ML Interest Tag: spider-web

10 Frightfully Fun Party Games & Activities

by Abigail Matsumoto

Ready to throw a Halloween party that’s a graveyard smash? The secret is to mix things up with too-cool-for-ghouls activities and games. From scavenger hunts to ghost bowling, read on for 10 easy ideas that will delight little goblins and grownups alike.

photo: Studio DIY

1. Go ghost bowling
Need a last-minute party game? Studio DIY has you covered with this cute idea—and all you need is TP and a sharpie! (Psst! The kids may actually enjoy “re-racking” your ghostly pins so there’s no need to worry about set up) Roll over to Studio DIY to see more.

photo: Delia Creates

2. Stomp your way to special treats
A little physical activity combined with fun prizes? That’s what you’ll get with this fun Pumpkin Patch Stomp idea. Simply grab a few orange balloons, fill them with small candies or coins, and get stomping! Get the full scoop at Delia Creates.

photo: No Time for Flashcards

3. Get caught up in a spider web game
For a guaranteed giggle-fest try this spider web walking game, which helps kids sharpen their motor skills. Best of all, the supplies are pretty basic: painters tape, plastic spiders, and a prize for the lucky winner. Get the how-to at No Time For Flash Cards.

photo: Nina Healy from Les Petits Présents

4. Dangle some donuts
There’s a reason this game is a classic. It’s easy to set up, fun for kids of all ages, and a total photo opp! Get ready for silliness to ensue as the kids try to get a bite out of a donut–bonus points if they go for it in full costume! Learn more at Les Petites Présents.

photo: Little Family Fun / Linda

5. Go on a pumpkin treasure hunt.
Think of this cute game as the Halloween version of an Easter egg hunt. Just hide pumpkin cutouts around the house or yard and let the kids loose (For an extra-organized hunt, you can even number your pumpkins and look for them in order!). Don’t forget to include a prize at the end! Get the tutorial at Little Family Fun.

photo: Buggy and Buddy

6. Act out with Halloween charades
We’re loving this Halloween version of charades–especially the fact that you can get a free printable from the always-amazing Buggy and Buddy. It’s a great interactive activity for a party and you can even customize your game sheet. Get everything you need over at Buggy and Buddy.

photo: Following in My Shoes

7. Melt the witch
Why not practice your quick-draw skills against a wicked witch this Halloween? This creative game involves washable paint, water balloons or water guns, and fun-loving kiddos. Get the splash-tastic scoop over at Following in My Shoes.

photo: Play. Party. Plan.

8. Go on a spooky scavenger hunt
With a few free printables, it’s easy to hunt up a little fun at your Halloween party. The kids will love figuring out the clues and rushing around, and you can even include an awesome treat at the finish line (Caramel apples, anyone?). Find out more at Play. Party. Plan.

photo: Delia Creates

9. Wrap things up, mummy style!
Grab TP or white crepe streamers and take a cue from mummy dearest. Get the kids to wrap each other’s legs mummy style, then hold a hopping race and see who can keep their wrappings intact. Oh, and get ready for lots of laughter! Learn more at Delia Creates.

photo: Lemon Squeezy Home

10. Try some touch-and-feel fun
Feel your way to this game, which involves identifying mystery items from touch alone. Is it a brain or a cauliflower? Bones or dried pasta? Best of all, you can make your own coffin mystery box, thanks to these instructions. Get the tutorial at Lemon Squeezy Home.

What is your favorite Halloween party activity? Let us know in the Comments!

— Abigail Matsumoto

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Pop to It: Halloween Crafts that Stick Around

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

If summer left you with 2,463 popsicle sticks stuffed into gallon-size freezer bags courtesy of a twice-a-day fudge-sicle habit, you’re in luck. Popsicle sticks are a kid crafters dream, especially during this time of the year—there are a ton of fun Halloween-themed projects that require them. Here are eight that will make you and the fam wish you’d eaten even more ice cream bars.

photo: Glued to My Crafts

Witch-full Thinking
Looking for an easy activity for the under-eight set to have fun with at the next Halloween party? This is it! Stacey from Glued to My Crafts made these in minutes with a little black paint, card stock, ribbon, and (of course) popsicle sticks. P.S. These would make adorable magnets, too!

photo: Frugal Fun 4 Boys

Candy Catapult
This contraption, spotted over at Frugal Fun 4 Boys, was created by blogger Sarah and her four boys (and one girl). The goal? Find something fun to do with extra Halloween candy that would not be eaten. The catapult itself is made from popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and a plastic spoon. Kids enjoy building the launcher just as much as they do using it.

