Middle School Holiday Party

In T-minus 2 hours, we’ll be hosting our middle school group, Junior Friends, holiday party filled with games, a craft, and plenty of snacks.  We have found through trial and (mostly) error that an hour is just enough time for the kids to relax and hang out and not too much time for us to start going crazy!

We have also begun adding crafts to some of the middle school programs as an option for the kids to do.  Because they don’t get a chance to do craft-y things at school very much, I think that many enjoy the little projects we give them.  Plus, we use the crafts as a way to decorate the library.  I found a great (and inexpensive) snowman craft that I thought even middle schoolers might enjoy – Glue Snowman Craft.  I’m hoping that the kids can create their own, individual snowman with their own styles.

We’ve also planned to play a game tonight as well.  After a couple of years, we realized that we need to have at least a loose structure for the evening – otherwise the kids start bothering each other.  Tonight we’re going to play a game that is easy to do as long as you have some chairs and space to put them into a circle.  Fruit Basket Turnover is sometimes called a few other names, but the most important part is that it is simple, requires very few props, and includes absolutely everyone.

And of course we feed the kids cookies, chips, snacks, and drinks!  We have a small little gift bag filled with candy and a small word puzzle/game for them to take home.  This is a great program for the end of the year and gives the kids a break from all their school work and projects that gets piled on them this close to the break.  Hopefully, I’ll survive tonight and the kids will have fun!  And tomorrow – I’m on my way to my parent’s to spend the holidays!