Games and Activities
Upon arrival, ask the kids what they know about Batman. Key pieces of information to discuss include:
- Batman is a regular guy who is really smart ─ no superpowers.
- Batman is a master of martial arts.
- Batman is into gadgets.
- Batman often battles against the same villains.
- Batman is summoned by the police commissioner with the bat sign in the sky over Gotham City.
- Batman has a Bat Cave and travels in a Batmobile.
Once the kids are dressed up in their costumes, divide the kids into teams and have them complete a series of Bat Stations together. Allow the kids 5 minutes at each station and then rotate:
Station 1: Drive the Batmobile ─ If you have a battery operated car, dress it up like the Batmobile and have the kids drive it for maneuverability.
Station 2: Visit the Bat Cave ─ In the sea of balloons that are in the Bat Cave area, place a few pieces of candy in a few of the balloons. Once you have blown them up, write villain names and draw their pictures on the balloons with a paint pen. The kids must stomp the bad guy balloons and save the candy!
Station 3: Board Breaking ─ Given Batman is a master of the martial arts, ask the kids to break a board with a kick and a punch. Use styrofoam trays that meat comes packaged in ─ your local grocery stores often have extras that they will give to you for free.
Once the kids have completed these stations, they will be ready for some training before solving a series of crimes. Have a parent helper dress up as Commissioner Gordon and address the kids on the help he needs to solve a series of crimes taking place in Gotham City. Before they depart to defeat the villains, have them undergo superhero training, including: rolling, jumping, climbing up wedges, and crawling through a tunnel.
Set the kids off to solve a series of crimes:
Penguin’s Mischief ─ Reintroduce the Penguin as a gentleman of crime who loves birds and uses them in his crimes. The Penguin has kidnapped someone and the kids have to figure out who it is. Purchase 6 little red birds from an arts and craft store and hide 5 of them around the party room with clues attached to each one that leads to the next bird. The last bird shows the kids who they are looking for. As an example, the kids are looking for Big Bird. Use these sample clues:
- Victim is someone you see on TV.
- He is yellow.
- Loves to sing
- Lives on a famous street
- His best friend lives in a garbage can.
Mr. Freeze’s Cream Caper ─ Reintroduce Mr. Freeze who commits crimes around the themes of ice and cold. Mr. Freeze has stolen something you need for the party. Guess what it is! When the group finds 5 (plastic) ice cubes, they will also find what he stole ─ the ice cream.
Play Mr. Freeze Tag. Play bat music from the movie and start with the birthday child as “it” and whomever he or she tags is frozen in place. Whoever is still in motion at the very end, wins!
Play Mr. Freeze Bubble Game. Using a small wading pool, cover the bottom with water and add dishwashing liquid to it and a little bit of glycerin. Place a small stepping stool in the middle of the pool with a hula hoop around it in the bottom of the pool. Give each child a turn to sit on the stool and then pull the hula hoop over them. Instantly they are inside a giant bubble. Take pictures of each child in the giant bubble.
Catwoman’s Thievery ─ Reintroduce Catwoman, who is a burglar that likes rare and beautiful objects with cat names and designs, uses cats as helpers, and uses cat related weapons. Catwoman has stolen something and the kids must find it. The group must find 5 little stuffed cats that will lead them to play jewelry that is hidden in the Bat Cave.