photo: Buggy and Buddy

The Itsy Bitsy Spider (Web!)
An oldie but goodie, you probably made these adorable little spiderwebs when you were in elementary school. If not, here’s your chance! All you’re doing is wrapping the yarn around the sticks in a web pattern. This Buggy and Buddy interpretation uses painted sticks for a modern vibe.

photo: Pinning for Purpose

Puzzle Play
Make and put together your puzzle? That’s one way to keep antsy kids busy. Kristin, a mother of three and the blogger behind Pinning with Purpose, shares this simple (and fun) craft for popsicle stick puzzles. It’s beyond simple: just glue popsicle sticks onto the back side of a Halloween theme-template, then trim! Download the free templates and get more how-to deets over at Pinning with Purpose.

photo: Crafts by Amanda

Mummy Dearest
Technically, Amanda of Crafts by Amanda wanted these kid-friendly puppets to resemble mummies. But when they were done, they also looked like little mini ninjas. Whichever direction you go in, these party crafts–made with sticks, googly eyes, and felt fabric–will be a hit at your next classroom or home shindig.

photo: Momerish

On the Fence
These Momerish mini pumpkins win the “Majorly Cute” award! Who knew that with just a handful of orange pompoms, some googly eyes, and a popsicle stick fence you could create an entire tot performance. Your little one will love getting into the spirit by singing along with you to the “Five Little Pumpkins” song.

photo: Live Craft Love

Monster Mash
This is one monster you won’t want to be afraid of because you’ll want to display it someplace where you can see it all the time. Start by painting and drying the sticks. Then, glue a handful of them into a square shape and let your tot decorate the face to their heart’s content. Additional details and info can be found at Live Craft Love.

photo: The Lolly Project

Top It Off
Très chic Halloween cake toppers have never been so simple to create. If free hand isn’t your jam, take a cue from The Lolly Project by tracing a few Halloween cut outs. Next, glue them to the popsicle sticks and voilà!
Do you know of a cool Halloween craft project we can try? Tell us about it into the comments below. 

—Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

LEGOs are Taking Over This Local Mega-Park

by Kelly Aiglon

Hello, LEGOs! You’ll happily greet tons and tons of bricks — half a million, to be exact — if you go to Morton Arboretum before November 1. It’s all part of a new exhibit, Nature Connects: Art With LEGO Bricks by Sean Kenney. The world’s first LEGO certified professional has created over a dozen sculptures in wild colors and all shapes and sizes. Read on for the brick-tacular scoop.

The Sculptures
You’ll find them peppering the east side of the Arboretum grounds. All are inspired by nature and the fantastic creatures that call the outdoors home. Highlights include a nearly seven-foot-wide regal peacock showing off its brilliant green and blue plumage, a monarch butterfly perched on a pink milkweed plant, a hummingbird sipping nectar from a colorful trumpet flower, a nearly life-sized family of deer, and more.

There’s plenty to see but the fun is also interactive. A mosaic face cut-out invites kids to play the part of ants crawling beneath the ground. But the biggest thrill will be an ongoing event, LEGO bricks at Thursday Family Nights, held every Thursday through August 27 from 5-8 p.m. You’ll have a blast with live music, kid-friendly food and entertainment after hours in the Children’s Garden. Kids can head to the free play area where a huge selection of LEGO bricks will be available for creative building fun.

The Artist
Sean Kenney spent so much time playing with LEGO toys growing up that he decided he might as well make a career of it. For more than 30 years, the artist and “professional kid” has been turning ordinary LEGO bricks into sculptures for large-scale exhibits, major corporations and venues around the globe. Named the world’s first LEGO Certified Professional in 2005, Kenney is the only independent artist in the world that has produced steel reinforced, fully glued, outdoor-grade LEGO installations.

While You’re There …
Be sure to visit the Children’s Garden, where kids walk on stepping stones to cross a pond and kick off those their shoes for a foot dip in the Secret Stream. Children can climb a spider web of ropes or hop across a bridge. Older kids will love getting “lost” in the hedge Maze Garden (there’s a toddler maze next to it for the shorter set). Also a must-see: the hidden gem of an exhibit called Treehouse Tales (walk toward the north pond and follow the signs into the wilderness to get to it). It’s a magical village of six whimsical tree house structures that you can climb into as you learn about the vital roles trees play in our lives.

Have a blast nature and LEGO fans!

