Fun icebreaker games, from drawing a favorite TV show on the bulletin board to racing to the finish line in a team challenge, offer a better way to ease these nerves. They allow students to share a little bit about themselves, answer simple questions, or even choose a different name for a playful role-reversal activity.

For elementary students and younger children, fun icebreakers can be as straightforward as drawing their family member on their own card or forming concentric circles to share their favorite color. Meanwhile, older kids might find themselves engaged in quick ice breaker games where the first team to align in straight lines based on birth months wins. These activities are not just about fun; they are strategic methods to promote collaboration, understanding, and camaraderie among peers.

Educators and group leaders have long recognized the value of a great ice breaker game. They are often incorporated into lesson plans to ensure the whole class feels included and valued. Whether it’s forming small teams to discuss their favorite tv show or debating the best ways to spend a summer vacation, these games are a good thing for building a cohesive and friendly environment. After all, the goal is to ensure that every new kid feels like a valued team member, and what better way to achieve this than through the best ice breaker games?

Building connections and fostering friendships at the beginning of a school year or during any new gathering can be a daunting task for kids. Icebreaker activities serve as a great way to ease this process, making it a fun way for kids to meet new friends and get comfortable in a new environment. Here’s a compilation of some of the best icebreaker games and activities for kids.

Icebreakers for All Ages

1. Two Truths and a Lie: A classic game where each student shares two true statements and one false statement about themselves. The next person in the group then guesses which statement is the lie. This game is a great opportunity for kids to share interesting facts about themselves.
2. Hula Hoop Pass: Kids stand in a large circle holding hands. The objective is to pass a hula hoop from one person to another without breaking the handhold. It’s a fun activity that requires teamwork and is suitable for both younger students and older children.
3. Scavenger Hunt: A fun game where kids are given a list of items or tasks to find or complete. This can be tailored to the first day of school by including school-related items or tasks. For small groups, the scavenger hunt can be more intimate, focusing on getting to know group members better.
4. Beach Ball Toss: Write icebreaker questions on a beach ball. Kids toss the ball to each other, and whichever question their right thumb lands on when they catch the ball, they answer it. Questions can range from “What’s your favorite color?” to “Name a fun fact about yourself.”
5. Name Bingo: Create a bingo card with different characteristics or likes/dislikes. For instance, one box might say “Loves pizza” or “Has a pet dog.” Kids then mingle and try to find classmates who fit each description, helping them discover common ground with different people.
6. The Line-Up Game: A simple game where kids line up in a certain alphabetical order, like by first name or last name. Alternatively, they can line up by hair color, height, or birthday month. It’s a good way to get kids moving and talking.
7. Musical Chairs with a Twist: A variation of the classic musical chairs game. Instead of removing chairs, add fun icebreaker questions to each seat. When the music stops, each child sits and answers the question on their chair.
8. The Great Wind Blows: This is a great icebreaker game where kids sit in a large circle. One person stands in the center and makes a statement like “The great wind blows for everyone who has a sibling.” Anyone for whom the statement is true must stand up and find a new seat. The last person standing becomes the new center person.
9. Deserted Island: Kids share what three items they would bring if they were stranded on a deserted island. This game offers insights into kids’ priorities and imaginations.
10. Paper Bag Sharing: Each child brings a paper bag with a few of their favorite things inside. They then share and explain each item to the entire class or small team, providing a personal glimpse into their lives.
11. Favorite Food Relay: Kids stand in a line, and the first person whispers their favorite food to the next person. The message is passed down the line, and the last person announces what they heard. It’s a fun way to see how the message changes and learn about everyone’s favorite food.
12. Icebreaker Jenga: Customize a Jenga set with icebreaker questions on each block. When a child pulls out a block, they answer the question written on it. This game is suitable for both younger kids and older students.
13. Human Knot: Kids stand in a large circle and reach out to hold hands with two different people across from them. The challenge is to untangle the knot without letting go of each other’s hands. It’s a physical activity that promotes teamwork.
14. Who Am I?: Attach the name of a famous person or character to each child’s back. They then ask yes-or-no questions to figure out who they are. This game helps kids with deductive reasoning and is a good game for middle school students.
15. Snowball Fight: Each child writes a fun fact about themselves on a piece of paper, crumples it into a ball, and engages in a mock snowball fight. After a few minutes, everyone picks up a “snowball,” reads the fact, and guesses who wrote it.
16. Alphabetical Story: Starting with the letter ‘A,’ the first person says a word. The next person adds a word starting with ‘B,’ and so on. The challenge is to create a coherent story using words in alphabetical order.
17. Roll of Toilet Paper Game: Pass around a roll of toilet paper and ask kids to take as many sheets as they want. Once everyone has their sheets, they must share a fact about themselves for each sheet they took. It’s a quick ice breaker game that often results in laughter.
18. Shoe Tower Challenge: In small groups, kids remove their shoes and try to build the tallest tower using only the shoes. It’s a fun icebreaker activity that encourages creativity and teamwork.
19. Two-Minute Interviews: Pair up kids and give them two minutes to interview each other. Afterward, each child introduces their partner to the group of people based on what they learned. This activity is a great way to foster quick connections.
20. Pass the Drawing: Each child starts with a piece of paper and draws a shape or line. After 10 seconds, they pass their paper to the next person who adds to the drawing. The process continues until the paper returns to the original artist, revealing a collaborative artwork.
21. Colorful M&Ms Game: Distribute a handful of M&Ms to each child. Assign a question to each color (e.g., red for “What’s your favorite animal?”). Kids take turns picking an M&M and answering the corresponding question.
22. Compliment Chain: Kids sit in a circle, and the first person gives a compliment to someone else. The recipient then gives a compliment to another person, creating a chain. It’s a great way to promote positivity and boost self-esteem.
23. Guess the Object: Each child brings a small object from home and places it in a paper bag. Bags are shuffled, and kids take turns feeling the objects inside the bags and guessing what they are. This game enhances sensory skills and curiosity.
24. Human Bingo: Create a bingo card with statements like “Has been to a summer camp” or “Knows how to swim.” Kids mingle and find peers who match the statements, aiming to get a bingo.
25. Emoji Emotions: Show a series of emojis to the group. Kids take turns acting out the emotion represented by the emoji while others guess the emotion. It’s a fun way to discuss feelings and expressions.
26. Would You Rather?: Pose a series of “Would You Rather?” questions, such as “Would you rather have a pet dinosaur or be able to fly?” Kids discuss their choices, revealing preferences and sparking conversations.
27. Memory Chain: The first person says a word related to a theme (e.g., animals). The next person repeats the first word and adds their own. The chain continues, with each child repeating all previous words and adding one. It’s a test of memory and attention.
28. Silent Line-Up: Without speaking, kids must line up in order of their birthdays, shoe size, or height. This activity requires non-verbal communication and observation skills.
29. Find Your Twin: Each child receives an index card with half of a famous duo (e.g., peanut butter, Batman). They must find the person with the matching card (e.g., jelly, Robin) without speaking, using only gestures.
30. Dream Vacation: Kids share where they’d go if they could visit any place in the world. This activity offers insights into their interests and dreams, and it’s a good way to discuss geography and cultures.
31. Mystery Sound: Play a series of sounds, and have the kids guess what each sound is. This can range from nature sounds like birds chirping to everyday sounds like a doorbell ringing. It’s a fun way to test their listening skills.
32. Fact or Fiction: Each child writes down one true fact and one fictional statement about themselves. The group then votes on which they believe is the fact. This game provides a great opportunity to debunk myths and learn surprising truths about peers.
33. Puzzle Pieces: Hand out puzzle pieces and have kids find the other members whose pieces fit with theirs. Once they form a complete puzzle, they can discuss a topic or share something about themselves.
34. Animal Charades: Each child acts out an animal without using sounds, and the rest of the group guesses which animal it is. It’s a fun activity that gets kids moving and thinking creatively.
35. The Hot Seat: One child sits in a chair facing away from the board while the teacher or another student writes a word on the board. The child in the hot seat asks yes-or-no questions to figure out the word while the class responds.
36. Magic Carpet Ride: Place a small mat or towel on the ground, and the challenge is for the group to flip it over without anyone stepping off. It’s a good game for teamwork and problem-solving.
37. Finish the Story: Start a story with an opening line and have each child add a sentence. The tale can take unexpected twists and turns, making it a hilarious and creative exercise.
38. Mirror Mirror: In pairs, one child acts as the mirror and mimics the actions of their partner. This activity is not only fun but also promotes attention to detail and coordination.
39. Whose Portrait?: Each child draws a self-portrait and adds one unique fact about themselves. Mix up the drawings and display them. The group then tries to match each portrait to its artist.
40. The Compliment Ball: Toss a ball around the circle. When a child catches it, they give a compliment to the person who threw it to them. It’s a great way to foster positivity and appreciation within the group.

