Be careful with Movie Nights. You can not charge an admission fee for legal reasons. You can have a suggested donation for admission and snacks but not a required fee.
Required fees are a breach of the license and can cause legal problems between your school and the company that owns the rights to whichever movie you are showing. When you apply for your license, you agree to these terms whether you know it or not. Always read the fine print!
I have planned a Nascar Night, Space Night, Movie Night, Sock Hop, Wacky Water Day and Enchantment in the pumpkin patch dance. I am currently planing a Spring Carnival:) If you would like to swap notes shoot me an email:) I love planning these events and seeing the children's faces. I have never charged over a $1.00 for food and drinks and 75% of all of my Family Fun Nights are at no cost. I would love to talk to other parents who enjoy this as much as I do. Great Thread!
I like the fitness and healthy self-esteem building activities. I discourage the ideas of "all you can eat" not-good-for-you-foods. There are SO many problems with childhood (as well as adult!) obesity, etc. Not to mention that all that junk food makes them hyper or moody. Let's teach our kids **good**, healthy fun instead of harming them with bad food habits. Thanks.
Our elementary just started Movie Nights last year. Very fun. We've also had a Reading Night and a Math Night once a year too – run by staff with help from PTO.
In addition, we have had a Winter Family Fun Night for as long as I can remember. Our PE Teacher organizes the activities and PTO helps with volunteers and snacks. We have sledding, snowshoeing, our indoor climbing wall and usually some miscellaneous indoor activities like jump rope or basketball since it's usually held at the end of January in northern Michigan. Last year, she decided to contact our local Hoopercise Fitness Center. They came prepared to teach all ages and we filled the gym with crazy hoopers. They gave one away too! It was hysterical to see men, woman and children hula-hoop the night away while promoting a fun exercise!!
We had a boys night out at a local bowling place, and the price included food, drink, shoe rental and bowling.
We did a girls night out the same week at a place that does nails, karaoke, makeup application and dress up for girls. The girls really loved this event.
We tried to inspire a "spend an evening with your daughters" or "spend an evening with your sons" theme.
This year we did a All You Can Eat Pizza & Movie Night. We charged $5.00 and that included all you can eat pizza and drink, we also had a few cookies and such. Then after we ate we showed a new release movie where we sold popcorn for .50 cents a bag. The event was very successful with a good size turn out, we didn't make a great deal, but we seem to be changing our focus this year with lots of family events were we break even but we have a great time with our school families!
"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
