10 Ways to Make Pinata Time Even More Fun

What’s colorful, full of fun and the highlight of any party? A pinata! Playing pinata is a thrilling party game for the young and young-at-heart alike. Browse the ideas above for our top 10 tips on making pinata time fun and safe for party guests of all ages ... and super-easy for you!

Party pinatas aren't just the key ingredient to a memorable party game, they're also the perfect party decoration. Using party pinatas as hanging or table decorations adds excitement and the promise of future fun to your party decor. You might be surprised at the amazing variety of pinatas available these days. Whatever your party’s theme, there’s a character, shape, animal, toy or motif pinata to make your party come to life!

For younger children, it's important to have an alternative way to play pinata besides the traditional method of hitting the pinata with a bat. Youngsters will still have a great time when you supply a pull-string pinata. You can let the kiddies take turns pulling strings until they grab the right one that releases all the goodies.

If you’ve got a big crowd (or big kids at your party), go for a big pinata. Giant pinatas stand more than three feet high and hold around 10 pounds of candy and favors. They're a great choice for bigger kids, tweens, teens, and larger parties with lots of guests.

Consider the party theme and the age of the party guests, then make up your own special mix of favors and candy. Start with pre-mixed bags of pinata-perfect candy and add in small party favors – available in value packs – that match your party theme. Be careful not to choose hard items that could injure someone as they fall out of the pinata. Most standard pinatas need about two pounds of filler for maximum fun.

To get all your goodies into the pinata, locate the opening at the top or side under the sticker that says “Press to Fill Here.” Press on the spot to reveal the filler opening, then add your custom mix of favors and candy. If you're using it as a pull-string pinata, keep in mind that pencils and other large items may not fall out as easily as other items.

Your pinata can do double duty as a larger-than-life centerpiece or gift table decoration. This way, everyone gets a chance to have a good look at the pinata before it’s time to release the goodies! Here's a helpful tip: Fill the pinata with candy and favors before setting it out as a decoration. Then when it's pinata time, lift the pinata from the bottom to move it to where you'll be playing.

If you're indoors, scope out a large doorway or central area with lots of clearance for swinging a pinata bat – or play it safe and opt for a pull-string pinata. If you're outdoors, find level ground and a sturdy branch or overhead support. Attach a rope to your pinata and loop the rope over the support. Hang on to the end of the rope and raise or lower the pinata as kids swing at it to make the game more challenging.

Big kids have a lot more fun during pinata time when getting the goodies is a little challenging. No pinata string pulling for this rambunctious bunch; they’d much prefer to give the pinata a satisfying whack with a party bat. The simplest way to increase the difficulty of the pinata game for older children is to have them use a blindfold. To make the game even more tricky (and giggle-inducing), gently spin the blindfolded child around to make them a little dizzy before they step up to swing.

Once the pinata has spilled its filling, everyone needs a bag or favor container to scoop up the goodies. Choose one that complements the party theme. If you’re using solid-color favor containers, add a sticker so it matches your party theme. Set the containers out on a table next to the hanging pinata so guests can grab one and start scooping!

Pinata time can get pretty competitive, so it's important that everyone gets enough goodies and feels special. Have extra pinata filler on hand to top off containers after the game, especially for younger children. The extra treasures and candy will make sure no one gets left out.