Icebreakers for Middle-Schoolers

Middle schoolers are at an age where they’re developing deeper social connections and understanding more complex concepts. Here are 15 icebreakers tailored for middle school students:

1. Two-Minute Debates: Give pairs of students a light-hearted topic (e.g., “Are cats better than dogs?”). Each student has one minute to argue their side.
2. Dream Job Interview: Students pair up and interview each other about their dream job, then introduce their partner and their dream job to the class.
3. Book Speed Dating: Each student brings in their favorite book and has 2 minutes to “sell” it to a classmate before moving on to the next person.
4. Hashtag About Me: Students write three hashtags that describe themselves and then share and explain their choices.
5. Classroom Escape Room: Design a simple escape room challenge related to a subject they’re studying. It’s a fun way to test their knowledge and teamwork skills.
6. Personality Quiz: Create a fun personality quiz related to a topic they’re studying. For instance, “Which historical figure are you?” After taking the quiz, students can discuss their results in groups.
7. Silent Line-Up: Challenge students to line up in order of their birthdays, shoe sizes, or alphabetically by middle name, all without speaking.
8. Meme Creation: Provide students with a few generic pictures and challenge them to create the funniest meme related to school life.
9. Story Cubes: Using dice with pictures on them, students roll the dice and then have to create a short story using the images that face up.
10. Cultural Exchange: Students share a tradition, dish, or festival from their culture or background. It’s a great way to promote diversity and inclusion.
11. Guess the Teacher: Display fun or unusual facts about teachers in the school, and students have to guess which fact belongs to which teacher.
12. Classroom Trivia: Create a trivia game with questions about the school, recent events, or pop culture. Students can compete in teams.
13. “If I Were” Journals: Students write short entries on topics like, “If I were a superhero, my power would be…” or “If I were an inventor, I’d create…”. Share and discuss.
14. Map Your Life: Provide students with a blank map and ask them to mark places that are significant to them, explaining why.
15. The Compliment Chain: Start with one student giving a genuine compliment to another. The recipient then compliments someone else, creating a chain of positivity.

