1. Reading and Raindrops

Pick up one of the great books for children about weather, rain, spring, or umbrellas.  Raindrop, Plop by Wendy Lewison is a great example.  Dress your youngster up in their galoshes and pop open the Dora umbrella or the Thomas the Train Engine umbrella as you read to them.  Encourage them to use their imagination and act out the story.  For older children, read the book together or have them read it to you.

2. Chart the Weather

Make learning about the weather fun for everyone in the family and create a weather chart by having your children track the weather each day.  On rainy days, have them grab their favorite umbrella and set out rain collectors to find out how much rain falls.  On sunny days, focus on tracking temperature fluctuations over the course of the day.  For older children, they can track the forecast from the meteorologists against the actual weather conditions.  By the time May comes to call they may be making their own forecast.

3. Walking in the Rain

Decked out in raincoats and galoshes, take a walk in the rain together.  Make sure to bring along enough colorful, cute umbrellas for everyone and encourage puddle jumping.  To add another element of fun, sing fun songs about rainy days like “Singing in the Rain” as you walk.  Have each person on the walk make up a song or a story about their umbrella.  If they have a Tinkerbell Umbrella, they might sing about a fairy that only comes out in the rain.  If they have an Iron Man umbrella, they might sign about an action hero who gets stronger when it rains.

4. Play in the Puddles

With a couple hula hoops, two balls and enough umbrellas for all your players, you can invent your own rainy day game called Puddle Ball.  Find a spot ripe with puddles and select the biggest ones as your point puddles.  Lay a hula hoop around each of the point puddles and split into two teams.  Each team gets a ball and the object of the game is to have a tremendous amount of fun while splashing and laughing in the puddles.  Make up your own rules to create a custom made game just for your family.

No need to wait for summer to have a ton of fun outside, especially if you have the right equipment on hand.  Little ones love umbrellas, especially ones made just for them.  Look for umbrellas featuring their favorite characters like Disney’s Cars or Fairies.  For the littlest ones, try a Sesame Street umbrella featuring Big Bird or Elmo.  Splash away the rainy April days with galoshes, an umbrella and smiles all around.

Toy Story Party Favor Bag

joy for you. Why? Because the best deals and discounts on Toy Story will surprise your pocketbook by leaving it full and satisfied. You’ll hear in your head a “yee-hah” from Jesse, who knows that quality discounts on Toy Story party supplies are available right online with the click of your finger. The party will be a go when you see the best selections and the slashed prices. Your little tykes who adore the trio, Buzz, Woody, and Jesse, will be right at your side, riding their own Bull’s-eye, checking out the pictures and pointing to all those goodies that are going to make their Toy Story birthday party come alive.

The Toy Story Birthday Banner Buzzes In with Buzz
Sometimes, getting that beautiful banner with toy story’s favorite space man and putting it up there way ahead of time, can go far to keeping those active kids in line and saddled up for an upcoming party reward. Kids do like to take part in all the plans. It gives them some early cool responsibility feelings, and helps you to in taking the worry away of “what will they like”, “what to do this time”. Luckily Toy Story has a nice cast of characters that all kids love, with good lessons to learn and remember.

Good Deals with Quality Toy Story Party Supplies
What could be more fantastic than the doubly great rewards of getting awesome Toy Story party hats, favors, banners, the works, and teaching your kids some money values? Check out the coolest array of Toy Story products online, all right there like a brightly colored storybook on the page. And here’s the great deal–Kyle will say “hey, mm, all the prices are crossed out and another price is in red color that has a lower number!” And then you say, “Hey, you’re right, good observation! Now how many dollars less is that red price than the black one?” Kyle and Kaylie both will compete to check on all those real world math problems. Your special prices and savings on each Toy Story item is always the best. How about that even more important math quest to figure out multiples of an order?

You too will thrill in knowing you are saving 50% in getting 12 Toy Story Magical Play Cameras, 50% in getting 12 2-packs of unique Toy Story silicone bandz. The easiest and most space conscious and enjoyable game for birthday parties and beyond is the Toy Story pick up sticks with pictured helper sticks of Buzz, Jesse, Woody and Rex to the rescue. Parents can join in on this game too. Save 58% on 12 of them as a perfect take home favor to continue the party fun. Moms will love it for not being extra candy.

