How To Give A Terrific Family Reunion
Invitations: This should include place, directions, date and time. Also include specific instructions, such as "wear family t-shirts," or "bring photos." Consider a questionairre along with the invitation asking for a family update and other information.
Family Cookbook: Send requests out for family members to mail or e-mail their favorite recipes. Don't forget the children! They could include "how to make a peanut butter banana sandwich" or something like that. Compile them and give them out at the reunion.
Family Flick: Try compiling a short family video. Have family members send pictures and compile it on video using a theme song and show it at the reunion.
T-shirts with a family logo: The best logos are one that are homemade by a member of the family, especially children.
Family Scrapbook of past reunions: If you make this a yearly event, you could have a scrapbook on display from years past.
Photo Board Display: Request that everyone bring photos, both past and present. You could put them on display with numbers next to each picture and have everyone guess who each person is. This works great with baby pictures!
Activities For Actual Reunion:
Family Olympics: Play games such as Discus Throw. Each athlete has a paper plate with his/her name on it. Everyone throws. Keep track of first, second and third place winners. Another game: Javelin. Each athlete has a straw with his/her name on it. The straw thrown the farthest wins. Lifesaver Pass: Each athlete must pass a lifesaver to the next athlete in line using only a straw or toothpick held in his/her mouth.
Relay Race: Station #1: Housework. Match a basket of unpaired socks and run to next station. Station #2: Outdoor Work: Pick up tools and put them in a wheelbarrow, then run with the wheelbarrow to the next station. Station #3: Work: Have combination briefcase with the combination taped to the top. The task is to open the briefcase and find a specific item inside, then run to the next station. Station #4: Cooking: Make a half peanut butter and jelly sandwich and eat it. The sandwich must be swallowed before going to the next station. Station #5: Recreation: Make a basket with a basketball. NOTE: You can have different people on a team at each station or have each person on the team do all stations.
Giant Pictionary: Make up words in advance that relate to your family, such as "trip to the Alamo." Split into two teams and have two large white boards complete with markers and erasers a the front. One member of each team goes to the front and after finding out the word or words, they both begin to draw (they should be drawing the same thing). The first team to guess gets the point. Another great game is Giant Bolderdash.
Singing: In addition to singing old family favorites, you can also play a make-up song game. Split into groups and give each group time to make up a family song. They can either use a familiar tune, or make one up. Then everyone performs for one another.
Musical Chairs: Hopefully, no explanation is necessary.
Things To Keep Kids Busy While Parents Visit
Rent a trampoline.
Bean bag toss, baseball throw, etcetera.
Cake and cookie decorating. Have kids decorate pre-baked single layer round cakes or sugar cookies. Have icing, candy, and sprinkles on hand. These could be used as prizes for winners of other games.
Volleyball, baseball, kickball. Have an area set up for an organized sport.
Craft table: Ideas range from stringing beads with a wooden charm (with the family or child's name on it) for a necklace, coloring or painting. Kids can also decorate cheap wooden frames wit beads, buttons, tissue paper and so on.
Dress up like the olden days. The younger kids will enjoy rooting through boxes of outlandish clothes and accessories you weren't able to sell at your last garage sales. You may even suggest they organize a parade or one-act play.