These icebreakers are designed to be engaging and relevant to middle schoolers, helping them to connect with their peers, open up discussions, and set a positive tone for the school year.

Icebreakers for Preschoolers

Preschoolers thrive on simple, fun, and interactive activities. Here are 15 icebreakers tailored for young children in a preschool setting:

1. Animal Sounds: Give each child a card with an animal picture. On your signal, they must make the sound of their animal and find other kids making the same sound to group together.
2. Color Match: Hand out colored stickers or cards. Children have to find others with the same color and introduce themselves.
3. Show and Tell: Allow each child to bring a favorite toy or item from home and share why it’s special to them.
4. Name Dance: Play music and let the kids dance. When the music stops, they shout out their name and a favorite thing (e.g., “I’m Lily, and I love strawberries!”).
5. Face Painting: Set up a simple face painting station. As children get a small design, they can talk about what they chose and why.
6. Friendship Bracelets: Provide string and large beads. As children make simple bracelets, they can exchange them with a new friend.
7. Musical Circles: Place large colored circles on the floor. As music plays, children walk around. When the music stops, they stand on a circle and say its color.
8. Weather Chart: Have a chart with different weather symbols. Each child places a sticker on the weather that matches how they feel (sunny for happy, rainy for sad, etc.).
9. Balloon Buddies: Write each child’s name on a balloon. Children pick a balloon and find the person whose name is on it.
10. Story Circle: Sit in a circle with a plush toy. The child holding the toy shares their name and a favorite story or song, then passes it to the next child.
11. Fishing for Friends: Create a simple fishing game with paper fish and a magnet “fishing rod.” On each fish, write a simple question like “What’s your favorite color?” Children “fish” and answer the question they catch.
12. Puppet Introductions: Provide a variety of hand puppets. Each child chooses one and introduces themselves through the puppet.
13. Magic Box: Have a box filled with various objects (e.g., apple, ball, toy car). Children take turns pulling out an item and naming it or describing it.
14. Bubble Pop: Blow bubbles and let the children pop them. Each time a child pops a bubble, they shout out their name or a favorite thing.
15. Sticker Stories: Give each child a sheet of stickers. They place one on a large poster board and share a short story or fact about the sticker they chose.

These activities are designed to be age-appropriate, engaging, and interactive, helping preschoolers get to know each other in a fun and relaxed environment.

Name Game Activities

Name games are a fantastic way to help participants get to know each other’s names and break the ice in a group setting. Here are 15 name game activities:

1. Name Toss: Sit in a circle. One person tosses a soft ball or beanbag to someone else, saying, “Hi [Name]!” The recipient then tosses it to another person, continuing the pattern.
2. Name Rhyme: Each person introduces themselves with a word that rhymes with their name. For example, “I’m Danny, like a Granny.”
3. Name and Gesture: Each participant says their name accompanied by a unique gesture. Everyone then repeats the name and gesture. This continues around the circle.
4. Name Bingo: Create bingo cards with different names from the group. Participants mingle and sign each other’s cards until someone gets a bingo.
5. Name Chain: The first person says their name. The next person repeats the first person’s name and then adds their own. This continues, with each person reciting all the previous names before adding theirs.
6. Name Song: To the tune of a simple song like “Frère Jacques,” each child sings, “Hello, my name is [Name], how do you do?”
7. Name Acrostic: Participants come up with a word or phrase for each letter of their name. For example, “LUCY: Lovely, Unique, Cheerful, Youthful.”
8. Name Ball Bounce: Bounce a ball while saying a name. The person whose name is called catches the ball and then chooses another name.
9. Name and Adjective: Each person chooses an adjective that starts with the same letter as their name and describes them. For example, “Joyful Jenna.”
10. Name Detective: Give everyone a list of fun facts with names missing. They mingle to find out whose fact is whose. For instance, “______ has three cats.”
11. Name Spin: Use a spinner or bottle. The person the spinner points to says their name and shares a fun fact. Spin again to continue.
12. Name Puzzle: Write each person’s name on a large piece of cardstock and then cut it into puzzle pieces. Mix them up and have participants assemble each name.
13. Name Skits: In small groups, participants create a short skit or story using only the names of the people in their group.
14. Name Hat Draw: Everyone writes their name on a slip of paper and places it in a hat. Participants draw a name and describe that person using positive adjectives.
15. Name and Motion: Each person says their name and associates it with a motion or action (e.g., “Jumping Jack”). Everyone repeats the name and motion.

These name game activities are designed to be engaging and interactive, helping participants remember names and foster a sense of community in the group.