Jump Right in to Toy Story Party Favors and Toys
Of course your kids, looking over your shoulder online, will zero in on their favorite items, and the pictures there count a lot. Let them click and zoom in for the enlarged views.

Toy Story Party Game Favors

Pardners will love the Woody Go Fish Card Game in a tin. No ripped paper boxes and lost cards with this. Get one for all the pardner’s friends at 12 for a savings of 61% at just $1.99 each.

For your own game room, your alien lovers, Alina and Alec, want that Molded Alien Cylinder with the Toy Story 4 card games inside–at the special price, of course.

The Nitty Gritty Necessities for Toy Story Birthday Party Ideas
Party ideas always begin with those basics: how to get the Toy Story invitations to the right party people in time, setting the best atmosphere with the coolest Toy Story paper goods. So tell your little Buzz aka Barry to grab his Buzz and the gang Rock N Sip N Snack Cup ad join you to choose all the stuff. Boys too love to pick out the decor–especially the party balloons. Toy Story of course has the best ones of all–right up there. That Toy Story Dart Board of course it’s a harmless sticky ball to throw at the “Gang” is a sure pick for Barry. The “kool” Kooky Toy Story Pen Pack they can hang on their belt loops is ……. Blowouts are mandatory from beginning to end..so have extras too for the beginning and end. The most important Loot Bags with the smiling gang who knows what will be inside the bags is just part and parcel of the goodies as they are often called goody bags not just loot bags.

For your Toy Story birthday party invitations, you get a choice of colors with Jesse and Woody and green for girls and blue for boys, or vice versa, or mix and match!

The Toy Story Party Hats are truly the most hilarious any circus would not beat. They show Buzz and Woody’s eyes only, peeking down at your own party goers. Can’t wait to see those pictures and videos of that!

Toy Story party plates, cups, napkins, plastic table covers are all there in all your sizes. And again, they come in a choice of blue or green backgrounds for color choosy kids. You may have to take a vote on the colors, or get both.

Toy Story Artists at Play
It’s always a good idea to have a little time set aside in every party for a pause, a collective moment, and let kids do some more quiet arts and crafts. There are almost too many quality Toy Story art project ideas at the best discount values online. There is the Toy Story Color Your Own Puzzle, the Toy Story Doodle Kit, Stickers, Colored Pencils Velvet oodles. Or even select the mini kaleidoscopes to inspire amazing, dizzying coloring ideas. Put all your stuff into the Toy Story party tote bag and mark down the minutes to party time with a Toy Story LCD watch.

Kids love as many toys piled into their bedrooms as possible. But it is one major part of their learning and growing as they create their stories in their own space. And just like the Toy Story movie, their toys do have personalities and do come to life–for them.

A Bed’s a Place for Toy Story Dreams– Asleep or Awake

Brave boy Sean snuggles into his special Toy Story toddler bed, and says hello to his comforting pals right there on his toy story bedding. Sean thinks he’s too old for good night kisses from mom right now, but he’s ready to plan his dreams with Buzz and Woody and Rex reaching right out to him from the vivid Toy Story bed sheets.  These planet Earth toned, cool and perfect Toy Story twin size bedding soothes. Some kids love to find the Disney label on their sheets, a part of I spy games, and of course Disney Toy Story bedding gives them that opportunity. For cold nights, the comforter with Buzz Lightyear to the rescue is great for the extra snuggles.

Toy Story Bedding

You can get all these specialty Toy Story bedding and sheet sets right online, and a host other room decorations too–that’s a real party!

To The Bedcovers… and Beyond

When the day’s activities finally comes to a close,  turning out the light becomes a joy, too, because there is Woody and Buzz on a Toy Story light switch to say a personal good night to infinity and beyond.

Seven year old Jason says, “I go to sleep with Buzz and boom, it’s morning.”  And Jason can see that indeed it’s morning on his unique Toy Story alarm clock. And when it’s finally play time, his digital wall clock lets him know, with the toy story group’s greeting, “we came to play.”

