Moms Talk: Ideas for an Old Fashioned Picnic

OK, I need some help. I'm supposed to help organize an old-fashioned over-the-summer picnic at the beginning of August for Valley View.

The parameters: it has to be old-fashioned, it can't be expensive, it has to involve parents and kids, and nothing with batteries.

We blocked out , which has bathrooms nearby, but is remote enough to feel secluded. A few picnic benches are there, and there is plenty of parking and lots of grass and shade.

It's funny, a blow-up bounce is such a standard that the park officials asked twice if we were having one. No moon bounce. No hand-held computer devices are allowed either.

But, even the old standards are thwarted by the politically-correct police. No water pistols because they are guns. There's a blind's man's bluff game that required also shooting, but that was nixed by the principal. Water balloons can't be picked up easily when they burst, so no balloons, and bobbing for apples gets messy after a lot of kids cough and sneeze in the same tub.

No Silly String (not biodegradable), no waterslides (someone could get hurt), no hard balls or pointed devices.

A watermelon seed-spitting contest promotes spitting, dodgeball can get too mean, and what if there are kids who don't want to get wet or dirty or are allergic to grass?

It gets tough.

So, here's our rundown so far. Any other ideas?

* Tug of war. A big rope and evenly-matched adults and kids on either side.

* Capture the flag. The park has a fenced area for "prisoners" and no tackling is involved. 

* Egg toss. Teams of two, parent and kid. Everyone stands along a line facing each other, they toss, both sides take a step back they toss again, until someone drops or gets splattered.

* Egg on spoon relay. Teams hold an egg on a spoon. Some parents suggest the eggs be boiled to prevent more of a mess, but gosh, isn't that the point?

* Sack race. I'm told old pillowcases are better than the potentially itchy burlap bags.

*Three-legged race. Tie one leg of a youth and adult and go for it.

The three-legged race is a particular favorite of mine. One of my favorite childhood memories is of my dad and I winning third place in a three-legged race in elementary school. I still have that green ribbon somewhere.

Have any other ideas? Leave them in the COMMENTS area below.

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