Scavenger Hunt Activities

Scavenger hunts are versatile and can be tailored to various themes, locations, and age groups. Break kids into smaller groups and make it a competition as well as a collaboration. Here are 10 scavenger hunt-type activities:

1. Nature Scavenger Hunt: Provide a list of natural items for participants to find, such as a pinecone, a feather, a dandelion, etc. This is great for parks or outdoor settings.
2. Photo Scavenger Hunt: Instead of collecting items, participants take photos of certain scenes or actions, like “someone making a funny face” or “a red car.
3. Historical Hunt: In a historical area or museum, participants search for answers to questions about exhibits or landmarks, like “What year was the town founded?”
4. Library Hunt: Kids search for books based on clues related to the book’s title, author, or content. For example, “Find a book about a boy wizard with glasses.”
5. Sound Hunt: Equip participants with a recording device. They must capture specific sounds, such as a dog barking, a car horn, or someone laughing.
6. Riddle Me This: Provide riddles that, when solved, lead to specific locations or items. For example, “I have keys but open no locks” leads participants to find a piano.
7. Grocery Store Hunt: Great for kids to familiarize themselves with different foods. They might search for “a fruit that’s yellow and curved” or “a vegetable that’s green and leafy.”
8. Digital Hunt: For a virtual setting, participants can search for items or perform tasks in their own homes based on clues given in a video call.
9. Map Treasure Hunt: Provide participants with a map marked with specific locations. At each spot, they find a clue leading them to the next location until they reach the ‘treasure’.
10. QR Code Hunt: Place QR codes in various locations. When scanned, each code provides a clue or challenge that participants must complete to get the next code’s location.

Remember to consider the age group and setting when planning a scavenger hunt. Ensure that the challenges are age-appropriate and that the hunt area is safe for participants.

These activities are designed to help kids get to know each other in different ways, breaking the initial awkwardness and setting a friendly tone for any gathering or school year. Whether it’s discovering common interests or simply having a laugh together, these icebreakers pave the way for lasting friendships and memorable experiences.

Incorporating these fun icebreaker activities into the first days of school, summer camp, or any new gathering is an easy way to help kids break the ice. They not only promote social skills but also set a positive tone for the rest of the school year or event. Whether you’re an educator, parent, or camp counselor, these activities offer a great idea to ensure kids start on the right foot, building lasting connections and memories.

The post 105 Getting to Know You Icebreaker Activities and Games for Kids appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.

It’s always fun to bring holiday joy to friends and neighbors, and this fun printable is a great way to do it. If you’ve ever seen the Halloween “You’ve Been Boo’d” signs around, you’ll know how this one works. It’s a super cute way to show someone you care or that you’re thinking of them. It’s also a fun way to surprise your neighbors and spread some cheer.

I’m a huge fan of doing simple things that make a big impact, and this one is a great one. My advice for making this work on a larger scale is to figure out how many people you intend to “mug,” then head to the dollar store. They always have a fun selection of holiday mugs, but even just a plain white, red or green mug will do for this. Buy as many as you need for the people you are mugging.

Then, head to the candy aisles. Grab some bags of Christmas chocolates, mints, candy canes, and other fun treats. Depending on who you are mugging, decide if you want to include other items like makeup, gloves, toys, trinkets, gift cards, hot chocolate packets or other items. Keep things small, obviously, but you can always wrap the mug in cellophane if it is overflowing.

Once each mug is ready for gifting, it’s time to print out your tags. The printables include both a gift tag and a door tag. The gift tag should be cut out and tied to the handle of the mug, while the door tag should be affixed to the door of the person you are mugging. I highly suggest printing them out on cardstock for the best results.

It should go without saying that you should probably be careful about mugging someone you don’t know. Some folks would not appreciate having something hung on their door, and they may not even appreciate a mug of fun.

Finally, leave them a copy of the instructions and a sign they can put up to let people know they have been mugged. That way they can play along if they would like to and mug someone else. It’s up to them how they choose to respond, but whether they continue or not, your job is now done.

Remember to post your own sign up on your door letting people know that you’ve been mugged, otherwise you may find yourself inundated with mugs. The whole idea is that you should only get mugged once.

And that’s it! A holiday tradition that everyone can enjoy. This is such a fun and easy way to spread some holiday cheer! I know my kids always love getting mugs filled with goodies, and I love that this printable makes it so simple. I hope you’ll give it a try.

The post Printable “You’ve Been Mugged” Game appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.

What is a Cootie Catcher?

A cootie catcher, also known as a paper fortune teller, is a simple origami craft that can be used for a variety of purposes. Cootie catchers are most commonly used as fortune tellers, but they can also be used for things like playing games, telling jokes, and more. All you need is some paper and scissors to make one!

Why Are they Called Cootie Catchers?

Back in the day, cooties were a terrible childhood fear that made kids avoid any contact with one another! Try asking an adult what a cootie is and you might get some surprising answers. The word “cooties” was once used to refer to body lice or head lice – a common ailment among children.

Even though cooties are no longer a common fear, the idea lives on in our traditional paper fortune tellers! Cootie catchers are still popular with most children and many adults throughout America. The best thing about these fun paper crafts is that they’re quick and easy to make.

What’s the Difference Between a Cootie Catcher and a Fortune Teller?

The main difference between a cootie catcher and a fortune teller is that cootie catchers are typically used for playing games or telling jokes, while fortune tellers are used for telling fortunes.

Cootie catchers are also typically made out of paper, while fortune tellers can be made out of a variety of materials, including paper, cardboard, and cloth. Although Cootie Catchers are typically used for fun and games, fortune tellers can be used for telling fortunes.

Cootie Catchers Make Great Gifts!

One of the best things about cootie catchers is that they’re easy to personalize. You can use a variety of different colors and prints to create a unique design. Personalizing a cootie catcher is the perfect way to make it into an unforgettable gift.

