In keeping with our mystery theme this week, here are some end-of-school party ideas with a mystery or detective theme.
For the preschoolers, Blue’s Clues is the easiest to plan. Have your child pick a question to ask Blue, such as “What does Blue want to do on this sunny day?” then mom or dad can cut out 3 blue pawprint clues and tape them to various items that relate to the answer. Give each guest a small notebook and crayon and then have them search for clues and draw each one in their notebooks. Once all 3 clues are discovered, the kids can sit on their thinking chairs and take turns guessing.
How about a game of Mystery Food? Usually done at Halloween to gross everyone out, this game can be adapted for the little ones to feel different textures of food and take a guess at what it is. This is a perfect outdoor game so when they get messy the kids can just rinse off in the sprinkler. Don’t want the kids making a mess with food? Then find any safe object from around the house that is textured or has an irregular shape, put inside a box, blindfold the kids and let them examine it with their hands.
The elementary aged kids might have fun being spies on a mission in search of a missing jewel (or anything else your kids think up) or you could be inspectors jetting across the globe on the trail of Carmen Sandiego. Different parts of your house or yard could be different countries, all containing different clues to solve the mystery. You could even add a pirate theme to your mystery party with all the kids searching for hidden treasure. You’re only limited by your own imagination.
If you’re “creatively challenged” or too busy to think up a mystery, you can buy a mystery party kit. I love the website Dramatic Fanatic because their kits are suitable for ages 8-13 and don’t necessarily have a “murder” as part of the mystery. You can customize the script for a boy or girl party and everything is downloadable, which makes for very easy shopping!
Years ago I had gotten one of the classic How To Host A Murder Mystery Party kits and held on to it for years, thinking it was a silly thing to do. After college I lived with 2 roommates and we decided to do it, complete with vintage costumes. Luckily we had a huge group of friends who thought this was a cool idea and we had an absolute blast. We rented costumes from a local vintage costume shop and made lots of appetizers so we munched and played the whole night.
The possibilities are endless for mystery party fun!
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Okay – first of all, I LOVE Mystery murder parties!!!! I LOVE them! I wish that people did them more often.
I love your ideas too! So clever. I think that I am going to have to try the Blue’s Clues one for sure.
Thank you for your comments on my blog! I am glad to be feeling better too!! LOL!
I posted a reply to your post on my blog . . . I guess that it is pretty strange to be so excited about an ironing board!! Ha ha ha!