Make it a November to remember

Apple Bobbing
Classic family fun, if you haven’t played it before, its simple to set up and play, and guaranteed to get you laughing. Fill a tub or a large basin with water and place apples in the water. Apples are less dense than water, so they will float at the surface. Players must try to catch an apple using only their teeth. Use of arms is not allowed, and the hands can be loosely tied behind the back to prevent cheating. To make it especially competitive, time to see who completes the task the fastest.

Firework Art
Forage from your garden or local woods leaves, acorns, pebbles twigs, and anything that could be used to make natural art firework pictures. This is a great way to also get some extra steps in and some fresh air together as a family in the park or woods. You could also use the foraged materials to practice spelling out Bonfire Night themed words e.g., Firework, marshmallow, sparkler, toffee apple etc

Potato Sparklers
A safer way for little hands to hold sparklers! Insert them into a potato for them hold, they can enjoy the beauty without any burnt fingers. Encourage your children to spell out words using the sparkler as a “magic crayon” as an amusing way to practice literacy skills.

Glow Stick Wands
Want a safer option than fireworks for your little ones, glow sticks are a great alternative, last longer and can be purchased cheaply from most pound shops.

Hot Chocolate Station
Set up a station with hot milk in a frother, or for bigger crowds use a slow cooker. Lay out mugs, with a selection of hot chocolate powders, and a range of toppings. Some of our favourite topping ideas include whipped cream, sauce, mini gingerbread men biscuits, sprinkles, marshmallows, nuts, chocolate chips, and fudge pieces.

Spud you Like
Teach your children some basic cooking skills and get them involved in preparing classic Bonfire food like hot dogs and jacket potatoes. Encourage them to plan and set up a “café” with a range of healthy toppings they can serve.

Marshmallow Toasting
Get cosy around the fire pit with blankets and toast marshmallows while watching the fireworks, for older children, we can recommend making Smores.

Catherine Whirl Game
Spin each player around like a Catherine Wheel Firework, when you say “go” the player must try and make it to the other end of the garden as fast as they can. Too easy? Try the advanced option of balancing a beanbag on their head which must stay on while they make their dash, no hands allowed!

Doughnut Rings
Using a tree branch, washing line or alterative to hang a piece of string, thread doughnuts at random heights, so they are hanging like party streamers. Each player selects a doughnut and tries to eat the doughnut without touching with anything but their teeth, and it not dropping it on the floor. The first player to finish their doughnut, without touching it or it falls on the floor is the winner! Don’t be fooled this is a lot harder than it looks, but extremely tasty too!

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