What Are Some Other Names for Cootie Catchers?

Paper fortune tellers, or cootie catchers, have many different names. Some of the other names for this simple origami craft are:

• Chatterbox
• Salt Cellar
• Whirlybird
• Paku-Paku
• Pac Man

How to Fold a Paper Fortune Teller

Folding your paper fortune teller is pretty simple. First, download our free printable cootie catcher, and print it out. You can use plain printer paper or even cardstock. Whatever you prefer is absolutely fine.

Now, with either your handmade or printed cootie catcher, you can follow the directions below.

First, fold the paper into a triangle by going corner to corner, creasing along the middle. Then, do the opposite corners. Unfold, and you will see a large X made with your fold marks.

Take each corner and fold it inward so that the points all meet in the middle of the X. When all four corners are complete, you’ll have a smaller square of paper.

Flip the sheet of paper over carefully, keeping the folds in tact. Then, do the same on the other side, folding each corner into the center of the paper so that they meet in the middle of the X shaped creases.

Now fold the paper in half. You will find that the underneath has flaps where you can place your thumbs and fingers so that you can pull the cootie catcher apart and into its final form.

How to Play the Cootie Catcher Game

Keeping the cootie catcher closed, have the player choose one of the top four squares. Spelling out what they chose, open and close the cootie catcher, using a back and forth motion for each letter of the word they selected.

Once you’ve spelled it all out, have the player select one of the numbers visible inside of the cootie catcher. Open and close the cootie catcher the number of times corresponding to the number they chose.

Have them choose another number from the available options, and again go back and forth with the cootie catcher.

Finally, have them choose a number. This time, open the flap and read out their fortune that is underneath.

There are many variations to the game. On the top four squares, you can use colors, animals, planets, characters, or anything you fancy.

Inside can be jokes, numbers, letters, or anything else you want to include. For jokes, you can have the joke on the outer flap, with the punchline on the inside flap.

Some people like to split the inside flaps into two parts corresponding to the two numbers, while others simply put one fortune on the whole flap. This is up to you, but it means you will have either four or eight fortunes depending on how you choose to do it.

Whether you call it a cootie catcher or a paper fortune teller or something else entirely, these fun crafts are simple to make and give you hours of fun. Your kids will love them, and they are even great for parties. Give them a try and have fun coming up with different designs and themes. And most of all, enjoy yourself!

The post How to Make a Cootie Catcher appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.

If your baby shower has a theme, it can help inspire your games. But even without one, there are some classic shower games that are a staple of modern baby showers. Whether you know exactly what you want, or you’re in the early planning stages, these baby shower games are sure to help give your party a little extra pizazz!

How many games should be played at a baby shower?

No baby shower is complete without some baby shower games. And the more baby shower games you play, the more fun your party will be! So how many baby shower games should you play?

There’s no one right answer to this question. But we’ve found that baby showers typically last between 1-2 hours. If you’re on a tighter time frame, or if you have a smaller guest list, it might be better to stick to just one baby shower game. However, if you have plenty of time and people to spare, feel free to add in some extra baby shower game ideas!

How long do baby shower games last?

The baby shower games don’t need to be played for hours. The baby shower games should normally last about 15-30 minutes. There are, of course, some games which are ongoing throughout the day, but they are played in the background.

A good example of this is the game “Don’t Say Baby,” which will continue throughout the day until a winner is revealed at the end.

Do I need to play games the guests already know?

One way to make your baby shower more enjoyable is by playing baby shower games that guests do not know. This will engage them and increase the festivities. While the classic games are always fun, having a few new ones is going to keep things interesting.

What baby shower games can be played outside?

Baby shower games like Baby Bingo or Baby Dice can be played outside, as long as there is a good weather plan. You need to make sure you will not get wet and the baby shower guest knows what kind of outfits are appropriate for that game. Otherwise these baby shower games should be played inside to avoid any baby shower guest from getting wet or cold.

What can you do instead of baby shower games?

If you don’t want to play traditional baby shower games, you can opt for other forms of entertainment – including board games. Games like Cards Against Humanity and Apples to Apples work for younger guests, and Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit may be more appropriate for more mature tastes.

Of course, you don’t need to do games at all if that isn’t your jam. The most important thing is to make sure that the mama-to-be and the guests are happy to take part in whatever festivities are planned.

Baby Shower Games Your Guests Will Love

Baby Shower Bingo

What you’ll need:

Bingo cards (with 3×3 squares)
Small stickers or pens

How to play:

Download this set of 15 Baby Bingo Cards and print them off. Give one card to each guest, along with a pen or set of stickers. As mom-to-be opens their gifts, guests can mark any items received on their cards. The first guest to complete a row, column or diagonal wins.

Who Said What?

What you’ll need:

Printed copies of this downloadable he said/she said game
Pens

How to play:

Before the baby shower, give copies of these questions to the parents-to-be and have them agree on answers. During the party, give guests each a copy of the questions and have them choose their answer. Then, reveal the answers and tally who got the most correct.

Wishes for Baby

What you’ll need:

Our printable sheet for the “Wishes for Baby” game
Pens

How to play:

This game requires you to print out our “Wishes for Baby” game. Print a copy for every guest (and mom!), and allow them to fill out the sentences. They can get as silly or sentimental as they like. Once done, have people read out their answers to each question, and vote on the best answer. The winner gets a point. At the end, figure out who has the most points to award a prize. Bonus: Keep the sheets for mom and baby to look back on in the future.

