Games the whole family can play

Family reunions are fun to begin with, but add a few silly games that include kids of all ages (yes, even those over 50!), and now you’ve got a barrel of laughs! Try a few of these ideas to get your reunion roaring:

T-shirt autographs: Have each child wear an inexpensive white T-shirt to the reunion. Provide kids with permanent magic markers and have them collect autographs on their shirts from all of their aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. What a keepsake! This game keeps the kids roaming and meeting people in the family that they may not remember, and it brings giggles, too, as relatives find those ticklish spots to autograph!

More shirt ideas: When sending out reunion notices, tell everyone there will be a prize for the family with the best t-shirt designs that incorporate your family’s uniqueness! Individual families can come matching or not, and they can use their creativity to do their shirts however they choose. Ideas include using fabric paint to create the family crest, using iron-on transfer paper to display a copy of a treasured family photo, or using fabric markers to write something using the language of the family’s heritage.

Horse races: Pair up one teen with one child, or one adult and one child. The child rides piggy-back on the older “horse” for team races like no other! Younger “horses” can race on hands and knees for a slower, but even funnier, spectacle. (For safety, don’t allow children to be carried on shoulders.)

Edible art: Give children a box of Fruity Cheerios®, glue and paper, and watch the artwork evolve! Kids can also make yummy bracelets for the whole family using Fruity Cheerios and string. Best yet, these projects can keep the young ones busy while the adults reminisce about the good ol’ days!

Cookie faces: Make cookies ahead of time using Pillsbury Create ‘n Bake® refrigerated cookie dough. Make plenty! Next, add different food colors to cans of frosting. Spoon the frostings into zippered plastic food storage bags and refrigerate until ready to use. Bring the cookies and colored frostings to the reunion and let kids have fun creating family members’ faces. Clip a small corner from each frosting bag and squeeze the bag to pipe frosting onto cookies, decorator-style. Use candies and licorice pieces for eyes and mouths, with frosting as the glue.

Egg races: Each racer balances an egg in a spoon and races to the finish line. The first to cross the line with his or her egg still in the spoon wins! (No cheating! Once the egg falls, that person is out.) Hard-boiled eggs are less messy than raw ones, but the raw eggs garner more laughs when they fall. Either way works for this game.

Baseball, an American family tradition: For some families, a reunion without a baseball (or softball) game just wouldn’t be a reunion. Remember bats, mitts, balls and bases, and don’t forget the baseball caps! (In fact, custom printed caps with your family name and reunion date would make great souvenirs!) Hot dogs, anyone?

More traditional favorites: Musical chairs, gunny-sack races, tug-of-war, three-legged races, scavenger hunts, horseshoe toss, volleyball or badminton, bean-bag toss, bocce ball and croquet are great fun. Set up different stations with the various games so there’s something for everyone and never a dull moment!

Plan ahead: You’ll need to bring specific equipment and supplies to pull off a great gamed event. Remembering all the needed elements for games will make your event a super success. Are you gathering at someone’s house? Bring sidewalk chalk for kiddies to draw pictures of their families and welcome greetings onto the driveway and sidewalks. If you’re meeting at a lake or pool, remember beach balls, water guns, sponge balls and other water toys. And remember a few footballs, softballs and flying disc toys so kids can just play catch!

With a little forethought and a fun spirit, your family reunion will be remembered as much for the good times as for Aunt Edna’s deviled eggs!