Not to forget Jesse the yodeling cowgirl, Lana, does practice her yodeling with Jesse in the privacy of her bedroom, right along with the Toy Story clan applauding her on from her very own bedsheets.

There’s A Snake in My Boots – and On my Walls and Covers too!

A Toy Story bedroom is one of the amazing unisex themes, there are enough beloved characters to please any finicky friend. There is a character anyone can relate to in the Toy Story Gang: rough tough Jessie, terrifying Rex, the potato heads so in love, loyal slinky, trusty Bullseye, Ham the great actor, Barbie and Ken, and of course Buzz and Woody. The girls Millie, Victoria and Lyn set up Jesse, Woody Buzz, Bullseye, and lots of props from their toy basket and told me “we’re in the desert, prickly cactus around, snakes, and there’s no water and there is danger ahead.” The story continues to unfold with the cast of Toy Story characters arriving on many inventive locomotive devices, train, stage coaches, and of course Buzz zooming in on his spaceship made from a shoe box, or even just an old shoe!

The Toy Story wall decor just adds to the whole scene like being in a theater. The walls are decorated with the perfect Toy Story wall decals with the special easy to peel and stick decorative tiles, and the easy Toy Story self stick mini mural. The mural is great for the sci fi theme playing with Buzz charging forth with a trusty space ranger standing by.  There are posters, and the whole production can be set right on the unique Toy Story EVA Foam floor mat made for toy story fans. As always, get these items online, so easy peezy.

Lessons Learned at Home with Toy Story

Toy Story room ideas really can make a kid’s room cozy and useful at the same time. Kids won’t need to be reminded to

Disney Pixar Toy Story Waste Basket

pick up their clothes with a unique Woody and Buzz storage hamper bin, complete with the design of flashing neon rays of light Cowboys and Space Rangers do not litter, and neither will your little one with Woody and Buzz waiting to make the catch of the good toss into the Toy Story waste basket. In fact, Joely put bullying, bossy, unfair Lotso into the wastebasket to teach him a lesson about fairness, just like in the movie. Of course, after seeing Toy Story Three she did this with care to make sure her toys were handled with tenderness!

Finally after a long afternoon of hard play acting, there’s a unique blanket with sleeves, a comfy fleece throw that won’t fall off and leaves hand free in the sleeves to work, snuggle or work the remotes.

Just like the classic original Toy Story song, “You’ve got a Friend in Me” a blanket or a beds sheet is on old comforting friend that you’ll want to love forever. Toy Story characters build friendships that both kids and parents can count on.

1. Arrival Activity

A sure fire way to start a great party is to have something to do when your guests arrive. Since no one arrives at the same time, you will have some early arrivals and some late comers. Offering them a theme based activity will keep everyone interested and occupied while they wait for the real party to start. You could use a Toy Story 3 puzzle as your arrival activity. Set it up on the kitchen table and let the kids join in the assembly as they arrive. Or, give them a craft to put together. Provide them with a goody bag, markers and Toy Story stickers and let them design their own personalized goody bags. Whichever activity you choose, giving your guests something to do until things get going will get your Toy Story 3 party off on the right foot.

2. Great Games

Next on the list is to design some great games. Start with a traditional party game like pin the tail on the donkey, give it a little Toy Story 3 twist and now you have pin the nose on Mr. Potato Head. Grab a couple stick horses; give them names like Bullseye and Buttercup, and you have Woody’s Wild Horse Race. With the Toy Story 3 Bingo Game, you have a readymade, super-fun game for your guests to play.

3. Dazzling Decorations

Start with a big birthday banner that stretches over the wall in your party room. Add Toy Story balloons to multi-color streamers and balloons to create a truly festive atmosphere. Cover the tables with custom tablecloths featuring the kid’s favorite characters and don’t forget to set-up a table for the presents. Finish off the table setting with Toy Story party supplies like character cups, plates, napkins and a custom Toy Story birthday cake in the image of your child’s favorite character. For an extra special touch, create a picture spot with a bale of hay and a table cloth hung over a door. Over the course of the party, take a picture of the birthday boy or girl with each guest to make extra special thank you cards after the party.

