We've never done one before. I was thinking of either hanging it over the garage door gizmo -- but the candy would fall on the cement or doing it over our swingset, and the candy would fall in the landscaping bark, Which sounds better to you???
obviously it's wrapped candy but it was a mixed bag of smarties, bubble gum, and lollipops.
Also should i blindfold 7 year olds??? I want everyone to have a turn to try to hit it, so i don't want it to be too easy but i don't want to still be wacking it for 20 mins. Any suggestions???
Any tips on getting the candy to spray out a little and not just dump directly under it, i'm worried the kids will knock each other over to get to it.
These things are supposed to be super fun right??? right now i'm getting a headache from worrying about it so much.
Wow, pinata was a total dud we used a whiffle bat and blindfolded the kids that was funny, but then they all had a turn so we took off the blindfolds and they were wacking away and nothing happend, hubby attacked it with a golf club i was totally embarrassed, Then we let the bday boy go after it again with the wiffle bat, then the darn thing fell off it's string Hubby and i ended up picking it up and just using our hands to tear it open, and then the two biggest boys grabbed all the candy and money and pushed eveyone else out of the way. NOTFUN!
We just went to a party and the pinata was the shape of a flip flop. All the kids had 3 chances to hit. Make sure the kids stand clear of the "hitter" and I'd do over cement than bark. Also this particular pinata took FOREVER to break open and it became less fun. I think becasue is was more flat then lets say a donkey or pinapple shape. Have fun.
I actually have experience with this, my son's 6yo bday party this year. We did it in the garage, however I had a big rubber puzzle mat (about 4ft x 4ft) on the floor. I'm glad I did, because as soon as that thing broke they all dived for the candy! You definately need to have something to soften the blow. We did not blind fold the kids and they each got 3 chances. I made them hold hands in the circle and take 2 steps back. You have to make them do this each time, because they keep on moving forward. We did have to tear a little of the pinata the last couple of tries and little bits of candy popped out. The kids got really excited! My son and I gave the final blow. It was a lot of fun for the kids, but it can be a little dangerous. They were all chanting, hit it! hit it! PS. Our theme was Star Wars...so it was destroy Darth Vader with a lighted lightsaber! I also put a heavy duty screw eye in the ceiling of the garage. I didn't want to risk messing up the garage door thing since it was only a year old. Oh and I would do it again for another party...the pull the string kind just doesn't have the same impact.
a good way to make it fair for all the kids to get candy is to pre-pack it into little baggies... make one for each kid and a couple extra in case one gets messed up or extra guests show up. that way you avoid "he got more than me!" and the kids can get their bag and get out instead of scrambling for all the candy. At my friend's kid's party they spread out a big ol' blanket for the candy to fall on~ it served the double purpose of catching everything that fell, and kept the other kids at a safe distance (only one on the blanket was the swinger) Why don't you make some "drunk goggles" instead of a blindfold? you could buy cheap sunglasses and pop out the lenses, then wrap saran wrap around it until it really distorts the vision. Decorate the edges to go along with whatever theme you are having... That way it's still a challenge to get the pinata, but they can still see a little of what is going on. :) Good luck, and have fun!
OH! if you are going to have a BIG party, I would suggest having a backup... could leave it empty, but it would be a huge disappointment to the other kids if it gets smashed to bits before they have a chance to hit it!
I do special events and am famous for my pinatas.
It should be the last thing you do, since this can be their "goodie bags."
Make sure to hang it before everyone gets there and have it hanging high enough no one can get to it. You will need a stick and a blind fold (Put them where no one can get to them)..
I have found that using a bandanna tied in a triangle works best, because then they cannot peak underneath.
You will need on person to pull the rope and another to handle the "hitter."
The person that pulls the rope should allow the hitter to hit it 3 times, but the rest of the time, they will miss.Have them pull it way high and then way low to the ground. Even if the pinata is on the ground, it can be funny to see them miss.
If once everyone has had their turn and it has not been broken you can then allow each child to take a big whack at it without the blind fold.. Once it breaks, grab the stick and let them go for it. Shake and spin the pinata in all directions so the kids will not be in one big pile..
Make sure you tell them the rules, that no one is to rush towards the goodies, till you have pulled the stick out of the hitters hand. I hand out a bag or a cup for everyone to use to put their goodies in, I have them each write their names on them, . as you hand them the stick you can hold their cup or bag. No goodie bags needed!
I fill the pinata with all sorts of things.. Tattoos, gum, candy, bandades, collectible cards, small toys, quarters, gift cards, balloons.
Have fun!
I also have an adult list of prizes if you ever need it..
Updated
I do special events and am famous for my pinatas.
It should be the last thing you do, since this can be their "goodie bags."
Make sure to hang it before everyone gets there and have it hanging high enough no one can get to it. You will need a stick and a blind fold (Put them where no one can get to them)..
I have found that using a bandanna tied in a triangle works best, because then they cannot peak underneath.
You will need on person to pull the rope and another to handle the "hitter."
The person that pulls the rope should allow the hitter to hit it 3 times, but the rest of the time, they will miss.Have them pull it way high and then way low to the ground. Even if the pinata is on the ground, it can be funny to see them miss.
If once everyone has had their turn and it has not been broken you can then allow each child to take a big whack at it without the blind fold.. Once it breaks, grab the stick and let them go for it. Shake and spin the pinata in all directions so the kids will not be in one big pile..
Make sure you tell them the rules, that no one is to rush towards the goodies, till you have pulled the stick out of the hitters hand. I hand out a bag or a cup for everyone to use to put their goodies in, I have them each write their names on them, . as you hand them the stick you can hold their cup or bag. No goodie bags needed!
I fill the pinata with all sorts of things.. Tattoos, gum, candy, bandades, collectible cards, small toys, quarters, gift cards, balloons.
Have fun!
I also have an adult list of prizes if you ever need it..
I would go for having it on the cement rather than the mulch.
Oh - remember to add candy to the pinata. I just saw a video on TV where the mom didn't know she had to add candy and when the kiddos finally got it open it was empty. hahahahaha!!!
id problly do it over garage thingy.
concrete better than bark...but either would not effect it.
I woud blind fold them the first time they hit it, and if it makes it through all the kids then on second hit...only let them hit once with no blindfold.
I recently had my son's 4th B-day party, and I bought a bag of candy at Costco and cheap toys from Party City I also included loose change . I'm latin so at every party that our family had the pinata was always hung from a tree and some one would pull the rope that it was hanging from to move it. The small kids would not be blind folded only the older kids. You tie the bandana on their face to cover their eyes, you walk them over to the pinata and you spin them around to make them dizzy and then you you take the stick and tap the pinata so they know where to hit it. Make sure that when candy starts to fall out that the other kids don't run to get it, I've seen plenty of kids get cracked in the head with that stick! Have fun!! and don't stress!!
