group of friends and I have participated in an ornament exchange. We each buy a unique ornament (we are on the lookout for them all year and have managed to find some awesome ones over the years!) and place it in a gift bag. Then we take turns choosing a restaurant to meet at and at the end of the meal, we ask the waiter or waitress to randomly hand out the bags. It’s become a treasured tradition. 

Christmas Cookie Swap – If you’re looking for a great way to add more variety to your holiday baking, a cookie swap is the way to go. Each guests brings a dozen cookies (all the same type) for each other guest present. So if you were one of 8 attendees, you would arrive with 8 dozen of one type of cookie and go home with 8 dozen different types of cookies.

Hot Potato – In this version, you’ll be using gifts instead of a potato! Set a timer. Pass the gifts around one at a time and whoever is holding the gift when the timer goes off gets to unwrap it and keep it. Kids like the fast pace of this game.

Family Auction – Using Monopoly money, distribute the same amount to each player. Players can then pick up, rattle, squeeze, and examine the gifts before bidding on them. The highest bidder or each one “wins” it and can open and keep it.

You’ll also love these other Christmas party games:

• Minute to Win It Christmas Games
• The Bag Game
• The Flour Game
• The 26 Best Christmas Games 

The post The Best Gift Exchange Games Ever appeared first on The Chaos and the Clutter.