Nature Connects: Art With LEGO Bricks by Sean Kenney
Thru November 1
Cost: Free with Arboretum admission ($14/adults; $9/kids ages 2-17)
Morton Arboretum
4100 Illinois Route 43
Lisle
630-968-0074
Online: mortonarb.org

— Kelly Aiglon, with additional reporting by Kelly Haramis

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

New & Improved: Bronx Zoo Children’s Zoo is Back!

by rtgretchenkunz

You may have taken your little animal lovers to the Bronx Zoo before, but after an 18-month, $4-million renovation, the Children’s Zoo is better than ever.  With new animals to see, new activities and improvements on your old favorites, here’s what makes the re-designed exhibits worth a second look (or a first!) and some tips on how to get the most out of your visit.

photo: Gretchen Kunz 

New Things (And Critters) To See

The star attraction of a zoo is always the animals, and you won’t be disappointed with the furry and feathered friends here.  Filling a gap left when a South American exhibit closed in the 1990s, the Children’s Zoo has a new focus on South and Central American fauna.  Some added stars are Velcro the giant anteater, Calisto the  Linne’s Two- toed Sloth and a mother coatimundi with her two children.  The long nose and enormous, furry tail of the anteater are an unusual sight, and the coatis’ striped tails and quick-moving, flexible snouts charm children and adults alike. (For animal interaction, the goats and sheep at the petting zoo are game and playful, especially if you offer them the pellets from the vending machines.)

photo: Bronx Zoo / Julie Larsen Maher 

Bringing the cute in a major way are a mother and child pudú — AKA, the world’s smallest deer —  as well as the family of squirrel monkeys’ climbing and playing antics on their own private island.  Neon-bright Caribbean flamingos in the water surrounding the monekys’ island show off with splashes and spread wings, so there’s something for your family to see from every angle around the feature.  The whole zoo is tied together with charming new informational signs illustrated by author/artist Brendan Wenzel that make walking the trail feel like turning the page of a storybook.

photo: Gretchen Kunz 

Renovated and Redesigned

Don’t worry, the classics are still here. Iconic features such as the giant, climbable turtle shells, the big tree house slide and the prairie dog tunnels where kids can pop up in clear tubes among the critters not only remain, they’re even better. Improvements include wider paths, clearer views of the prairie dogs (glass has replaced the old Plexiglass), natural accents like six-foot tall clusters of bamboo and springy new composite flooring that make the going easy for strollers and little feet.

The feel is clean and open, with benches for pit stops and interactive play spaces like a giant rope spider web and new model “fennec fox” ears that your kids can listen through. Even the zoo’s farm area has been spruced up, making it a brighter place for mini-Farmer Browns to touch and feed the friendly goats, sheep and alpacas.

photo:  Gretchen Kunz

Making the Most of it and Making it Easy

For the full new zoo experience, Children’s Zoo Adventure Club tours, which include the use of binoculars or magnifying glasses, are available on the half hour, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 30­-Nov. 1: Sat., Sun, Wed. & holidays. Make sure to check the zoo website for other activities, programs and events taking place throughout the year.

To maximize your visit, keep a few things in mind.  Zoo staff say getting there early will help you avoid crowds, and if you want to start your visit at the Children’s Zoo, it’s best to enter through Gate C at Southern Blvd., where parking is also available.  Single and double strollers are available for rental at $10 and $15.

The bathrooms closest to the Children’s Zoo are just to the south at the Madagascar exhibit, and the Terrace Café — where you can also find tables for boxed lunches — and a small gift shop are on the north side of the Children’s Zoo entrance.  Go a bit further north, and you will find a zoo shuttle station and the large Dancing Crane Café.

Wednesdays, zoo general admission is free with the opportunity to donate, but you will have to pay an extra $5 for the Children’s Zoo and more for other premium exhibits. Total Experience tickets, which include all premium exhibits and activities, may be purchased at the gate or ahead of time at a 10% discount online at bronxzoo.com/tickets.  General Admission tickets are only available at the gate.


Bronx Zoo / Julie Larsen Maher

The Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern Blvd.
Bronx
Hours: Apr.3-Nov.1, 2015, Mon.-Fri, 10a.m.-5p.m., Sat., Sun. & holidays, 10a.m.-5:30p.m
Tickets: General Admission, at gate only: adults 13-64/$19.95, kids 3-12/$12.95, seniors/$17.95, kids 2 & under/free
718-220-5100
Online: bronxzoo.com

Have you checked out the new zoo yet? Tell us what you thought of it in the comments below!

