Kid's Stuff- 4
Aunt Patty's
favorite reunion game
by Patricia H. Anderson
Trash or Treasure is a hilarious game for adults and/or children,
indoors or outdoors. It's a variation of the old game of "White
Elephant."
There can
be any number of players seated in a circle.
The center
of the circle is piled with packages of every size, shape, and
description. Wrapped in toilet paper, expensive gift wrap, aluminum
foil, cloth remnants, comics, wallpaper, brown bags, whatever's
handy.
Most packages
contain trash such as a rubber ducky and a mostly used bar of
soap, a frayed shower cap and a comb with missing teeth, tacky
old jewelry, empty peanut shells, an outgrown toy, a broken anything.
Junky stuff. A few packages contain treasures: A movie pass, candy
bar, tube of sun block, a CD, homemade cookies, a roll of nickels.
Joke packages
contain Ex-Lax, itching powder, a popcorn tin with one package
of microwave popcorn and a note to "pop your own" inside,
a box of prunes and a roll of toilet tissue, a disposable razor
and a band-aid, a rubber spider, a disposable diaper that has
had a little weak tea poured inside, a small stuffed bunny and
a handful of raisins. Comical stuff.
To play,
stress the need to be fast and accurate. Have one pair of dice
for every five or six players. Keep passing dice to the left.
Players take turns trying to roll a six - not a combination of
dots that add to six on both dice but six dots on one die. When
they roll a six they may grab one package from the pile; double
sixes let them grab two packages. Dice move around rapidly and
before long more than one player is diving for the same package.
Once all the presents are gone from the center, rolling a six
allows them to steal packages from neighbors. The robbing is the
favorite and funniest part of the game. Someone eventually calls
a halt by loudly counting down from twenty.
At this point
you choose an option: to end the game and save unopened packages
for another game of Trash or Treasures to be played later or to
postpone the game; those with the most packages can receive bubble
gum or other trivial prizes. The second round is often more fun,
beginning with jockeying for a different seat with new neighbors.
To end the
game, packages are opened. One at a time for the most fun!
About
the author
Patricia H. Anderson lives and writes in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Pearson
Reunion at the Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana, includes
descendants of John Sargent Pearson and four of the original Mayflower
Pioneers. In an effort to revive interest in the reunion, they
chose Colonial Times as reunion theme. They had a chance drawing
for an American Girl Doll with activities centering around the
American Girl Activities and some of the relatives presented stories
from Colonial Days.
Reported
by Lucy Funk, Angola IN
The younger
Pressley Family Reunion generation takes serious responsibility
for portions of their reunion. The children have car washes, sell
candy and baby sit to help raise money for their reunion. Some
of the money they make is used to help supply food for the hospitality
night. This makes the youngsters feel as if they have a huge part
in reunion planning and execution. They are also encouraged to
share ideas for entertainment at the Saturday night dinner dance,
the agenda for daytime activities on Saturday and the Sunday picnic.
The younger members also wrote and performed a 45-minute play
about a Family Reunion. None of the adults had any idea of what
the play was going to be about. The kids wanted it to be a surprise.
The author is a 25-year old.
Reported
by LueVenia R. Alford
The Vegetable
Party - kid's love it!
by Karen Scanlon
This is lots of fun for everybody. Early in the day mothers tell
the children that dinner is strictly vegetables and no fussing.
"Got to eat your growing food," we insist.
Put out a
colorful table setting, washable or disposable. Instruct family
to wear bathing suits to dinner tonight (hose them off afterward,
it's part of the play).
Cut from
various colors of construction paper, six to eight-inch vegetables
- carrots, some peas, green beans, eggplant, etc. Attach a paper
vegetable to each of the following: jars of chocolate and butterscotch
syrup, strawberry topping, Maraschino cherries and a can of whipping
cream. Keep them out of sight until dinner.
Scoop different
flavors of ice cream into large serving bowls. Attach paper vegetables
to these, too.
When it's
time to eat, have everyone settle at picnic tables. In a playful
spirit, mothers carry 'vegetables' in a parade around the table,
setting them down all at the same time. You know the rest ...
This is a
valuable tradition we built when our children were young. Now
they associate this occasion with Mom's garden yard.
Kids interactive
by Heather Down
Family reunions are a wonderful opportunity for children who don't
see each other often to reacquaint themselves with close and distant
cousins. Having a house full of children can be exciting and a
little intimidating too. Young people may be hesitant to interact
or may interact explosively. Finding things to entertain and bring
children closer in a fun and memorable way may sometimes be difficult.
Having ideas other than the usual videos and computer games can
end frustration and make you a hero. Here are a few that work:
Drive
kids up a wall - literally! One of the best places I ever
took a group of kids was a climbing gym. Simulating a rock climbing
experience, kids can scale new heights in a safe environment.
While one child climbs the wall in the safety of a harness, the
other has to belay. Team work and co-operation are imperative.
