Outside Family Reunion Games

Easy Relays and Races for All Ages

May 30, 2008 Angela Krueger

Easy to plan, fun to do and hilarious to watch, relays and races are the perfect activity for family reunions. Try some of these ideas for your next family gathering!

Hosting a family reunion can be a huge undertaking, particularly if many guests are expected and the event is weather dependent. To capitalize on family vacations, many family reunions are held in the summer and take place outside, which is great for kids and kids at heart. Ideal for breaking the ice, these relay races are low-budget adaptable games that make for great photo opportunities.

Oven Mitt Relay

For participants who do not mind looking silly, this race can be easily combined with the Marshmallow Relay. Purchase enough pairs of oven mitts and pantyhose for at least two teams from a discount goods store. To complete this very physical relay, participants have to put on both oven mitts and then put on a pair of panty hose without removing the mitts. Each team member then walks a few feet wearing the panty hose and mitts to a baby pool to bob for apples. The players then run back to their teammates and tag the next person to go.

Marshmallow Relay

Best done as the last of the games, this relay is particularly messy and not advisable to do indoors. For this race, each member of the team takes a turn putting on swimming goggles, bobbing for apples in a baby pool and then picking up a marshmallow with his mouth from a plate full of flour before tagging the next participant.

Egg Race

Focusing on balance and hand-eye coordination, this relay race is great for all generations. The object of the race is for each team member to take turns walking with an egg balanced on a teaspoon to a marker and back without dropping the egg. If the egg falls the participant needs to start over again and the team that finishes first wins.

Three-Legged Race

Done in partners this race requires communication and is much harder than it looks. Give each couple a scarf to tie one of each of their knees together so they are literally joined at the hip. With their arms around each other and their legs joined together the pairs try racing to the finish line without falling down.

Water Relay

Unlike the Egg Race, this relay relies on speed more than concentration. The object of the race is to fill an empty pail with water by carrying water from another pail, spoonful by spoonful. Each member of the team takes a turn running with a spoonful of water between the pails before tagging the next member. The team with the most water at the end of the race wins.

Prizes for the winners such as small candies for individuals, a team prize such as a tin of cookies or a watermelon, or a homemade trophy for the team that wins the most events only add to the fun.

The copyright of the article Outside Family Reunion Games in Kids Activities is owned by Angela Krueger. Permission to republish Outside Family Reunion Games in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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