Games
& Activities:
For a quiet activity away from the main party area, fill a small kiddie
swimming pool "a pond" with water and place toy fish in
the water. Have toy nets and fishing poles available for the kids
to go fishing.
Another nice quiet activity is to set up a Beach area by wetting the
sand in a sandbox and providing pails, shovels and beach creature
shape toys. For a treasure theme, you can paint rocks gold and bury
them in the sand. When told to go, the players try to dig up as many
pieces of gold as they can find. Replace the rocks with gold coin
candies as reward.
Play Go Fish - Set up: Draw a fish shape on a piece of paper
and cut out. Trace around the cutout onto construction paper in a
variety of bright colors and cut out, make enough for each player
to catch at least five fish. Glue small magnets to the back of the
fish by the mouths, cut lengths of string (one for each player), and
attach paper clips to one end of each string and a stick or dowel
rod to the other. To play: Place the fish cutouts magnet sides down
on a blue sheet, have each player stand on the edge of the fabric
and give each player a fishing pole. When told to go the players try
to catch the fish by catching the magnetic fish with the paper clip
end of the pole. The player with the most fish when time is called
wins.
Shark
Game - This can be played in two ways. Version 1: This is played
like tag. The person who is "it" is the shark (they can
wear a shark puppet on their hand or wear a novelty shark hat) and
chases the other players "the mermaids". Version 2: Divide
the players into two teams. The sharks and the mermaids (make the
shark team smaller). Have the "sharks" stand in the center
of the play area and the "mermaids" stand on one side (this
can be marked by masking tape). When told to go, the mermaids have
to run across the play area to the other side (this can be marked
by masking tape) while the "sharks" try to catch (tag) them.
Any player tagged becomes a shark and tries to catch the other mermaids.
The Sebastian Crab Crawl - Have players line up on a starting
line. Have the players get into the crab position learned in school
(with the players sitting, have them put their hands on the ground
slightly behind them and push up onto their hands and feet). When
told to go the player race across the play area to a designated finish
line. The person to cross the finish line first wins.
Decorate Treasure Chests - The party guests can decorate their
own personal treasure chests to be filled with jewels and baubles
they find on a treasure hunt (see below)
Dress Up - Provide costumes (instructions above or store-bought
below), makeup and jewelry and let the party guests dress up as Little
Mermaids.
Treasure Hunt - Give players one clue printed on a piece of
paper made to look like an old map (use soaked tea bags to color the
paper). Cut the paper with jagged edges and make the edges darker
with the teabag. Write hints (riddles) on the papers to help the players
find the next clue and eventually lead them to the treasure (either
a treasure chest filled with goodies or a Treasure Chest Cake). For
youngsters who can't read, you can use pictures or you can read nursery
rhymes or sing kiddie song clues to them.
Clue
Ideas:
(1) Sing: "The itsy bitsy spider went up the water _______"
The children should provide the answer "spout". They can
then find the next clue next to a watering can.
(2) For the next clue, you can sing: "This old man, he played
4, he played nick-nack on my ________" The children should then
provide the answer "door" They can then find the next clue
taped to your front door.
(3) For the final clue, you can say: "Mary, Mary quite contrary
how does your _______ grow? The children should then provide the answer
"garden". They can then find the final clue in the garden.
Mermaid Slumber Party - This theme makes a great slumber party.
Have the guests dress up, decorate their own treasure boxes, and play
Treasure Hunt. As the party settles down, the partyers can also watch
The Little Mermaid movie or you can read them the book.
Piñata Activity - Hang the Fish or Mermaid Piñata,
blindfold a player and hand them a stick (cut crepe paper in bright
colors into thin strips, and glue the strips to one end of a dowel
rod). (Some pinatas have pull strings)