Baby Word Unscramble

What you’ll need:

Scrambled word lists (one for each guest)
Pens or pencils
Timer

How to play:

Print out our simple baby shower word scramble printable or create your own by assembling a list of 10 – 20 words. Hand out copies of the word lists to each guest and give them five minutes to try to unscramble each word. Whoever gets the most correct wins!

Nursery Rhyme Knowledge

What you’ll need:

Printable Nursery Rhyme Game
Pens
Computer and printer

How to play:

Print out our free nursery rhyme game printable, and give one to each guest. Distribute the worksheets and give them five minutes to answer all the questions. Whomever gets the most correct wins a prize.

Baby Animal Names

What you’ll need:

Printable baby animal name game
Pens and paper

How to play:

Test your guests’ knowledge of animals with this fun game. Print out a copy of the list for each guest and give them ten minutes to figure out the answers. Use the answer key to figure out who got the most answers correct. Give a prize to whoever has the highest score.

The post 30+ Baby Shower Games Your Guests Will Love (With Free Baby Shower Printables) appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.

I shared a printable summer self-care bingo sheet last year, and I had several emails requesting one for winter. I created this one nearly a year ago, but I never got around to posting it. But with everything going on in the world right now, I think it’s more important than ever to focus on taking care of ourselves.

Mental healthcare is the same as any other type of healthcare. It requires us to manage our symptoms and put in the effort to do what it takes to keep on top of our problems. Self-care is one of the easier things we can do to manage our mental health.

I hope you’ll take advantage of some of these ideas. Simply print it off and try and see how many items you can check off this winter.

To use this printable, simply click on the image above and download the pdf file. Print it out on your favorite printer paper or card stock and then try to do one activity whenever you can.

Once you’ve done a few, you can start trying to get a BINGO by getting five in a row. Or, if you’re extra ambitious, try and get a full blackout bingo by doing all of them!

If you’re looking for help on how to practice good self care, why not start off with writing some daily affirmations? Setting your intentions will be a great head-start in reminding you to take time for yourself.

Remember to set yourself some goals you can work toward. Allow yourself the freedom to enjoy life and be the best version of yourself you can be. You’ll be so glad you did!

If you’d like me to create more self-care BINGO cards for other seasons, please feel free to leave a comment below, and I’ll do my best to get on it. If you have any other requests for self-care ideas, let me know those, as well. I’m happy to create more printables if there is a need for them.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, be sure to check out my mental-health blog, too.

The post Printable Winter Self-Care Bingo appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.

The great thing about scavenger hunts is that they change every time you do them! No matter how often you do the same list, you will find new things each time. I love that about them. We try not to get too specific with these things because they take the fun out of it if you do.

Think about it – if your list asks you to look for the turquoise watering can out behind the shed, your kids are all going to find the exact same item every single time. But if the list asks them to look for something useful for feeding plants, it forces them to use their big brains and creativity. They might choose that turquoise watering can, or they might find plant food, a shovel, a happy little bee, some cow poop – you get the idea.

DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE SCAVENGER HUNTS HERE

These printable pages are each focused on areas that are easy to do in or around your home.

The Back Yard Scavenger Hunt doesn’t necessarily have to be in your back yard. It can be around the neighborhood or in a park if you fancy it. The idea is that it should be outside where they can get into nature and see the plants and animals around them.

I hope I don’t need to remind you, but if the list includes something they are allergic to – bees or pollen or something like that – give it a miss.

The Book Scavenger Hunt is a personal favorite. Just grab up some books with your child – picture books are great for younger kids, and older kids can choose chapter books – then go through the list looking for each item.

This one is great for helping them to learn skim reading, which is an awesome skill to have. It also helps them learn to retain information, as they can think back on books they’ve read and try to remember where they’ve seen these scenes before and try to find them again.

The Five Senses Scavenger Hunt is a great one for teaching the young children about their senses, and it’s even a good one for children with sensory issues. It can help them sort through different sensations and discuss each one and how it makes them feel.

This one can be done as a traditional scavenger hunt, or it can be used as a form of messy play. Just gather items that fit each description on the list and let the children play and interact with them. It can be a great play date!

The Indoor Scavenger Hunt is nice on a rainy day or any time you’re otherwise stuck indoors. It keeps kids busy when you are getting work done or need them distracted for a time. But it’s also great to do it together or in teams.

Most items on this list can be found in any home, but a few may be missing from yours. If that’s the case, feel free to skip it or find a substitution. Getting creative is all part of the fun!

The Math Scavenger Hunt is one of the more educational games in this booklet, and it’s great for older elementary aged children. Younger children will probably not be interested, as they won’t recognize the math concepts. For them, I may suggest something like our Classroom Bingo to help them learn.

This scavenger hunt requires them to look through books, magazines, newspapers and other places to find specific math concepts. It is a great way to help them solidify their understanding of what each concept actually is.

Finally, we have my kids’ favorite – the Rainbow Scavenger Hunt. This one is as easy as anything, but it has so much potential for fun – especially if you have multiple children and tell them that no two kids can choose the same items.

The list requires them to find items of every color of the rainbow, so it’s a great way for younger children to learn their colors. It also asks for specific items of certain colors, so that can be fun, as well. If you don’t have the items in question, you can get the kids to simply name an item that fits the description, and that works just fine.