—Gretchen Kunz

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Engage Your Senses at Seattle’s Newest Playground

by Natalia Dotto

After nearly two years of planning and development, Seattle has a new playground that gives a whole new meaning to adventure time. Artists at Play, located in the Next 50 Plaza next to EMP, is an imaginative, artists-created outdoor playground designed for kids of all ages. With a 35-foot high climbing tower and kid-inspired musical instruments, listening stations and sound swings, kids (and grownups) can engage their senses through play.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography 

The Play Equipment
With the Experience Music Project as a backdrop and the Space Needle looming overhead, this new playground is nothing shy of eye-catching. But the first thing that sticks out is the huge climbing structure. At 35-feet high, we’re told it’s the tallest of its kind in North America. And while the climbing tower is sure to raise some parent’s blood pressure, there is netting around the outside of the tower and the suspended bridges. Parents, you know your kids best and if they’re afraid of heights you might want to head over to the music and art elements that are at ground level.

Two huge tube slides are bound to capture a few little dare devils’ attention. The long straight slide is 52-feet long; the curly slide is about 38-feet long, and neither are for the faint of heart. (Psst… Rumor has it that the curly slide is a little scary!). But to slide down, first kiddos have to climb up, either through a spider web of ropes or up that tall climbing tower. And then it’s a matter of crossing swaying bridges high above the ground. After that, it’s a hair-raising ride back down to terra firma. Or for those kiddos who aren’t afraid of heights, think of the view they get of EMP and the surrounding Seattle Center.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography  

Engage Your Senses
Kids are sure to get a good workout clambering up and down the ropes and tower, but there is more to this playground. Two artists, Trimpin and Judith Caldwell, collaborated with Site Workshop and Highwire to design a playground built for the senses—think art and music as well as movement. The playful, interactive sculptures designed by Trimpin bring a kinetic and musical presence to the playground and the numerous bronze inlays created by Caldwell, a Pacific Northwest artist and Seattle native, interact with the sculptures, adding whimsical and functional elements to the pieces.

Art Elements
At the Letter Tree, seven letters correspond to seven musical notes. Music lovers of all ages can crank a wheel and hear the note.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

The Rain Stick is a tall yellow column. A crank moves a bar and an a playful acrylic form slides along, accompanied by the sound of rain.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

Listening Stations are placed strategically around the park, so that parkgoers can stand between giant yellow earphones and listen to friends, or is that the Rain Stick?

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

Tall yellow pipes containing billiard balls make up the Sound Fence. Pull on the billiard balls, or give them a swat and hear the different sounds.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

The Sound Swings allow little ones to swing on the sculpture. Get enough momentum going and the artwork on top creates movement and sounds. And with an ADA accessible swing, all children can take part in this musical ride.

 photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

If your tots like to go around (and around!), you will find an ADA accessible merry-go-round, one of only a handful around the country, at this awe-inspiring playground.

 photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

Your little wanderer can also follow Story Lines throughout the park. The lines are painted on the ground with the words of children who were interviewed and asked their thoughts about sound and art. Follow each of the wavy Story Lines to discover a unique story of sound, motion and adventure, as imagined by children.

 photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

Good to Know
There is a smaller play structure for the younger set. And while the bigger climbing tower and slides are recommended for children ages 5 and up, parents should use their own judgment as to how much of the playground their child can handle.

Seattle Center took advantage of the playground construction to upgrade the Next 50 Plaza with new landscaping, patios and terracing. A large saddle span tent provides plenty of shade for viewing and picnicking and new signage shares the story of the playground with visitors and provides information and instruction on interacting with the play elements.

Artists at Play Playground
Seattle Center – Next 50 Plaza
305 Harrison St.
Seattle, Wa 98109
Online: seattlecenter.com/news/detail.aspx?id=1932

What do you think of this new playground? Will your child be heading down those slides? How about you? Let us know in the Comments below. 

— Natalia Dotto

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Just Opened: Go Ape in Rock Creek Park

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

If your kids love a little adventure, wait until they see this. Go Ape is a zip line adventure in Rock Creek Park that just opened for spring visits. At Go Ape kids roam the trees through a course with six sections, including forty-four obstacles, a Tarzan swing, a spider web, and a skateboard zipline. They can climb up ladders and cross bridges all the way to the highest point of the course, which is fifty feet in the air! Don’t worry, if heights aren’t your thing, you’re more than welcome to keep your feet on solid ground.

Safety First
Go Ape understands that kids love to do things on their own, which is why once visitors finish the required safety training they can go wherever they want to in their harness. The safety training takes about 30 minutes and will teach kids and adults about the color coded clips, followed by a test run with an instructor who makes sure that the learner is ready to go out on their own. If any kid needs assistance, they will be teamed up with an instructor for some one-on-one instruction and confidence building.

