From: RkyMtnTrls@aol.com
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 11:29:05 EST
Subject: Wiz - Re: Games w/ Twisting
To: balloon@balloonhq.com, laugh@wizardwonky.com

Wizard Wonky asks:   "....What sort of games do people use with kids aged 5 - 
8?
 I have done relay games (races) with different handicaps but do not do any 
others. Possibly jousting (with balloon swords) in pairs...."

I do balloon twisting with live animals at parties.  Never get called for 
just balloons (except at a restaurant I twist at on Fri. nights).  The kids 
seem to really focus on the animals, then the balloons, and not a whole bunch 
on the games.  About half the parents order the 1 hour parties while the 
other half orders the 1.5 hour parties.  There's a bunch o' stuff being run 
all at the same time - keep's 'em busy for that hour!  (grin)

What I'm trying to offer is a "mini carnival" atmosphere that goes to 
parent's backyards.  And to keep the price of the average party under $200 
(even at 1.5 hrs) for all of the services I offer -- here, that's the "magic 
price limit" -- after that, I start to get less business to the point that 
parties no longer support me as a full time income.  Sooooooo, all of my 
games need to be the self explanatory and easy to play for the kids', by 
themselves.  I do not run the games, and do not give out prizes -not enough 
time & parents don't want to pay for more time.  So, I suggest to parents 
they can run the games or just let the kids play them, just for fun, should 
they tire of the balloon / pony / zoo within the hour.  (Hah - like that 
happens often!)  (grin)  Also, I don't charge for the games - it's a free 
part of the service.  Yes, parents like those little extra "freebie" touches, 
so I do a few - like the games, music and myseld in Cowgirl Clown-ish costume 
(those three are always free).

I have two teen helpers that go out with me.  One is walking the pony for 
saddle rides, the other is in the petting zoo monitoring the animal's safety, 
while I am doing balloon twisting or face painting (whichever the parent 
ordered.)  

I set the games out, off to one side of the other activities going on.  The 
games are:  Bean Bag Toss, Ring Toss, Roping & Bubbles.  Made them myself, so 
they are very affordable and very easy / inexpensive to maintain throughout 
the year.  Here's what I mean:

Bean Bag -- a 3' x 4' plywood board that has two holes cut out.  Between the 
holes, is painted a cartoon version of myself in Cowgirl Clown-ish costume, 
as if "dodging" their bean bags.   This leans up against a tree, fence, etc.  
I buy a bag of colorful scrap patches to sew bean bags with - using the 
plastic beads like the type used in beanie babies (also can get at Michael's 
cheaply). This board cost me $20 to make, counting painting it.  The bean 
bags w/ bead fillers run about $.40 each to make. 

Ring Toss -- since I have the pony with me 90% of the time too - made it an 
equine theme.  It is again painted plywood cut into the shape of a unicorn's 
head.  Has a "T" backing so that it can stand up by it'self.  Two loops at 
the intersection of the "T" hold the wooden dowel that sticks up, with a 
taped on "spiral", for the unicorn's "horn".  Two light weight metal rings, 
bought from Michael's craft store (the 10" macrame rings for $.75 each) - are 
the rings for tossing.  The board cost just under $20 to make, $.99 for the 
dowel, $1.50 for two rings.

Roping -- at my local livestock supply store (also can get at PetsSmarts that 
carry equine supplies) they sell a plastic 'horned' cow head with two metal 
prongs under it.  The cow head presses into the lawn or dirt for it to "stand 
up".  The child's roping rope sold at the livestock/PetsSmart is preferred 
because it is a little stiff --- you want that for it to work right.  But, it 
typically costs $14.00 for one.  So I go to the hardware store and get the 
same type of rope at bulk for $3.00 (10' length).  

Bubbles -- I go to Toys-R-Us and get a couple of the little $4.00 kit that 
has two plastic pans with two wands (the type that give off a bunch of 
bubbles each time you wave it).  I also get the 62 oz bottle of bubble fluid 
-- about $2.00 -- and this I will scour off the label ... so that when I 
refill it, it does not start to look tacky.  For refills, I'll buy 
inexpensive dish soap - mix 1 part dish soap and 8-10 parts water - which 
makes 62 oz of refill at $.50 each.  Now, kids are rough on equipment --- 
this is the only game that I find myself replaceing all parts about once a 
month.

With the other games --- I repaint the Bag Toss & Ring Toss once a year 
(unless it needs it more often) but have been able to use the same boards for 
2 years now.  The calf head needs replacing about once a year.  The bean bags 
-- about 2 per month get lost.  The metal rings -- about the same.

Sher