Organize a Family Picnic
Having a picnic during the summer months can be entertaining and a blast for the entire family. It's a great boredom buster, but it also helps the family to get together and eat some delicious food and play fun games. It doesn't take more than a picnic basket, a few food items, and help from your family to organize your very own. And you need to realize that it acts as a glue for family bonds.
Steps
- Select a weekend to have your picnic. Try to do it in the summer months, because that's when picnic season is most popular. Make sure you okay the time and date with your family. If you need to, you should Design Beach Party Invitations so everyone can be able to come.
- Make an inventory of family you'd like to invite. Ask your siblings and parents to invite some of their favorite friends from at work, school, or the neighborhood. The more people who come, the more fun the picnic is likely to be.
- Choose an appropriate location. The park, or outside in the front lawn works out just fine. Be sure to listen to any suggestions that your family might have about picking out a decent place.
- Design Beach Party Invitations so everyone can see where the picnic is and the date and time for it. Some ideas for a good invitation is to make them out of green, black, and red construction paper for a watermelon shape, or just be creative and make up your own. The watermelon shape may be extremely popular with kids.
- Bring a picnic basket along for the event. It should be medium to large sized, depending on how many food items you plan to bring. If you have items that can spoil in the heat, you should have a cooler to bring with you too. If you don't have your own, you can get one at public grocery stores like Safeway, Walmart, or King Soopers.
- Select the menu. Know that the most popular food items to bring to your picnic are peanut butter and jelly and Make Grilled Ham & Cheese in Microwave, chocolate chip cookies, chips, and soda. Among the healthier items there are watermelon, apples, celery, and raisins, to name a few. Ask your friends to help you choose some of their favorite food items that they'd like to have.
- Bring cookies because they are a popular dessert for picnics, as are cake and pie. You can buy your own or make your own homemade recipe for chocolate chip cookies.
- Remember that other food ideas might include Fried Chicken, Potato salad, cole slaw and pickles and Strawberry cake, blueberry pie, cheese spread with crackers, and grapes, which are great snacks for both kids and adults. Blueberry pie can easily be found frozen and ready to bake in your store's bakery freezer section.
- Organize fun games and activities for any kids or teenagers or anyone else that will be attending. Volleyball or soccer are also some great game options for picnic game beginners.
- Make sure to have a good time and enjoy yourself with your family. After all, isn't that what summer picnics are all about?
Tips
- If you can, ask if a band or music concert can perform at your picnic for entertainment. If your location is at a public place such as a car show, or any other gathering, then it might be suitable for you to have one. If they take requests, send some in so you can hear your favorite music while you eat. If you aren't able to, just bring along a boom box or radio player to listen to music.
- Make a potluck picnic. Ask each member of your family to make and bring their own meal dishes for your picnic. You'll get to try new foods and possibly learn more about your family's culture.
- Bring a camera or video player along to your picnic. You want to be sure and record memories for a great summer activity. If a member of your family insists on bringing one, ask if you can have a copy of the video for home.
- Don't dismiss the idea of a game entertainment booth if you can get one. Over there, you'll be able to help host games and activities for your picnic. For little ones who are still learning the basic food items, you can help them by pointing to written names and having them match the correct names with the right food items.
- Purchase a checkered or blue cloth to fit inside your basket. While it doesn't do much, it accents it and makes it look pretty and decorative. Also, be sure that where your having your picnic set up includes benches and tables. You'll need them so you can sit, relax, chat, and put the food down in it's proper settings.
- Create your own album with photos, drawn pictures, and important facts for your family gathering. Then if you're able, make duplicates and give them to each family member so they can have a memory of the picnic too.
Warnings
- Be extra careful about peanut allergies, as some foods can contain peanut and oil ingredients.
- Don't be afraid to invite some of your friends and have them meet your family. You'll have even more fun. Be careful that you don't have any hurt feelings for handing out form while your handing out your invitations.
- If pets are coming, be sure and pack toys and treats for them. They want to join in on the fun too. Don't leave pets behind because fresh air and exercise is decent for them.
- If you start to bicker with your peers or family, then stop. Picnics are very good for breaking up fights and can help you have a nice time, and enjoy each other.
Things You'll Need
- Cheesecloth for serving food
- Food utensils such as knives, forks, spoons, and plates.
- A camera (optional, but recommended)
- Frisbee or pet toys and treats, if you have a dog.
- Comic books (optional). Try 'Calvin and Hobbes' or 'Garfield'.
- Mosquito net, if necessary (for keeping out mosquitoes and other pesky bugs.)
- Sunscreen, if necessary
- Help from your family and friends.
- Radio or CD Player for music
- Tables and/or benches (You want a place to sit).
- spreads and crackers.
- Fried chicken
- Salads
- watermelon and fruits
- pies,cakes and cookies
- sausage
- candy (Such as lollipops, taffy, and gumdrops)
- sandwiches (ham and cheese; peanut butter and jelly)
- fruit drinks and soda
- pretzels
- chips
- pizza
- hot dogs
- corn dogs
- Condiments
- horseradish
- dipping sauce (For carrots or celery).
