Messy Disgusting Derby Party

If you have a kid who loves to play in the dirt, then we have a party plan for you. This party is a mess, literally. Get your camera set up and prepare to laugh a lot at our messy Disgusting Derby!

Whipped Cream Face

The Disgusting Derby

First things first…

Make sure your invitation warns your guests to wear old clothes. Seriously, they may want to throw them away at the end of the party.  Here’s our simple invitation:

Disgusting Derby Invitation

Now for the activities…

Divide your guests into groups of two people. Each pair will be a team. The activities will include a series of disgusting competitions.

Messy Marshmallow Drop

Supplies: Each team will need 5 large marshmallows, one cup of chocolate pudding, and one chair.

One person from each team will stand on a chair. The other will lay on the ground next to the chair. The goal is to dip a marshmallow in pudding, then drop it into the mouth of your partner laying on the ground. The team with the most marshmallow catches gets the points.

Messy Marshmallow Drop

Close Up of Messy Marshmallow Drop

Spitty Sticky Game

Supplies: One roll of LifeSavers per team (14 LifeSavers are in a roll.)

This game is seriously gross.  One person in the pair will suck on the LifeSavers, then stick as many as they can on their partner’s face. They have 30 seconds. The team with the most LifeSavers on a face gets the points.

Spitty Sticky LifeSavers Game

Close Up of Spitty Sticky Game

Whipped Cream Toss

Supplies: One or two cans of spray whipped cream.

An adult will spray a blob of whipped cream on the top of each person’s hand. The kids will flip the whipped cream in the air and try to catch it in their mouths. (See video.) Give every player at least three chances.  The team with the most successful catches gets the points.

Whipped Cream Toss

Whipped Cream Catch

Gross Goatees

Supplies: Each team will need a plastic cup with 1/8-1/4 cup corn syrup in it. They will also need a plastic cup with 1/2 cup of Life Cereal crumbs. (Make the crumbs by pouring Life cereal in a Ziplock bag and smashing it with a rolling pin or your hands.)

Once again, the teams will decide who will do each of two tasks. One person will paint a beard and mustache on their partner with their fingers and corn syrup.  Then they will pat Life cereal crumbs on the syrup to create “facial hair.” So funny!  Best beard wins the points.

Close Up of Gross Goatees

Gross Goatee Bearded Boy

Disgusting Derby (Relay Race)

Supplies: Paper Plates, Creamy and slimy foods such as pudding, refried beans, canned tomato soup, cottage cheese, peanut butter, hummus, whipped cream, baby food, yogurt, and mud.

Combine the pairs into two large teams for a relay race. Players will run across the yard to a table. The table will have paper plates sitting on it. Each plate has one of the following items: pudding, refried beans, tomato soup, cottage cheese, peanut butter, hummus, whipped cream, baby food, yogurt, or mud.  Anything slimy, sticky, or creamy will work!  The plates will then be covered with a second plate so the contents are hidden. When the runner reaches the table, they point to a plate. An adult removes the cover and the player must smash his face in the contents before he can run back to tag the next person in line. Those who hesitate usually don’t win!

Running toward the mess
Running toward the mess!
Smashing his face into chocolate pudding. Lucky choice!
Refried Beans Face
Covered in refried beans
Disgusting Derby- Tomato soup
Oooh! Tomato soup slime.

Whipped Cream Face

Water Fight

End the party with an epic water fight!  It may help clean up your little mess-makers, or it may just make everything more sticky. Either way, it will be fun.

Treats

You can choose your favorite messy dessert.  We served Dirt & Worms at our party. Yum!

Dirt and Worms Dessert Recipe

We hope this party is as much fun at your house as it was at ours!

Gross Goatees
Sticky bearded boys!

Find more of our unique party ideas for kids ages 8-12  at Big Kid Parties.

Our Favorite Read-Aloud Books

If you’re looking for a great way to spend quality time with your kids, consider the power of the bedtime story. I have wonderful memories of my husband sitting in the lamp-lit hallway, reading to our kids tucked in their beds.  I’d find my teenagers snuggled into a corner nearby, listening.  It’s a sweet time to be together and a great way to wind down before sleep. Sharing stories unifies us, but also increases vocabulary and knowledge in ways nothing else can.  Take time to do it as often as possible. You won’t regret it.

Here’s a list of some of our favorite read-aloud books with suggestions for age appropriateness. If your children are pre-school ages, see Our Favorite Picture Books.

FANTASTIC READ-ALOUD BOOKS

 

My Fathers Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (Ages 5-10)

Charlotte’s Web by E.B White (Ages 5-10)

Roald Dahl books. Our favorites are Danny, the Champion of the World, Matilda, and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.  You can’t go wrong with Roald Dahl! (Ages 5-12)

Chickens in the Headlights by Matthew Buckley (Ages 5-12)

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner (Ages 5-10)

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald (Ages 6-10)

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary (Ages 6-10)

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (Ages 6-12)

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (Ages 6-16)

 

The Great Brain series by John D. Fitzgerald (Ages 7-12)

Pax by Sara Pennypacker (Ages 7-12)

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling (Ages 7-16)

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli (Ages  8-12)

Esperanza Rising  by Pam Munoz Ryan(Ages 8-12)

Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald (Ages 8-14)

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (Ages 8-12)

 

Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart (Ages 8-14)

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (Ages 8-14)

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw (Ages 9-14)

Three Times Lucky by Shelia Turnage (Ages 9-14)

Rump by Liesl Shurtliff (Ages 9-14)

Ella Enchanted by Gale Carson Levine (Ages 9-14)

 

Wonder  by R.J. Palacio (Ages 9-16)

The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Ages 9-14)

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George (Ages 9-14)

Raymond and Graham by Mike Knudson (Ages 8-12)

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (Ages 9-16)

 

Peter & the Starcatchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson (Ages 10-15)

Number the Stars by Louis Lowry (Ages 10-16)

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (Ages 10-14)

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk (Ages 10-14)

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi (Ages 10-16)

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielson (Ages 10-16)

The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett (Ages 11-16)

Pat McManus short stories (Favorite Books: The Grasshopper Trap, A Fine and Pleasant Misery, and Never Sniff a Gift Fish) We recommend reading through the books and finding stories your kids will enjoy.  These are great to share around the campfire or as bedtime stories.

Summer Chore Chart Gameboard

Summer is a time to play and have fun, but there are still jobs that must be done each day to keep parents sane and everyone healthy.  Make a plan to stay on top of daily chores and skills while still having fun.

This year we added a gameboard to our summer calendar.  The idea is simple. As kids complete their daily responsibilities, they move up the board and earn fun rewards.

Board Game Job Chart and Calendar

We brainstormed fun activities we would like to do this summer and built them into our gameboard.  Hint: Involve your kids in the planning and they’ll be more likely to participate!

Some of the rewards on our gameboard include:

Crepes for breakfast (We call them Norwegian pancakes.)

Stay up late

Milkshakes

Pick a book at the local bookstore

Extra/Free screen time

Movie Night

Choose Dinner

Backyard Campout

Swimming

Sleepover with Cousins

Field Trip of you choice

Snow Cones

Date Night with Mom or Dad

Choose a special dessert

Climbing Gym

You’ll also have to figure out the best way for your kids to move up the game board.  You can see our rules in the photo above.  Create your own rules based on the age of your children and your family goals.

For more ideas on teaching children to work, see our post Chore Charts &  Beyond.