4. Fun-tastic Favors

There is a wide variety of favor options to go along with the Toy Story party theme. If your birthday party is primarily for boys, a bag of army men, a slinky and a go fish game featuring Woody are sure to be hits. If your party is for girls, a package of jacks, some silicone bracelets and a couple sheets of stickers are great fillers for a goody bag. Whether you stick with character based favors like kaleidoscopes or pencil cases or go with some other theme based options, keeping the favors aligned with the theme provides the perfect ending to your Toy Story 3 party.
By thinking a little more inside the Toy Box, you can throw an unforgettable Toy Story 3 birthday party for your child.

Cranium Family Edition

Asking your kids a question is often a losing proposition—it’s not a win-win solution when you get the blank black hole type of communication like “nothing”, I don’t remember”. No matter how cool you try to attempt to connect with your kids and the rest of the family it may not be working as well as you’d like…but, there’s an antidote. Games, the word today usually means gadgets, gizmos…or gambling—but you don’t have to be a grandpa or a grandma to rediscover the lure and love for family game night—or start making every other Friday night board game night. Even if it’s between the dog walking and the online social networking! But if you think classic board games are classic bore games, or that board games for kids are out of touch, there’s more to that story, as they say.

Games. It is the word on the tip of any kid’s tongue. Even in this day of texts and tweets, when two “BFF’s” meet, the first words most likely exchanged are “Wanna play a game?” And games are win win all the way around. We all know what we taught the kids early on– the best way to do anything, make any chore a breeze is to make a game out of it. The famous board games of the past

The Game’s The Thing

Games are the antidote to running, multitasking, and the hit and miss family occasions—dinner table where having to eat the broccoli puts a damper on pleasantness, and breakfast nooks with homemade pancakes often lose out to walking the dog and flying to the meeting, in-betweeners often off to the spa, each person’s special TV program, and the individual chats online.

Games are goodness, great, groovy, and more and more families are making game night a happening thing. Setting out for just ½ hour together, or a fabulous hour—the families are actually doing something face to face, hearing what the comments are, seeing the facial expressions. True, we’re not all game lovers, but letting yourself get inspired by the game groove brings out the best in kids and parents alike. This is a chance for face to face that’s not just pick up your clothes, why didn’t you finish your homework, but to let your guard down and not be too serious. Kids get the chance to learn about gracious winning, good losing, learning from mistakes what works and doesn’t work, sharing, feeling success, and just laughing. Maybe you’ve never been a game lover, but games can set a tone for good time spirits. Better than a baseball game or even a family movie.

The Games Afoot

Just set out the game—with the tots and kids, you’ve got a tradition in the making. The selections of board games for kids or specifically for those first timers, preschool board games have expanded to many with names hard to remember or pronounce. Now don’t “oh, chute”…because for the youngest and their ups and downs, Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land are still tops on their list of favorite games. These classic board games are even updated with versions featuring the beloved timeless Dora the explorer. When it comes to Chutes and Ladders with Dora, you all can enjoy a good natured spill down the chute…”oh chute”, and a proud access up the ladder. And both just happen enough times in a game so that game mirrors life, as they say. Chutes and Ladders is probably the most famous board game to make chores and deeds a good time. And as for Candy Land with Dora the Explorer, unless you are a dentist, it’s hard to resist the lure of those treats. Okay, everyone gets one as a reward for a good game together. These preschool board games find their way into all of our impish and kidlike delights–and are pulled out for play by even 8 year olds.

It’s a tireless hilarity, but passing around the Hot Potato, or the “healthier” alternative sold at Kimmieshop – the Hot Tomato, that sings and plays until the last one gets caught is a quickie hilarity.

Yes, games don’t have to be serious and complicated like brain operation, and even Operation is a winner for all ages. Kids can be better at the fine tuning motion to take out the offending and sick body part without buzzing, going for the “toxic gas” especially always raises a stink of hilarity in our house! Do check out the truly outrageous Toy Story 3 Operation to save Buzz Lightyear’s innards from the galactic maladies.

