Get Away with a Family Theme Night

March Break is in full swing.  Spring has sprung, the weather is mild and the city is overflowing with activities and offerings to keep you and your family entertained throughout the break.  It seems that there is something fun to do in every corner of the city and out of town too.  Yet still there are those of us who would much rather have journeyed off on a family adventure this week.

Maybe you would have liked to take a cruise, lay on the beach or learn to hula.  It is only Wednesday, so you still have time.  With a little imagination you need to go no further than your living room to enjoy a family theme night that will take you anywhere you want to go. 

Hawaiian Luau

Visit the Islands with a trip to Hawaii.  Prepare for your big adventure by making leis or grass skirts, shopping for tropical fruit and setting up a volcanic eruption.  This theme is so much fun; you may want to stay for a few days. 

Set the Scene:

Get out the beach towels, picnic blankets, Tiki torches and candles.  Dress in Hawaiian shirts, wear leis and flip flops.  Girls can put tropical flowers in their hair.

Ideas:

Make leis or grass skirts.  instructions here

Play limbo.

Dance to Hawaiin music. 

Cut open a coconut to enjoy. 

Make a volcanic eruption using baking soda, red food dye and vinegar. 

Read some books.

• Hawaii is a Rainbow:  Stephanie Feeney
• A is for Aloha by U’ilani Goldsberry
• Hula Lullaby: Erin Eitter Kono

Meals and Snacks:

Luau food is amazingly simple.  Serve ham, pineapple, fruit salad, smoothies and tropical drinks with little umbrellas.  For dessert, make a pineapple upside down cake. 

Beach Party

The preparation can be half of the fun for this theme.  Have the kids gather beach buckets, sand toys and beach balls.  Turn your living room into a beach scene and turn up the music.  You could do a shell themed craft or play in the sand and water.  Make sure to eat your meal on the blanket for a true beach day feel and wind the day down with a book or DVD. 

Set the Scene:

Tune in some relaxing sounds of ocean waves on a CD or iPod.

Place sand toys and balls around the room.   Wear your favourite shorts or bathing suit and cover up, flip flops, sunglasses and hats.

Ideas:

Make an indoor sandbox, if you dare, by filling a large container with rice or oatmeal.  Fill sand with shells and other objects to dig for.  

Blow some bubbles. 

Lay back and relax.  

Play beach bingo instructions here

Dance to theWiggles – Splish, Splash, the Big Red Boat. 

Read:

• A House for Hermit Crab:  Erick Carle
• At the Beach:  Anne Rockwell
• Swimmy:  Leo Lionni

Meals and Snacks:

Pack a picnic of sandwiches, fruit and salad or serve foods that you may find at a beach stand, hot dogs or tacos. 

All Aboard for a Family Cruise

Keep the kids busy all day preparing for this fun theme night.  Start by making an ocean scene mural.   Designate areas of the house to serve as different parts of the ship.  Make a movie theatre, a dining room and cabins.  Be sure to lay out chocolates on the pillows just like a real cruise. 

Once your scene is set, it’s all aboard and time to take a fun picture of your family setting sail.  Serve fruity drinks and dance to the sound of steel drums during your bon voyage party.  If you are feeling really adventurous, take a “shore excursion” to a nearby attraction just like they do on a cruise. 

Set the Scene:

Make a fun mural to set backdrop of your cruise.  Use a roll of craft paper and blue paint or markers.   

Ideas :

Learn how to fold napkins for your elegant dinner.   instructions here

Dress in fancy clothes for dinner. 

Whatch  a movie in the shipboard theatre

Make souvenir t-shirts

Write postcards back home.

Meals and Snacks:

Oh the fabled cruise buffet.  If you are in the mood for some fancy food, this is the theme night to enjoy.   Think of lobster or surf and turf, a selection of salad fixings and decadent desserts. 

Don’t forget to dress in fancy clothes.

Mexican Fiesta

Set the Scene:

No fiesta would be complete without sombreros and maracs.  instructions here and here

Have the  kids make the crafts early in the day.  Hang coloured lights and blankets.  Lay the table with a bright coloured  table cloth.  Make a piñata.

 Ideas:

Dress in bright clothes and big hats.

Play Mexican jumping beans. instructions here

Hide an object under a big hat and play 20 questions to guess what the item may be.

Learn the Mexican hat dance. instructions here

Do the Macarena

Learn a few Spanish words.

Read some books about Mexico.

Meals and Snack:

Make a taco bar.  Lay out taco shells and all the fixings.  Serve with rice and salad.