kids area suggestions or ideas

[Shelbi]

What would you like to see at the kid's area this year? Any special craft or game come to mind?

My hubbie and I thought it would be really cool to organize some kickball, frisbee dodge (dodgeball but with frisbees), and maybe even some flag football. We also thought some races would be cool like the bear crawl, hopping on one foot, etc. Any suggestions?

I would just like to be able to offer more for the bigger kids who maybe don't like art so much (like my son). Since Jon will be helping out at the kid's area we thought there could be more fun and games but aren't quite sure what to do yet so I thought I would ask all of you.

Peace,
Shelbi

[rhea]

i think games for the older kids is a great idea. i like it!

another really cool thing happening this year is the debut of the Little Seahorse Music Academy, where kids will have the chance all weekend to be taught some cool music by some great meltdown talent, and then perform a sunday showcase set. we're going to be starting a big push to get some instruments and such donated . . . more details to come! I think this is something a lot of the older kid's might get into.

[Gerry]

Playing flag football sounds fun to me even, that would be cool.

Nothing better than getting shown up by 12 yr old as we age.... lol

[Becka]

I love the idea of a Jr meltdown music camp.(So does Josa) How about building some sort of float for the parade, on a wagon or stroller or something. Kickball would also be fun, how about a parent & kid game. I have also always wanted a story time, or maybe someone knows a story teller. Something calm in the evening to wind the kids down. Maybe I can help arrange s'mores or watermelon from the volunteer kitchen.
Some sort of 'friendship' craft would be fun. My daughter always makes special friends at the Meltdown it would be cool to make something the kids could give each other. Last year we just had a zucchini race car in our yard till december.
peace

[Shelbi]

Frienship bracelets are easy to do. I hadn't thought of that- great suggestion. I also feel the music academy would be really cool. I really like your suggestions and will be writing them down and passing them on to the rest of the ladies including sarah. I think having some activities like the race, or the music camp where the times are actually listed on the program may help us attract some of the kids who we wouldn't otherwise. I like the idea of a float but it is so hard just to get the kids all gussied up and ready to go that it may be too much to take on. I will have to see what kind of cool stuff that could be made really cheaply. Maybe even have some stuff like birds, or butterflies, or even big banners and streamers for the kiddos. I am getting excited....

[Sarah]

Hello everyone!

Shelbi, I'm so glad you posted this... I will post something on the other forums also.

We will definitley do games for the older ones. I think a few hours set aside for relay races would be good. Maybe capture the flag with teams? I think I would encourage parents to ask their kids what they would want to play at Meltdown. I'm sure we can get folks to donate equipment, or maybe bring and loan during the meltdown. I love the idea of parent/kid teams. The Meltdown is the perfect time for families to bond in that way.

I'm also thinking more water activities. I will have a (small) wading pool for the smaller kids but we should have water toys, and what not, for the older kids. Suggestions?

I do want to gear more activites towards 8-13 year olds. I really want to hear feedback from them so we can provide super fun activities that will make the Meltdown that much more fun for them.

About the parade and a float. maybe we can have all the things with wheels (strollers, wagons, etc...) in front and help the parents deck them out, flags and all. I love the idea of birds and butterflies. Maybe take the "species" idea and run with it.

Friendship projects: Last year I wanted to do a "memory book" activity. We can supply small journal type books and the kids can decorate them, get phone numbers / addresses of new friends, and then perhaps when they get home they can put pictures and write memories in there. Suggestions? Too much for a festival? I think I still have a joy cam (polaroid) so if we get film we can take pictures of friends and give them to the kids to keep.

And I love the story time idea. I know that in the past a lot of older girls wanted to read to the younger ones. Maybe they can dress up as fairies or something magical and do story time. SMores, watermelon, LOVE IT! Let's do it.

Love you all,

Feedback much appreciated, there are so many ideas, let's make this thinkg wonderful!

Sarah

[Shelbi]

I think the friendship idea is a good one but maybe too involved for the Meltdown. I do think something is good but maybe not pictures and the like. I think frisbee football would be a good team sport since there isn't any tackling at all. I also think that perhaps instead of capture the flag perhaps some sort of treasure hunt. The parent/kid teams could get a set of clues that will lead them to a small prize of some sort. It would be big fun to have them running all over the campground looking for clues.