Toy Story 3 is loved by both girls and boys and you can pick up an easy Toy Story Flip and Match or have a game handy right in your bag with the Toy Story 3 Four card games in the tin box. These handy card games are not reaching too far for quick an easy board game ideas–and as you’re passing and handing the cards (the boards) back and forth, there’s a bit of personal expression that gets passed along–instead of the “OMG’s” in the texting!

Fun for All Ages

One of the most adorable and silly fun board game for preschoolers and even kindergarteners is Alphabet Circus– this one knows some creative ways with beloved bean bags. Toss and hop onto learning alphabets and words. And doing it on one leg, when Mom and Dad has to do it, is truly a memorable family gem.

Storytelling is not usually considered a game, but storytelling has mesmerized audiences since cave man and woman. Amazing without even props, and when you think about it, who doesn’t like to tell a whopper. Have a blast in making up stories with the Toy Story 3 Storytime Board Game—whether you are 4 or 40 or even 80, all can partake in this one. 7 year old Lailee still laughs to remember what 87 year old grandma Silva said, and boy did the usually quiet “Pa” go on and on!

“Guess Who” with hands behind the head never goes out of style, and neither does the game, now in Disney’s specialty, Disney’s Guess Who? This game is great for even a twosome sharing with mom or dad and child. If you find memory games a favorite winner, you can add some language learning to it for younger kids, with the Sesame Street Memory Match in Spanish and English.

The Domino Effect

Criss crossing paths is like a natural doodle everyone does it…building up or down, keeping your eyes peeled on the matching pieces, or it’s a trip to the boneyard! That’s dominoes for you. Dominoes come in every favorite character…no joke, chose the favorites, or introduce new ones with Elmo, Spiderman, Toy Story, Tinkerbelle, Princes, Sesame Street, Cars, Mickey Mouse, and the precocious molded Alien Cylinder cases of dominoes–!

Unlocking Treasure With Board Games

Cranium board games, the brain pictured on the box, begins at the beginning stage for 2 ½ year old preschoolers in a version just for the tots in Cranium Cariboo. Every child loves, loves, loves to use the key to unlock the doors to get to the treasure. That is magic every time and we can be there and enjoy and participate in all that magic that passes as quickly as the door opens and closes.

As the kids get older, Cranium Kids Games grows and has always been and still is a hit with family groups, the relatives coming or just family party. Cranium Caddo is best for kids 7 and up—and gives kids and parents alike the opportunity to show their stuff!

As kids get into school age, they love to strategize, and tic tac toe, or checkers that can be pulled out while waiting in a restaurant or office or anytime are great.

You Can Zap the Video Games

School age kids, glued to the screens of one sort or another, can be hard to ply away, but here’s the truth. Believe it or not a recent global study showed that 73% kids would prefer to choose to play with parents rather than TV. The thrill today seems to be bringing out the sillies And in many games, there’s the opportunity to be silly, goofy, and fun. Set it out, take a floor seat, try it out.. School aged kids get a kick out of the updated Sorry Revenge game. Silly and fun if you let your silly bone be tickled a little.

Monopoly is a family game night classic, and Monopoly board games have 2 wonderful modernized versions. Monopoly City is updated with tall buildings, and for the “know it all” kids of 9 and up there’s Monopoly Here and Now World Edition that spreads out in a global way that older kids can get into. Monopoly in 2009, was still the best selling game in the world. What is the lure to buy a Monopoly board game? Money and building those little buildings have a real draw, whether or not the kids can understand the monetary considerations, there is still learning and strategizing, involved in every purchase. Taking an ownership, holding and planting down a building, a property, managing a bank, dealing with money–these are opportunities that lets kids feel in charge, like a boss, and they learn from it too. And speaking of strategy, Battleship, a game that has lasted through the years with love, is not just for boys. This one really uses spatial reasoning and encourages kids to visualize and imagine patterns. Risk is another game for the challenge of conquering the world. This one is for the long stretch of miserable weather indoors. With the need for strategy and brain power, this game is intense as it gets on a paper board.

