That silly, foolish day is almost here: that’s right, April Fool’s Day!! It’s the perfect day to play some tricks and jokes on your kids. You could do just one, several, or make a full day of slapstick fun. If you are interested in doing something special to kick off April, check out these quick and easy ideas:

1. Place a For Sale sign in your front yard. That will get your kids asking what’s going on, especially if it says “sold.”
2. Place Wet Paint signs on the walls of your home. I’ll bet your kids will just have to touch the walls and see if it’s for real!
3. Place No Trespassing signs on the toilet. What a way to wake up!
4. Place whoopee cushions or other fun gags at the breakfast table.
5. Place signs on the backs of your kids’ shirts in the morning (do this without them knowing by giving them gentle hugs). Have the signs say anything silly that is in good fun, such as, Flap your arms when I look at you, Hug me, and pat my head.
6. Make up word games, like Hang Man, that have no solutions.
7. Serve dinner for breakfast or vice versa.
8. Rearrange two rooms of furniture. Have the couch in the kitchen and the kitchen table in the family room.
9. Serve Oreo cookies as an after-school snack, but scrape off the cream and fill them with toothpaste. Minty fresh!
10. Reverse your spices. Put pepper in the salt shaker and salt in the pepper shaker.

Kids age 8 and older will appreciate the challenge of an April Fool’s Treasure Hunt. Take average clues that seem quite easy, and have your kids search for the obscure. When they figure out the first clue, it will lead to the next clue, which will lead to the next clue, and so on. Put together as many clues as you want. The last clue should lead the kids to a special treat for all of their efforts, such as a joke book.
Here are some sample clues:
1. I spout water and make everything clean (hose).
2. It’s just another way you can get to school (a wheelbarrow, if you have one or some other obscure form of transportation you have at your home).
3. I’ll keep you warm at night when it is cold (hot water bottle).
4. I see you compactly when you open me (Mom’s powder compact).
5. I’m thinner than string and can make everything squeaky clean (dental floss).
6. I keep things cool that are yum to eat (ice cooler/chest).
7. Play me to entertain you just in time (clock radio).
8. I go around and around all day long (dryer).
9. I welcome you and your guests home (front door mat/rug).
10. Stomp, run, and walk on me; I can take it and still grow (grass/front yard).
These clues will have your kids looking all over the place for these obscure things and places! You can either preface the hunt with the fact that the clues may seem easy, but are meant to be puzzling, or you can let your kids have the full challenge of figuring it out for themselves!
It doesn’t take much to mix up your April Fool’s Day and have some goofy fun! Enjoy the spirit of foolishness!