Bring On the Fun!
Make this a day they won't forget!
To enliven your party, try some of the following activities, and be sure to prepare one extra just in case the activities go faster than planned:
Activity 1 – Scooby-Doo’s Message
Party Time:
- Have everyone sit in a circle.
- Tell the birthday child to think of a message that Scooby-Doo would want to tell his friends, or help the birthday child write such a message.
- Have the birthday child whisper that message to the person on his or her left; the message travels from child to child around the circle, until it reaches the person on the birthday child's right.
- That person tells the message out loud.
- Then the birthday child tells the original message out loud. Be prepared to be surprised at how the message has changed as it went around the circle!
Activity 2 – Pin the Dog Tag on Scooby-Doo
Checklist:
- Scooby-Doo poster or picture
- Construction paper or cardboard
- Scissors
- Tape or spray glue
- Blindfold
Activity Area Setup:
- Cut the construction paper into dog-tag shapes, and add the initials of each party guest.
- Place tape, or spray glue, on the tails so they stick. (If using spray glue, have them dry sticky side-up).
Party Time:
- Classic pin-the-tail game, just with a Scooby-Doo twist.
Activity 3 – Gelatin Eating Contest
Checklist:
- Flavored gelatin mix
- Bowls for gelatin
- Plastic table cover or other protection against mess
Activity Area Setup:
- One bowl of gelatin for each child, lined up on the ground – possibly on a table cover to protect against a mess.
- Put the name of Scooby-Doo’s friends on each bowl.
Party Time:
- The players place their hands on the ground next to their bowls.
- Have someone give the command: “It’s time for some Scooby snacks!").
- All of the players begin eating their gelatin, without moving their hands off the ground. The first one with a clean bowl wins!
Alternative:
Bake sugar cookies. Use a dog bone-shaped cookie cutter. Then, use a needle to thread through all the dog bone cookies. Hang both ends of the thread so that one cookie per child is suspended low to the ground. The children must eat their “dog bones” like a dog – without using their hands.
Activity 4 – Doggie Relay
Checklist:
Party Time:
- Have the children stand in two single file lines, facing the same direction.
- Place a balloon between the knees of the first child in each line.
- When the race starts, the child turns to face the next person in line; the second child must grasp the balloon with his or her knees and turn to pass it on to the third person, and so on.
- If the balloon falls to the ground, the team must start over.
- The first team to pass the balloon down the line wins!
Activity 5 – Searching for Snacks
Checklist:
- Snacks (candies or dog bone-shaped cookies)
- Treat sacks
Activity Area Setup:
- Hide Scooby-Doo snacks (small candies or dog bone-shaped cookies) throughout the party area.
Party Time:
- Announce that Scooby-Doo snacks have been hidden in the party area. Give guests a “loot” bag, and let them search for the hidden snacks.
Activity 6 – Feeding Time
Checklist:
- Beanbags suitable for tossing (make your own with socks and dry beans)
- Cardboard box
- Magic marker
- Scissors
Activity Area Setup:
- Draw a picture of Scooby-Doo on the side of the cardboard box with his mouth wide open.
- Cut a hole for the mouth that is large enough for the beanbags to be easily thrown through.
Party Time:
- Place the box 10 feet away from the children, and give each of them a chance to toss the beanbags into Scooby-Doo's mouth.
Activity 7 – Beaded Charms
Checklist:
- A variety of beads in different colors, shapes, textures (including ceramic and wooden) and sizes, as well as stringing materials. A necklace-making kit (colorful beads and stringing materials for the guests) might be useful.
Activity Area Setup:
- Place the beads and stringing materials in several bowls.
Party Time:
- Everyone gets to make his or her own necklace. (Even the boys will enjoy this activity – especially, if there are ceramic or wooden beads.)
An alternative is to use candy and cereal to make edible necklaces or bracelets.
Activity 8 – Disappearing Cake Mystery
Checklist:
- Party favors
- Treat sacks
- Cake
Activity Area Setup:
- Create a set of clues that will lead party guests to hidden party favors and, finally, to a hidden cake.
Party Time:
- Have everyone sit down at the table, ready to eat the birthday cake. Then enter the room feigning surprise and announce that the birthday cake is missing! All that is left in its place is an envelope!
- Open the envelope to reveal a clue. The clues should lead everyone to the location of the cake. Once the cake is found, it is time for dessert!
Here are some examples of clues:
- “There is a ghost in the room of play. Knock him down and he'll show you the way.” (This will lead the children to the play area where there is a hanging piñata. Once the piñata is broken, ghosts and clues fall out.)
- “Mashing monsters are what it is all about. Go, have fun, and twist and shout.” (This will lead the children into a room where “Monster Mash” plays on the stereo. The children dance until another clue floats onto the dance floor.)
- “Go to the place where you would dine. Look under the placemats for another sign!”
- “With so many ghost friends to help you out, you're sure to solve this mystery, no doubt! Go back to the place where you began and discover the cake. I know you can!”
- “Where is it cool all day and night long?” (Answer: the refrigerator)
Activity 9 – Scary Scooby-Doo Surprise
Party Time:
- Choose a “Scooby-Doo Girl” or a “Scooby-Doo Boy.” Gently blindfold each of them. As Scooby walks blindly around, the rest of the children circle around Scooby (while staying in a designated play area). When Scooby touches someone, that child must howl and moan like a ghost until Scooby can guess who he or she is. If Scooby-Doo can identify the moaning ghoul, the two children trade places. If not, the game continues.