Dress the Part
To be best prepared for your visit, be sure to leave your labels at home and instead wear clothes you can get dirty. Leave big stuff in the car or at home, since Go Ape does not have a way to store anything larger than your keys or phone and you don’t want to risk losing that newest Kate Spade. Make sure long hair is tied back, and don’t wear open-toed shoes like flip-flops or sandals. If you want to bring a camera with you to capture all the exciting moments, be sure it’s strapped to you (even if you are on the ground). Check the weather beforehand, though a little mud and rain could make the whole thing more fun for fearless kids, and the area is shaded enough to make a hot summer day a nonissue. Water is provided, so there’s one less thing you have to remember to pack.

Go Big, Even if You’re Smallish
If you’re wondering about whether your kiddo is ready for the course, know that he or she needs to be able to climb a rope ladder at the beginning of the trip. The height requirement is four feet seven inches, and the maximum weight is 285 pounds. An adult (18 or over) can supervise up to two kids between the ages of 10 and 15, but remember that to supervise, you need to be up in the trees with them, not on the ground.

Hate Heights? No Problem.
For family members who are skittish about heights (or for tots), Go Ape has dirt trails so that they can follow below and help snap some good shots with their feet safely planted on the ground. Turn the trip into a full day excursion at Lake Needwood, where you can nosh on a picnic lunch, hike, rent boats, or go fishing.

Cost: $37/kids ages 10-17

6129 Needwood Lake Dr. (Rockville, Md)
410-787-2417
Online: goape.com

Have your kids “gone ape” yet in Rock Creek Park? Tell us about the experience in the Comments section below. 

—Kelly Ann Jacobson

Photo: Go Ape

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement

Hide and Seek: 5 Hidden Gem Playgrounds to Add To Your Playbook

by Phebe Wahl

City life has it’s benefits, but sometimes you just want to escape and enjoy some fresh air without the crowds. We scoured the city and surrounding areas to round up some hidden treasures that might not be on your regular rotation. Read on for five playgrounds that offer a peaceful place to play amongst Atlanta’s urban jungle.

Haw Creek Park
This playground is the perfect place to play in the woods. The shaded structures (built in 2012) resemble forrest elements, and the giant logs and life-size bears ignite imaginations. If your little cubs are still hungry for more adventure, the 85 acres and three miles of hiking trails offer plenty of other opportunities to explore.

Haw Creek Park, 2205 Echols Rd., Cumming

Tanyard Creek Park
This peaceful park offers a history lesson as well. The park entrance to this Civil War landmark looks like a collection of historical markers; however, there is much more than meets the eye here. A paved Beltway trail winds through the woods while you enjoy scenery of the winding creek, sprawling green spaces, bridges and trees before reaching an inviting playground nestled in the middle of the park. The playground itself comes complete with two different areas for younger and older tots, a huge spider web climbing structure, as well as slides, monkey bars, swings and a rock wall. Make note that there are no restrooms so go before you go or be prepared to pop a squat!

Tanyard Creek Park, Collier Rd at Walthall Dr.

Mason Mill Park
This pleasant park hits offers the perfect playground trifecta of clean bathrooms, ample parking, and awesome equipment. It is split into two separate areas—one for smaller kids and one for older children. The larger playground has a three-story tall climber and a pirate ship-themed area.  The big tube slides can be a bit fast for smaller children so keep a watchful eye. The nearby nature trails offer plenty of opportunities for exploration as well.

Mason Mill Park, 1340 McConnell Dr., Decatur

Brownwood Park
Just a few blocks south of EAV, this urban oasis offers plenty of parking spaces and feels safe not sketchy. You won’t know you are only a block off Moreland Avenue as you enjoy the clean playground and cute, community garden.

Brownwood Park, Emerson Ave at Brownwood Ave. SE

Jones Bridge Park
Perhaps the only thing parents love more than a quiet playground with clean bathrooms and plenty of parking, is a shaded, quiet playground with clean bathrooms and plenty of parking! Tots will love the “elevator” on the big kid playset and don’t forget to bring bread to walk down to the river and feed the ducks. There is a pavilion for picnics if you wish to stay and enjoy a bite alonng the banks of the ‘Hooch.

Jones Bridge Park, 4901 E Jones Bridge Rd., Norcross

Did we miss a spot? Share your secret spot to play with us in the comments section below! Or if you are looking for more places to play, click here for our list of the best playgrounds in Atlanta.

—Phebe Wahl

Photos courtesy of via Addy C. Alejandro O. Kathleen M. Yelp, Haw Creek Park via Facebook and Forsyth County

Advertisement

Related reads

Advertisement