Pajama-rama for Grandchildren

Pajama-rama. Pajama-rama!  (Which rhymes with llama.) Don’t you just love saying that word?

Gather your grandchildren around for a Pajama-rama activity.

Have them wear their PJs (and  you wear yours, too, grandma!) and come prepared for lots o’ fun.  (You don’t need to connect it to a sleep over — unless you want to.)

What does one do at a pajama-rama?  Anything a grandma wants to plan!  The fun thing is that you do your activities in the comfort of your pajamas!

Here is a list of ideas to get your noodle thinking.

• Instead of having your grandchildren bring/wear their pajamas, give them new ones when they first arrive.  Purchase pajama bottoms (flannel, cotton, or smooth silkie ones) and buy colored t-shirts to match.  One of your activities could be decorating the t-shirts with iron on appliques, rhinestones, buttons, bows, or fabric paints.
• Make fuzzy flip flops.  Have each grandchild bring a pair of flip flops.  Have an assortment of pieces of fake fur (spotted like a leopard skin, wild colors like neon orange, or camouflage).  Trace the flip flop bottom on a piece of paper to make your pattern.  Cut out the pattern and then use it to cut the shape out of the fake fur.  Make slits in the fur where the toe and the side straps are.  Get some 3M Super Strong Automotive Attachment Tape or double-sided cloth carpet tape.  (Maybe your local craft store has some really strong double sided tape. I’ve seen ‘flip flop’ glue that would work, too.) Put pieces of the tape on the flip flop.  Put the fur on top and firmly press down.  Now your grandchildren have a pair of fuzzy, soft-soled flip flops.
• If you have grade school grandchildren, have them bring a stuffed animal.  Grandma hides their stuffed animals and then have an indoor safari while the grandchildren hunt for their stuffed animals.
• Get solid colored pillowcases and a set of fabric markers or fabric paint.  Let your grandchildren decorate a pillowcase.  Be sure to slip some cardboard inside the pillowcase so the markers or paint don’t bleed through.
• For grandchildren who are a little older, you could have some fun fabric and teach your grandchildren how to sew their own pillowcase.
• Read stories to your grandchildren — or have them read them to you.
• Play the sleeping bag guessing game.  Send one grandchild out of the room.  Have the other grandchildren switch sleeping bags and hide inside them.  Bring the grandchild back into the room and have her guess who is in the which sleeping bag.
• Design and make a door hanger.  Here are some ideas and also some templates that you could print and decorate.  Here are some more blank templates so that you could create your own.
• For granddaughters, have a make-up make-over.  Purchase inexpensive eye shadows, blush, lipsticks and nail polish.  Have your granddaughters select the colors they like and then apply them.  Have curling irons, flat irons, etc. and have them try new hair styles.  Have bows, clips, and flower hair accessories that they can use (and keep).
• Play some games such as The Dice Game, Zilch, War (with dice), Flash, the Candy Bar Game, Murder in the Dark (for tweens and teens), or the Dictionary Game (for older grandkids).
• Make cookies, a special popcorn treat, or some other delectable high-sugar-something-that-mother-wouldn’t-approve-of goodie!
• Watch a movie.
• Do dances like the Hokey Pokey or the Funky Chicken.