Finally, it asks them to find a rainbow. This is certainly the most fun because the kids generally have a great time looking for one. Keep in mind, finding an actual rainbow can be difficult, but there are lots of ways to find them outside of the traditional rainstorm.

Look for them:

• where light is shining off of glass such as hanging crystals, eyeglasses, watches, phones, etc
• where water is spraying in the sun such as a sprinkler or hose
• where there is oil and water mixing on the ground such as around older cars with leaky engines

If all that fails, try having a printed or hand-drawn rainbow that you hide around the house each time, and let the kids find it.

Scavenger hunts are SO MUCH FUN. I truly hope you love these ones and have lots of enjoyment with your kiddos. Don’t forget to share them with other moms.

The post Free Printable Scavenger Hunts For Kids appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.

But life is all about the little things, and self-care doesn’t have to be a huge gesture. We can take a few minutes for meditation or a few hours for a bit of window shopping.

If you’re struggling to come up with some ideas for self-care, try printing out this fun BINGO game and check off as many items as you can this summer!

To use this printable, simply click on the image above and download the pdf file. Print it out on your favorite printer paper or card stock and then try to do one activity whenever you can.

Once you’ve done a few, you can start trying to get a BINGO by getting five in a row. Or, if you’re extra ambitious, try and get a full blackout bingo by doing all of them!

I’ve spoken about the importance of self-care before, and I know it’s a subject that really resonates with a lot of moms. So as a quick reminder, I want to be clear when I say, self care is NOT selfish.

If you’re looking for help on how to practice good self care, why not start off with writing some daily affirmations? Setting your intentions will be a great head-start in reminding you to take time for yourself.

Remember to set yourself some goals you can work toward. Allow yourself the freedom to enjoy life and be the best version of yourself you can be. You’ll be so glad you did!

The post Printable Summer Self-Care Bingo appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.

I have found that kids have trouble recognizing letters if they aren’t specifically done in block letters. My oldest has trouble reading handwritten notes and much prefers to read typewritten ones. So this game is specifically done in crazy fonts and colors to help kids recognize letters that aren’t perfectly Times New Roman.

To get yours, just download the free pdf and then print it off. I recommend using cardstock to print on, as it will help keep the letters from getting torn or wrinkled. You could also choose to laminate each card if you really want to make them last. But I find it’s not really that necessary.

Once you’ve printed the sheets out, simply cut around them. You can do it very precisely, or just cut around them more generally so that each letter is separate. I don’t have a ton of time, so I chose the latter option, trying to ensure that each card was the same height and width. Once you have them ready, call in the kids and lay the cards all face down in a grid. Of course, you can also go wild and scatter them around, but I find a grid pattern easier for kids to remember where cards are.

Then, simply have them take turns turning over two cards at a time until they get a match.

Once they’ve matched up two cards, they get to keep them. At the end of the game, once all the cards have been matched, the winner is the kid with the most cards in his pile! Easy! As you can imagine, this game has many benefits for the preschool mind, including letter recognition, memory retention, and social skills. It can also be played alone if your child is the type who prefers solitary games.

Check out my other educational activities below.

The post Printable Preschool Letter Matching Memory Game appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.

1.    Build a bonfire

Go to the backyard, make a small campsite and build a campfire. Let your kid enjoy the sensation of camping. You can even build a pretend bonfire in a homemade campsite playset.

2.    Catch Bugs

Buy some nets and run in the bushes around the house trying to catch some bugs. It may look silly to the neighbors but it is great fun for the toddler, and that is all that matters.

3.    Stargaze

While you are out in the backyard, lie down, looking up and stargaze. Try explaining to your kid the different kinds of stars you can see. You can even get a cheap telescope to really see what’s going on in the sky!

4.    Fly kites

Build or buy some kites and fly them at a local park or beach.

5.    Dance in the rain

Ensure that you do not stay out long in the rain, lest the kid develops complications, but allow them to feel the drops and dance a bit.

6.    Commission a treasure hunt

Hide some ‘treasure’ in your backyard and embark on a treasure hunt with your kid. Allow them to be the leader. Small crystals and fancy rocks make great treasure and can be a great learning exercise.

7.    Make a water blob

Get some plastic bags and some tape. Fill the bags with water and tape them. Then allow your kid to dance on top of these bags. They will feel calm, relaxed and absolutely excited. PBS has a great tutorial on how to make your own.

8.    Play in the dirt

Which kid doesn’t like playing in the mud? Allow them this pleasure by joining them and getting a little dirty yourself.

9.    Play capture the flag

Hide a flag somewhere and create a set of obstacles the toddler has to overcome before they can capture the flag. This will be both challenging and exciting.

10.    Spray chalk

Buy some spray chalk and allow the kid to paint the driveway or patio using their imagination. No worries, it will wane off soon enough.

11.    Hammock swing

Create a hammock and let your kid swing on it whenever they like. You can also buy cute toddler hammocks online!

12.    Play dress up

Use summer time as the opportunity to indulge your child’s fantasies. Dress them up according to what they like or their favorite cartoon characters or heroes. Have them sample a variety of clothing and let them enjoy the moment. Use whatever old clothes you have to create costumes or buy some online.

13.    Let them play with water

Let the kids play with water. You can open a sprinkler or a hose pipe and take the game to another level.