Word games are the perfect board games for the combined ages—from 8 to 80. Scategories is simple without a lot of rules, Scrabble Apple a faster paced word game, or the coolest quickest 3 minute word game that uses 3 or 4 letters so kids have a fair chance is Boggle.

Board Games and Blackouts

Now here’s another way you can you pull your kids away from the allure of the video game or computer console, and get them to see the magic of board games. One “sneaky” father had this suggestion. Hit the switch on the fuse box, and pretend there is a black-out. With all the digital devices dead, there’s no choice but to get out the flashlights and the board games! And once you do, you’ll see them hooked even when the “power returns”.

Get Your Head in the Game

Get Your Head in the Game is one of the songs so popular from High School Musical. Sure, it refers to basketball, but whether you’re teens like them, two, or 82, getting into the game is best enjoyed face to face, passing the ball or passing the pieces of the game board. It’s an interaction that means everybody wins.

1. Toy Story Invitations
Put your scrapbooking skills to use and custom make your own cards using color stock paper and stickers. Another option is to download Toy Story images and cut and paste them to create tailored invite for your party.

2. Planning a Menu

When you’re hosting a party for children, being conscientious of allergies and trying to accommodate food preferences can be challenging. Think about what your guests already enjoy eating and you’ll have a delicious line-up in no time. In the movie, Woody and Buzz travel to Pizza Planet, which, by the way, is a great food item to serve to kids (and adults). Another fan favorite are chicken nuggets and some brands carry them in a variety of shapes. If you’re thinking about putting together a healthier dish, why not sandwiches. You can use cookie cutters to slice the sandwiches into planets, stars, cowboy hats and boots.

3. Buzz Lightyear Party Favors
Assembling gift bags to take home after the party is wonderful way to thank your guests for attending. Visit your local party supply store for silver mylar bags that can be filled with glow-inthe-dark constellation stickers, Pop Rocks candy, chocolate rockets and other fun Buzz Lightyear party supplies.

4. Woody Party Favors
On the other hand, dressing up a simple brown paper lunch bag with stickers will work perfectly for Woody’s western-style. Include crayons, green army men and a bandana inside. Using some cardboard and foil, cut-out, wrap and construct personalized sheriff badges for guests to wear. Depending on the location of the party and the season, pass out water guns for a good old fashioned water fight.

5. Buzz Games
Purchase an assortment of colored kitchen sponges and cut them into various odd shapes and sizes. Hide them around the party venue and have guests go on a ‘moon rock’ scavenger hunt. The person who collects the most wins a prize.

6. Woody Games
The nice thing about the internet is that you have easy access to a variety of Toy Story birthday supplies. Locate a Woody print out that can be blown-up to a larger size at your local FedEx Kinko’s store. Spray glue the print out onto a piece of cardboard. Blindfold your guests and play pin the badge on Woody.

7. Buzz Cake
Birthday cakes can be as extravagant or as simple as you want. Instead of a Buzz cake, whip up a batch of Buzz Lightyear cupcakes. With a little bit of green coloring and some aluminum cupcake liners, you’ll have some tasty treats that will be out of this world.

8. Woody Cake
Keeping in step with the non-traditional approach to a Woody birthday party cake, baking up some cowboy boot cookies is another option for a Woody-themed party. The cookies could be incorporated into a party activity where guests get to personalize cookies with their names in icing.

9. Buzz Decor
Cut out cardboard stars, spray paint them, coat with glitter and hang. Next, make your own ‘galaxy in a bottle’ by mixing 1/2 part water with 1/2 part oil, a drop of food dye and a few teaspoons of confetti glitter in a plastic water bottle. Give it a good shake to watch the oily blobs mingle with the sparkles. Set them out tables and let guests take them home as favors.

10. Woody Decor
Set-up a wooden saw horses and create a makeshift pony. Guests can practice lassoing the horse for fun. Go for a cowboy look and use red and white checkered tablecloths. Cut out cowboy hats and hang them. Look for Woody party supplies for more inspiration.