Interaction and communication are a must. It builds confidence
and brings any group together, regardless of age. These gyms are
in most major cities. A day pass, which usually includes an introductory
lesson, is much cheaper than a day at a theme park.
Make your
kids disappear. Some of my fondest memories are from an ordinary
Saturday night that turned out to be magical. We were at the cottage
and my husband suggested that each of the six kids in our group
practice performing a trick or illusion. Some wanted to do more
than one trick and others joined together for group efforts. After
several hours of preparation, one lucky child was chosen as MC
and a magic show was performed. This is a perfect reunion activity
because it requires a lot of interaction among the children. Parents
and grandparents get the added bonus of being dazzled by a terrific
show. Have a few how-to magic books from your library, cards,
coins, ropes and silk hankies handy for the occasion.
Make 'em
board. Have you heard, "I'm bored," more often than
you care to remember? Children play a lot of interactive games
with entertainment sets and computers, but the art of playing
games with others is being lost. Kids love contact with others
and thrive on the fun and laughter that come from certain games.
Besides the traditional faves such as Sorry, Monopoly and Chutes
and Ladders, try some truly lively, animated and sometimes loud
games. My favorites are good for a group of mixed ages; Twister,
Headbanz, Guesstures and Outburst. These games are available at
most department and toy stores and cost less than taking your
family to the movies.
If you're
feeling a little nervous about entertaining children at your next
reunion, relax. Armed with a few good ideas and a couple of resources,
you can make this reunion the most memorable for generations to
come!
About
the Author
Heather Down is a freelance writer and elementary school teacher
in Ontario, Canada. She enjoys spending time with her husband,
three children, and two dogs. She has authored three gift books
and really enjoys reunions.
Involving
the Hip Hop generation
A new workshop at the 1999 African American Family Reunion Conference
was how to involve the Hip Hop Generation ... your future no matter
what your age.
The workshop
panel members were under thirty and the panel was anchored by
26-year-old Steven Jones who, at 23, organized the (??th) Simpson
Family Reunion.
The hospitality
suite, we learned, can be as important to the young as it is to
older family members because it is where people assemble and where
much story-telling goes on. Games, food and music will encourage
kids to stay close to the rest of the family.
As kids begin
to mature a bit, they should get their own rooms, usually adjoining
their parents. Informal sleep-overs/pajama parties can go on in
these rooms and cousins can spend more time together.
Hints from
the kids.
- Send a
questionnaire directly to kids and ask what they want to do.
- A swimming
pool is important.
- Send children
off on (chaperoned) tours to childrens museums.
- For teenagers
a hotel near a mall can make or break a reunion. They also enjoy
disco or theatre trips (on chartered busses). One reunion made
parents feel old when kids decided upon a disco event as a "blast
from the past."
- Use family
centered movies to generate discussion. In the African American
community particularly, but for any family these might include
Soul Food or Down from the Delta.
Kids activities
between and during reunions
Between reunions the Hailstock Family Reunion hosts a Back-to-School-Bash
over Labor Day weekend to keep New York City area kids in touch.
Other reunions use e-mail and the Hailstocks have newsletters
that include stuff specifically for kids.
Steven Jones
and his sister Nancy described the Simpson Family Reunion tour
of Zanesville, Ohio. The family homestead, that drew them to that
area for the reunion, was gone but Steven marveled at how small
the lot was to support a house full of children. They visited
churches, schools and the river where their mother went swimming
as a child.
Having kids
be models for a historical fashion show is inspired because all
kids love to dress up. Many vintage clothes are smaller sizes
so are perfect for younger children. Family history can be reviewed
along with fashions to match each era and music directed to the
years clothes were in vogue.
Have children
participate in all phases of devotional services. They can present
readings concentrating on family subjects. For families who are
ready for it, when religions differ, some time can be set aside
to teach each other about their faiths.
One girl
did the family's genealogy then supplemented it by interviewing
older members and presenting her findings at the reunion.
Orderly passage
of a long standing, well-organized reunion can begin when the
18-25 year old generation is ready to be the bridge. Empower them.
Get them to buy into the reunion
On-site
child-care
Many hotels have programs to accommodate guest children. If it
will help your members, choose a facility with a child-care program
and make the information available to members.
Child-care
programs must accommodate the varied needs of children of different
ages and developmental stages. Young children like planned activities
and are very receptive to being in a well-structured setting.
Teen-agers may want little more than a fun place to hang out.
You'll want
to verify the program license and experience in the field. What
are the supervision ratios of adult staff to kids?
Learn about
adults staffing the program and their experience. Ask if staff
members are trained in CPR (including infant/toddler CPR) and
first aid.
The American
Academy of Pediatrics suggests at least one adult for every two
to four infants; one adult for every four to five 3- to 5-year
olds; one adult for every seven 6- to 13-year olds and one adult
for every 10 teens.
