Here are some kid-friendly treats and snacks for the end-of-summer party:

**Treats:**

1. Ice Cream Cones: Offer a variety of ice cream flavors and let the kids choose their toppings like sprinkles, chocolate chips, whipped cream, and cherries.

2. Popsicles: You can either buy colorful popsicles or make your own using fruit juices or yogurt.

3. Cupcakes: Decorate cupcakes with colorful frosting and edible decorations like gummy bears or candy eyes.

4. Fruit Skewers: Thread chunks of watermelon, pineapple, grapes, and berries onto skewers for a refreshing and healthy treat.

5. Rice Krispie Treats: These classic treats are always a hit with kids, and you can even shape them into fun summer-themed molds.

6. Mini Donuts: Serve up mini-sized donuts with different glazes and toppings.

**Snacks:**

1. Popcorn: Pop some plain popcorn and offer different seasonings like cheese, caramel, or cinnamon-sugar for kids to add themselves.

2. Veggie Sticks with Dip: Provide carrot sticks, cucumber slices, and bell pepper strips with a side of ranch or hummus for dipping.

3. Cheese and Crackers: Set out a platter with a variety of cheese cubes and crackers for kids to nibble on.

4. Pretzels: Mini pretzels or pretzel sticks make a crunchy and savory snack option.

5. Trail Mix: Create a custom trail mix with nuts, dried fruits, chocolate chips, and pretzels.

6. Fruit Cups: Serve individual fruit cups with a mix of fresh fruits like grapes, oranges, and strawberries.

7. Cheese Puffs: These airy snacks are a favorite among kids and come in various flavors.

8. Fruit Pops: Freeze blended fruit or fruit juices in popsicle molds for a healthy and tasty frozen treat.

Remember to consider any dietary restrictions or allergies among the party guests when selecting the treats and snacks. You can mix and match these ideas to create a delicious and diverse spread that will keep the kids satisfied and energized throughout the party!

Thanksgiving Games

If you're planning a Thanksgiving party in the homeschool or classroom, or just at home there are a myriad of games you can have the children play that will be fun but also educational and useful in teaching the concept of being thankful. 

Be careful not to overdo the turkey aspect of Thanksgiving. Some children forget that it's about more than the turkey. Playing some fun games can help them remember the purpose of Thanksgiving. 

Try a gratitude bag. Fill the bag with several cards, each with something on it. Some will say "Thanksgiving" while others will have a word or picture of other things. Some of those other things might be cars, food, clothes, etc. Have the children sit in a circle and draw a card out of the bag. If they get a card that has a picture or word on it other than "Thanksgiving" they should talk about why they are thankful for that item and why others should be as well. 

For example, if the child choose "shoes", they might express how thankful they are that they have shoes so their feet stay clean and they don't get cold in the winter and they stay unharmed when they are walking. Depending on the ages of the children, this might be a simple response or something a little more involved once they understand the concept better.  If they draw the "car" card, they might comment on how nice it is to have a car and not have to take the bus, or how nice it is that their mom can pick them up from school so they don't have to walk home everyday. With help from the teacher or a parent, they might even note that in many parts of the world, people don't have cars (or shoes) and that they are lucky to have all these things.

If the child chooses a card that says "Thanksgiving" they should come up with an original idea about something they are thankful for. Try to steer them away from things like "Playstation" but instead steer them toward things like "my parents" and "my house and my room".

For some thinking fun, have kids do a word find with Thanksgiving words. Provide them with a list of words related to Thanksgiving. They might be "Thanksgiving", "Cornucopia", "Mayflower", "Turkey", etc. Then they must find words contained in those words. So, if the word is "Mayflower", they might find words like "lay", "flower", "flow" and the like. "Thanksgiving" might turn into "thank", "sing", and "an". See which child can find the most words in the list of words you provide them. Try to challenge the kids to find words within the words that relate back to Thanksgiving.

The old memory game is always fun and can be used for Thanksgiving too. Have the children sit in a circle and have someone start the game by saying, "At Thanksgiving, I like to eat" and then finish it with one food item. So that child might say, "At Thanksgiving, I like to eat turkey", and the next child will say, "At Thanksgiving, I like to eat turkey and cranberry sauce." The next child would continue with, "At Thanksgiving, I like to eat turkey and cranberry sauce and green beans." Each child will carry on until the list becomes so long, someone is sure to forget an item. You can either star the game over or keep going until everyone is out but one child.

​ORANGE PARK MALL WILL HOP INTO SPRING WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE EASTERBUNNY ON FRIDAY, MARCH 24
 
ORANGE PARK, Fla. (March 13, 2017) - Orange Park Mall, Clay County’s one-stop family shopping, dining and entertainment destination,will hop into spring with the arrival of the Easter Bunny on Friday, March 24. Families are invited to enjoy Orange Park Mall’s annual lineup of traditional and unique seasonal celebrations including the Easter Bunny Photo Experience and the KidX Club Easter Eggstravaganza.
“Orange Park Mall is excited to continue this tradition which brings families together during this special time of year,” said Gi Teevan, director of marketing at Orange Park Mall. “As a central place for the community to gather, we invite children of all ages to take advantage of these seasonal celebrations and enjoy a diverse selection of shopping, dining and entertainment options at Orange Park Mall.”
 
This year, Orange Park Mall is pleased to present the following “egg-cellent” events:  
 
Easter Bunny Photo Experience, Friday, March 24 –  Saturday, April 15, Center Court
Orange Park Mall’s Easter Bunny Photo Experience will give families the opportunity to capture special springtime memories. Children can visit with the Easter Bunny and parents are welcome to purchase professional photos of the fun occasion. For a complete schedule of the Easter Bunny Photo Experience, please visit orangeparkmall.com.
 
KidX Club Easter Eggstravanganza, Saturday, April 8 from 9:30 – 11 a.m., Center Court
Get in the spring spirit by participating in the hunt for over 1,500 eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny. Kids can cuddle live bunnies, learn about butterflies, enjoy Easter treats, themed crafts, games and more fun. Free.
 
Please note that in observance of Easter, Orange Park Mall will be closed on Sunday, April 16.
 
For more information about special events or for a list of retailers, call Orange Park Mall at (904) 269-2422 or visit orangeparkmall.com. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/OrangeParkMall and follow us on Twitter @OrangeParkMall and on Instagram @orangeparkmall.