14.    Have a picnic

Pack some food, some water, snacks and a mat and head to the bush for a picnic. The nature will be refreshing to both of you.

15.    Play soccer

Indulge your kids by playing soccer with them. Use pool noodles or toys to create goals and teach them how to score.

16.    Create a backyard car wash

Bring your car out and let the kid get to work, washing and scrubbing in their own backyard car wash. You can pay them some money for the effort and let them learn the value of hard work. Or, create your own fun cardboard car wash!

17.    Teach your kid to swim

Is there a better season to teach your kid how to swim than in summer?

18.    Make music

Make some music with your child. You can record it and listen to how terrible you both sounded later.

19.    Do magic tricks

It is time to amuse the kid by doing some magic tricks. Leave him in awe and admiration when you pull off those tricks. Teach him how to do them himself with a magician’s set.

20.    Bowling alley in the backyard

Create a bowling alley by using empty bottles and a tennis ball. Teach them how to bowl the basic, fundamental way.

There are a million ways to entertain your toddler this summer. Be sure to leave a comment with any other ideas you have, and I’ll update the post accordingly!

The post 20 Fun Summer Activities to Do With Your Toddler + Free Printable! appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.

Anyway, this year, I thought we’d do something a bit special to commemorate it. It’s a great kid craft suitable for homeschooling or just as a supplemental ongoing lesson for kids who have an interest in the weather. These construction paper binoculars don’t have any special power, but it makes the lesson more fun! Just get your kids to look out the window (or step outside) each day, looking through their construction paper binoculars and see what the weather is doing that day. Then, using the free printable weather graph, have them document it each day for the next few weeks. See if they can spot any patterns!

DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE WEATHER WATCHER GRAPH

It’s a great way to learn more about weather. Discuss where rain and snow come from and make it into a science lesson! The construction paper binoculars are a great art project for young kids, so you’ve got art and science in one. Then, once you’ve graphed the weather for a while, you can turn it into a statistics lesson! How fun!

So here is how to make your own!

Supplies:

• 2 paper roll tubes (4” long)
• 2 – 4”x 6” pieces of blue construction paper
• 2 – ¼” x 6” strips of white construction paper
• 1 – 1½” x 6” strip of white construction paper
• Glue gun
• String (cut to the length you choose)

Directions:

STEP 1.  Cover each paper roll with the blue construction paper sealing the edge with the glue gun.

STEP 2. Add the white strips of paper to the end of each paper roll using the glue gun.

STEP 3. Roll the last white construction paper rectangle into a tube shape that is about ½” wide.

STEP 4. Use the glue gun to attach the white tube to the top, center of the binoculars.

STEP 5. Use the glue gun to secure the ends of the string on the inside edges of the binoculars.

CAUTION: String is a choking hazard so you can delete this step if you feel it is unsafe for your child.

There you have it. A super fun set of construction paper binoculars that will entertain your kids while helping them learn!

The post Weather Watcher – Construction Paper Binoculars Kid Craft + Free Printable appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.

Whether you are a homeschool mom or a teacher of young children, finding new ways to educate and amuse them can be difficult at times. This fun classroom bingo game makes it a little more fun for the kids to learn everyday symbols and numbers.

Math itself is often a more boring subject for kids, but with this fun classroom Bingo game, they will be more likely to recognize the most common math symbols.

You can download the entire game pack or print off individual pages as you need them by clicking on the pictures below. There are five unique Bingo cards, as well as a calling card for the teacher. Simply call out the symbol and have the children cover it on their own cards. The first one to get a Bingo wins!

The cards are 8.5 x 11 inches, and you can print them on regular paper or card stock. It may even be worth using a laminator to make the cards permanent so they can be used again and again. With a laminated card, you can even use dry erase markers to let the kids cover the symbols! Otherwise, be sure to have some sort of small items for them to use.

Making learning fun is always a good thing! So take this free printable classroom Bingo game and enjoy it! Let us know what you think about it and if there’s interest we can always make more!

The post Homeschool Teacher Resource – Free Printable Classroom Bingo appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.

This is also a reminder to save those toilet paper rolls, as there are tons of crafts and activities you can do with them! Also save the rolls from paper towels and wrapping paper, as they can always be cut to size, as well!

DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE SNOWMAN TEMPLATES HERE

Here’s what you’ll need for this activity

Supplies:

6 cardboard toilet paper rolls
3 printables with 6 snowmen
A pair of white socks
pen/pencil
Scissors
Glue gun

To begin, print out the snowmen and trace around their bodies with your pencil/pen. This just gives them a bit of definition so they stand out against the white background.

Next, cut out the snowmen so they are around 3 inches by 4½ inches. There’s no need to make it difficult, so just cut the rectangles to surround them. 

Use your glue gun to attach the snowmen to the paper rolls. Again, no need to be fancy. You can just dab a bit of glue in the middle to attach. They’re made of paper, so they are going to be a bit flimsy no matter what you do. You could always print them on card stock instead if you want extra durability.

Roll up the pair of socks to make a “snowball.” Then line up the snowmen like bowling pins and roll the snowball to try and knock them down.

There you have it. A super simple and fun kids indoor winter activity that will (literally) knock their socks off!

Check out some of my other indoor crafts and activities for kids!

The post Kids Indoor Winter Activity – Snowman Bowling – With Free Printable appeared first on It's a Mother Thing.