If it is
important to your family, ask if they provide for children with
disabilities.
Infant care
is more than just changing diapers and feeding. Ask some of these
questions.
- Do activities
encourage childhood development?
- What behavior
rules do they enforce?
- What form
of discipline do they use?
- How do
they identify parent with child?
- Do they
require photo ID for kids, parents and staff?
- What are
their fees, charge by the hour, by the child?
- Ask for
references.
The facility
should have a release or waiver for parents to sign that grants
authority for emergency medical treatment recommended by a doctor
to preserve life or limit injury. Parents should leave a phone
number or, if they are unavailable, who else can make decisions
on behalf of the child.
Any release
or waiver should stipulate exactly who has the authority to take
custody of the child. As an inexpensive cautionary measure, have
a Polaroid photograph of the parent and child.
Backseat
Tyrants
Long family rides can turn even the happiest kids into backseat
tyrants. Here are some useful ideas to keep them occupied.
Games. Count
state license plates or truck names. Or buy a pack of cards called 52 Fun Things To Do in the Car by Lynn Gordon (Chronicle
Books, $6.95).
Sing-alongs.
Plan ahead by collecting tapes or CDs. One recommendation: Are
We There Yet? Travelin' Sing-Alongs.
Audio Books.
One sure way to improve children's reading skills is to interest
them in books. Audio books are available for just about any age
group.
Vintage radio
programs. Old radio mystery programs like "The Shadow"
and "The Saint" are available on tape and CD. Also comedy
favorites like "The Jack Benny Show." Many of these
are available from libraries too.
source: Parade Magazine
Hunters
and Gatherers
Getting children involved in family reunions is always on the
top of any organizer’s list. Sonya A. Haskins, Milligan College,
Tennessee, suggests a family scavenger hunt. "You can make
it a game and provide prizes to children who answer all the questions
correctly, which will give them a little more incentive to play
in the beginning," writes Haskins.
Directions
for getting started: "Make a list of questions about various
family members. Who received a medal in World War II? Whose birthday
is August 25, 1930? Who came to the US as an immigrant?"
"Give
the children the list and let them go. They can spend the day,
weekend or however long your family reunion is scheduled to last.
Toward the end of the reunion, award prizes and return the questions
and answers for their own ancestral records."
"This
is a great way for kids to learn some fascinating facts about
their parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and other family
members while having fun doing so," Haskins concludes. "It
is also a great way to keep kids busy."
Kids rule!
At the Kauffman-Overholt Family Reunion in Goshen, Indiana, special
attention is paid to entertainment for the children. There are
relay races, water balloons, a sandpile and a "swimming pool"
of an 8-foot circular tank set on the concrete drive. Other activities
include sand volleyball, horseshoe pitching, croquet, ping pong
and hiking in the woods or on local trails. They could go skating
and skateboarding on a little used road. Most popular were two
old-fashioned rope swings with board seats that hang from tall
trees and attract all ages. A number of llamas were haltered and
leashed for children to pet and lead around the yard.
Reviews
Kid's Trip Diary, for ages 6-12, published by Marlor
Press, 4304 Brigadoon Drive, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55126; 96
pages, paperback, $6.95.
Long, hot,
boring hours sprawled in the back seat of the family car; mile
after mile of concrete interstate landscapes; the kid sister or
brother who won't turn down the Walkman or recklessly spills food
and drink over the seat – such are the fond memories childhood
summer vacations are made of.
Relax. Help
is available. A new, revised edition of the useful Kid's Trip
Diary has arrived just in time for your next reunion. Among
its offerings are strategies for getting children involved in
planning the trip, making lists for things to do on the road,
and deciding what to pack and what to leave behind. Most of all,
Kid's Trip Diary provides entertaining as well as educational
activities sure to keep kids happily occupied. Besides riddles
and games, sights seen, foods eaten, changing weather, even the
amount of money spent on shopping can be logged in pre-formatted
pages. Best of all, blank space is left to record the most important
thing of all: memories of your family summer reunion.
The
Starcleaner Reunion, words and pictures by Cooper Edens.
Green Tiger Press, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York NY, 1979,
sixth printing, 32 pages, paper, $8.95
"The
time has come, my friend, for a reunion to recall the great deeds
we began before thee were years at all, or memories..." Thus
begins The Starcleaner Reunion, a child's magical encounter
with angels, stars and history. Bold, vivid illustrations and
a warm-hearted story makes perfect bedtime reading.
Another truly
fun package is Happy Highways Kids' Travel Kit,
from Hampton Inn & Suites - great if you're traveling with
school-age little ones. The package includes a five-day journal,
an activity book and a lively cassette tape of Eddie Coker songs
including "Travelin'" and "Say Hello!" Request
the kit from Hampton Inn & Suites, c/o Sourcecenter, Inc,
1366 Round Table, Dallas TX 75247.
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