About Families Online

Feature Articles for September, 2003

Fun-Filled Piñatas
As parents, most of us have watched our kids struggle to have fun with piñatas. First, a rag tag line of party guests waits around itching for “my” turn while each takes a swing or two at the piñata. Then the piñata finally opens and kids swarm on the goodies banging heads and engaging in tug-of-war. Finally, some gloat over their full to bursting bags of “stuff,” and one or two cry over their near empty bags. Is this supposed to be a good time?

Even so piñatas are attractive, seductive, and kids love them. (Maybe it’s the balance of delicate paper and super strength? Maybe it’s the mysterious, invisible stash of goodies waiting to pop out? Maybe it’s the whacking?) There’s definitely something kids can’t resist. What can parents do to feed this fascination while avoiding tears?

Here are a few ideas to make the piñata experience truly fun from start to finish.

Individual Piñatas
What if each child at a party had both the joy of busting the piñata wide open and the guarantee of a fair share of goodies? Enter individual piñatas!

Use water balloon-sized balloons and the directions at the end of this article to make a piñata for each party guest. (Because they are small, they’re quick to make and dry.) Individual piñatas can be the prize in a game, the take-home goodie container, or a prop for a game. For example, at a dinosaur-theme party, have a scavenger hunt for items to make a dinosaur nest (sticks, leaves, pinecones, etc.) and then award a “dinosaur egg” prize to each guest. Or, kids love obstacle courses. Set one up with breaking the piñata as the final “challenge.”

Soccer Ball Piñatas
Have you ever watched a piñata stubbornly resist all efforts to crack it? Frustration mounts and boredom sets in. A soccer ball piñata that kids kick open solves this problem and pumps up the excitement (and participation level) for everyone. The kids stand in a circle, taking turns kicking the piñata to each other. Turns come quicker, people who aren’t “up” are still engaged, and kicking gives extra oomph to get that piñata open!

Cooperative Piñatas
The real, guaranteed tear-producer in the piñata process is the scramble for goodies. Well-prepared party parents may have an extra stash to plump up the leaner bags, but a more straightforward solution is to make the piñata cooperative from the start. Have a bowl on hand and explain that whatever goodies the kids pick up should go right in the bowl. After the piñata is empty and the bowl is full, an adult divides the loot evenly to go home. The kids get the fun of the piñata scramble without the heartache.

Secret Code Piñatas
Another twist on the cooperative idea is to fill the piñata with clues to a secret code or treasure map instead of goodies. As the piñata opens, the kids gather clues, working together to spell a message or create a map that leads them to goodie bags, a hidden cake, a balloon bouquet, or other surprise. Clues should be printed on or stashed inside something that will fall out easily but won’t hurt anyone. Poker chips, film canisters, or plastic egg hunt eggs can all be used to either write on or hold clues. (Paper clues might get stuck in the piñata.)

Piñata Directions
These directions produce a round piñata. A simple internet or library search will yield directions you can follow to add embellishments for other designs.

Gather the following:
Large saucepan
Mixing bowl
1 cup all-purpose flour
5 cups plus 4 cups water
Balloons: Large for regular-size piñatas; water balloon-size for individual piñatas.
Paper: Newspaper for regular-size piñatas; colored tissue paper for individual piñatas.
Scissors
Craft or utility knife
Glue
Goodies or clues

Make the paste:
In the saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to boil. In the mixing bowl, combine 4 cups of cold water and 1 cup of flour. Stir until the liquid is free of lumps. Add the flour and water mixture to the boiling water and return to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens. Allow to cool before using, at least 15 minutes. You’ll be dipping into it with your fingers so it should be cool to the touch.

Assemble the piñata: While waiting for the paste to cool, blow up the balloons. Cut or tear the paper into strips one-inch wide and long enough to stretch about halfway around the balloon. (Shorter is fine; longer is hard to manage.) When the paste has cooled, begin soaking paper strips in the paste. Run your thumb and forefinger down the strip to wipe off excess paste and then apply the strip to the balloon, smoothing as you go. Cover the entire balloon. Allow the first layer of strips to dry to the touch before applying a second layer. For individual piñatas made with tissue paper, you can add a third layer of strips and then set the piñatas aside to dry. For a larger piñata made with heavier paper, allow it to dry overnight before adding a third, fourth, or possibly fifth layer of strips. Place one end of the piñata in a small bowl to steady it while it dries. Rotate to dry the “wet” spot later.

Fill and decorate the piñata:
When the piñata is completely dry, use a craft or utility knife to cut a small “trap door” in the top of the piñata. (The piñata may collapse if you cut the hole before it’s completely dry.)

Remove the pieces of balloon and then fill the piñata with your goodies or clues. Tape the door shut (use strong tape if the kids will be kicking it).

For individual piñatas, glue a piece of tissue paper over the door. For a standard piñata, glue a piece of newsprint over the door and then paint the piñata with poster paints.

Ellen Hartman is a free lance writer and mother living in New York State. She sent her first “baby” off to kindergarten last year with great pride (and many tears).