Need a Craft Idea

[cheerfuldom]

I need a craft idea for my kids night/parents night. Its for mainly preschoolers and young grade schoolers. I have a ton of misc. craft items like pipe cleaners, pom poms and that sort of thing.....what craft could I turn the kids loose on that would be minimally directed and take 20 minutes or more? It doesnt have to be a specific thing, I was thinking more of a general idea that the kids can then use their creativity to personalize with the odds and ends that I have.

Also, need an activity idea. Last time we played games, all having balloons as part of the games. The kids REALLY liked this but it predictably got a little wild. Any other ideas for a non-craft activity that we can do? something where we can get moving but that doesnt involve getting out of control because we do have some young ones in the group.

[godiva83]

My mind is sadly not working and I am coming up blank lol

Have you searched Pinterest for ideas yet?

What about making sun visors using foam paper, or decorating flip flops I know Old Navy had them on for $1 not too sure if they still do.
Or decorating a cut out of a swimsuit.
Coffee filter flowers with eye dropers are always easy too

As for a planned activity I saw a really neat thing on of course Pinterest, where you take a large piece of chicken wire make a tube stick pool noodles thru it and fill with balls from a ball pit, then each person takes a turn pulling out a stick and hope the balls don't fall.
I know you don't want wild but going with your balloon ideas you could make paddles with paper plates and large Popsicle sticks ( have kids decorate the paddle for craft) and Play keep up.

Good luck

[Mary Poppins]

How about have them make good, old fashioned sock puppets (of themselves maybe?) and everyone puts on a puppet show during activity time? That way they will have fun making the craft and during puppet time one or two can be crazy but contained at a time while the rest sit quietly and watch.