I also like the idea of decorating the strollers and such with streamers and things. I also think trying to incorporate some of the ideas from the Procession of the Species parade would be very cool. We could try and even have the kids help out on the first couple of nights there.

I also think story time and smores and watermelon are all good. Finger puppets might be a good thing to if I could figure out a way of doing them really simply (at least the basic design) and then the kids could glue on eyes and hair, etc. I have some old drapes that I was thinking I might be able to cut up into finger puppets but haven't had too much time to really get it out and see how much work that would be. So, if I get it out and think I could possibly get them done prior to the meltdown I will let you know sarah.

I can't wait! Did I mention that already? LOL!

Peace,
Shelbi

[Shelbi]

If we have some games of frisbee football over the weekend maybe then we can have Sunday be the SuperBowl of Frisbee golf and possibly have adults vs kids or something. It would give them all weekend to practice up and learn the rules of the game. What do you all think?

[rooster]

What about having "outdoors" training for the older kids? I don't know who would be the right person -- should be a trusted, trained professional -- but I'm thinking like knife safety, chopping wood (maybe for a bonfire later that night), how to build a scrape, lean-to, tent, how to build a fire from scratch ... survival skills. I think this would be intriguing to kids 8-13 and even older and if you had the right person, and the right topics, it could fit right in concept-wise. An hour class each afternoon or something.

[Shelbi]

Know anyone who might be able to do something like this? It would be great but would all hinge on finding the right person who not only knows the skills but wouildn't mind teaching it to a crowd of youngsters. It would be awesome though. I know my son would definitely be into something like that.

[Shelbi]

I was thinking of your friendship idea. Maybe we could somehow put up some pics of the kids with the area they live in and what their parents names are. Then, the parents could see the kids who live by them and maybe have a chance to introduce themselves to the parents for possible playdates after the festival or something. I think the friendship thing is great if we could find an easy way to set that up somehow. Any ideas?

[Shelbi]

I don't know. The more I think about the more I wouldn't want to put up my kids picture with anything more than live in Bellingham. I wouldn't want a bunch of contact info on there. I think it is hard to face it but there can even be creepy people who shouldn't have that kind of information even at the Meltdown and in today's climate you just can't be too careful. I think there should be something we could do in this area but not sure what.

I was also thinking that the kid's have story books that have the play in the back. It might be nice for some of the kids to put on their own play for the younger kids. Something we might be able to get together onsite. See who wants to participate and then work it out from there.

I am so glad to see the veggie races are back. I think all the kids put a lot of creativity into that project and then to be able to actually race them was even better. I know it was a rather popular project here and I am glad to hear you have already thought about the wheels. It was hard to try and find all the nails at the end of the ramp from them coming off. I just wouldn't want anyone to get hurt on them.

I like the idea of water play. Do we have any slip and slides? I think for the older kids a slip and slide might be a good way of getting them to stand in line and wait for their turn. It would be harder for the smaller ones and they could be in the kiddie pool or something. We should remember to bring a strainer for getting all the dirt and grass out each day. It will be a challenge to keep it clean depending on the number of children playing in it. I think we can do it though. It will involve trying to strain it all out each day and then rinsing/washing out when necessary.

I am so glad there is going to be a band just for the kiddos. I haven't heard them but a couple of times when I was down in Seattle at Folklife? or one of the other festivals. Does anyone know of any of their stuff online where I could get the kids a bit more familiar with their music? It would make rocking out that much better if they were familiar with their style/brand of kid's music. Anyone have any suggestions that would be great. Or...if you have one of their cd's perhaps download a track or two??

[Shelbi]

We have so much planned this year for the kids. Make sure you check out the schedule so you will know what is going on when. I definitely think there will be something for everyone. I hope some of the parents come on out on Saturday and join in the Olympic Games. It is going to be super big fun. I also hope it tires out the kids enough so there is some chill time for parents as well. I think it is going to be so much fun!!!!