Pinatas, am I missing something?

[SPBisResisting]

They seem very expesnive. I don't suppose they're reusable? £10 in Sainsbury's plus you have to buy special bashing sticks which come in packs of three for about £10 each IIRC. So for a party of 30 that's over £100.
I have seen some treasure chest ones which would be perfect as DD is having a pirate party, but....really?

Just make one.

We had some half price in Asda that were about £4 each. They had strings that you pull rather than whacking them (which I prefer).

I have never seen a pinata done with all the children holding a stick each and whacking it at the same time. They've always lined up to take turns with the same stick when I've seen it.

30 kids is a lot to invite to a party.

Yes that would be an idea but I am the least creative person ever and haven't got a clue how :o
How does lining up to take turns work? Surely they burst and the sweets are flung all over? Is that not it/?

the wacking stick must be reusable or replaceable with a walk in the wood?!?

IME they are impossible to break. The rope usually snaps before the pinata has a hole in it.

Does anyone remember the scene in Parenthood with Steve Martin trying to bash his kids' pinata .

They don't need a stick each, that's just a recipe for disaster.
They use the same stick and queue up to take turns

No to them all having sticks - that would be chaos! Asda do different ones for around £7.

I also like the ones with strings - especially for the under 6's

"ApprenticeSeamstress Thu 05-Sep-13 17:46:40

the wacking stick must be reusable or replaceable with a walk in the wood?!?"

Ah but Sainsbury's strongly advise against that. Strangely :o

I don't get it then (never seen one in action). Surely you get halfway down the line, one kid gets all the sweets and the ones who didn't get a bashing turn are upset?

Think I'll just get a normal treasure chest

That's my attitude! Save the papier mache donkeys!

And yes the thought of 30 pre-schoolers armed with sticks is surely a recipe for disaster

I don't understand these either. Surely once it bursts that is it?

The sweets flying in all directions and the resulting scrum distract the others from realising they've not had a go with the stick yet :)

Ah. I'm not convinced - I still think my two would be standing at the back stuffing sweets and tantrumming :o

Whenever I've seen a pinata at a children's party they all line up and take turns with the younger children going first. Depends on the age of the children but for 4/5 year olds they will all get at least one go at hitting it because it takes A LOT of whacking to break it. Older children might break it quicker but it still takes a long time to break it!

You have to tell them before they start whacking that everyone gets to pile in once the Pinata's broken. It'll take them ages anyway - we had all the adults have a go the last time we had one and it still took forever. Those things are made of iron, I tell you! Never been to one where every kid had a stick, recipe for disaster!

You don't all have a stick, it's a taking it in turns game.

Everyone with sticks would be a Braveheart re-enactment.

They're crap anyway. No preschooler could break an Asda one with a stick.maybe preschooler with a chainsaw. Don't suppose Sainsbo recommend that either

"NoMoreMadCatLady Thu 05-Sep-13 17:54:22

Don't put blindfolds on them & spin them first ( children or animals ). "
I had no idea blindfolds and spinning were involved!

We've had them for two parties now. The sticks start at £2 on Amazon. I give the kids 3 bashes each then pass it on - we fill them with plastic coins and a few usually fall out but after 3 goes round the circle when the kids are starting to get bored I usually give the stick to a 10 year old to bash it to bits, I shake the coins over the floor and the kids go mental for them. Playing Mexican music adds to the experience :)

We had a pumpkin pinata at Halloween but there were only 4 dc and each used a plastic 'wand' [£1.50 from Home Bargains].It was a great success.

:o