Unlike the Linus, who delivers his eloquent speech at the Charlie Brown Christmas program, this little guy is thoroughly confused about what or who to put his faith in. What a wonderful way to bring kids the gospel! Showing this short movie at a family night party is a great way to get the conversation started. Besides showing the film, these party ideas work well too.
Charlie Brown Party Games
- I Got a Rock: Fill several dozen, paper lunch bags with candy but fill a few of them with rocks. Fold the tops of the bags over so no one can peek inside. Ask each child to pick a treat bag. Let each one open their bags. Some kids will get a bag of rocks, but keep it lighthearted. Talk about the scene from the show and how it feels to be disappointed. Surprise these kids with a special prize!
- Pumpkin Bowling: Set up water bottles on the floor, like a bowling alley. Have kids roll the pumpkin to try to knock down the bottles. Pumpkins don’t roll well so this may take a few attempts. Set up the bottles for each child. Reward the best bowler with a pumpkin to take home.
- Apple Bobbing: All you need is a few things for this Great Pumpkin game–towels, a bucket, water and apples. Kids will take turns bobbing for apples. (Do use caution with small children and never leave a bucket of water unattended around them.)
Charlie Brown Party Decorations
- Pumpkin Patch: I like to offer healthy snacks, too. Draw happy jack-o-lantern faces on tangerines or oranges and arrange them a pile a fake straw. What a fun looking pumpkin patch!
- Welcome Holy Spirit: Create a construction paper sign that says, “Welcome Holy Spirit,” (instead of Great Pumpkin) and tape the sign to a bamboo skewer. Poke the skewer in a pumpkin and use it as a decoration.
- Set up a photo booth for your Great Pumpkin party. Make Snoopy’s doghouse out of a cardboard box or copy Lucy’s party background. You could also set up a cardboard cut out with a Snoopy, Lucy, Linus or Charlie Brown body and let kids pose behind them.
Have fun with this seasonal theme!