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Planning a picnic for kids is one of the warm weather activities I enjoy the most! And believe it or not, we’re managing to picnic together even though we are miles and miles apart.
We’re making plans and want to share them with you!
A Cute Invitation
After checking in with my grown kids, I will mail or text, this cute picnic for kids invite to the girls!
Feel free to use it for your grandkids as well. This free download is available below.
Download the picnic invitation here.
Picnic Decor
Pick up a one-time use checkered tablecloth, or gather several blankets.
If you are together, make sure there is enough space for everyone to sit on the blanket comfortably. And feel free to invite some special stuffed animals to join you.
If you are celebrating virtually, create a picnic care package that includes a plastic tablecloth and some packaged snacks that don’t require refrigeration.
Our Menu
The word picnic is derived from the French word piquenique, which means a meal eaten outdoors. These mid-century alfresco dining adventures often include only a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread, some cheese, and fruit.
If I translate that menu into grandkid language we might have juice boxes, crackers, cheese sticks and strawberries, plus a little candy treat. Pretty simple!
If you are celebrating in person and traveling beyond the yard, you might want to create some individual picnic boxes.
There are tons of cute Bento boxes for kids that can be used to hold and divide food. My grandkids use them on a daily basis and they love having all their own “things” divided up in the lunch box.
An alternative is to use a craft box for a one time use.
You can even create a custom label for the outside.
Go as elaborate or simple as you wish!
Picnic Craft
What’s a picnic without ants! It’s ok to have an army of ants join you if they are as cute as the ones we’ll be making.
- Purchase (or paint) black clothespins, pipe cleaners and googly eyes.
- Wrap three pipe cleaners arouond the clothespin. These become the legs. Cut to the desired ‘leg length’.
- Glue on three pom poms
- Add another pipe cleaner with ends facing up. These become antennae
- Glue on the little ants gooogly eyes.
Cute!
If your grandkids aren’t into crafting but own the game Cooties, that could be an excellent substitute!
Picnic Story
We’ll be reading a story during our picnic!
Most likely it will be a classic, like The Bears Picnic by Stan and Jan Berenstain.
I’m also taking the book We’re Going On a Picnic, a great read for kids 5 and under. Just what is happening to all the food they put in their picnic basket?!
Conversation Starters
I always have a few conversation starters in the back of my mind for when we get together. Here are a few perfect for picnics:
- If you could go absolutely anywhere for a picnic, where would it be? (Remember – anywhere means anywhere. The moon counts.)
- What do you see when you look at that cloud? (If you are outside.)
- What is the silliest thing someone might eat on a hotdog?
Picnic Games
- My youngest granddaughter (age 2) is a bit too young for this classic, but Morgan (age 6) might just be able to play the game ‘I’m Going On a Picnic and I’m bringing…” (something that starts with ‘A’). The next person repeats the phrase, the word that begins with ‘A’ and adds a word that begins with ‘B”. For Morgan, we’ll just choose random things rather than following the alphabet. And we might only get a few words into the game before we begin again, but I think she will really enjoy it!
- I Spy – always a great go to game for anyplace you decide to have your picnic.
- If you’re in person, take along some balls, or other outside toys.
Whether you are inside or outside, eating homemade culinary creations, or feasting on pre-packaged snacks, whether in person or virtual, we hope your picnic with your grandkids will be filled with fun and laughter! (And we hope all the ants are the homemade kind!)