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When planning our monthly teen program in December, we came across the idea for “Pancakes and Pajamas” and made it into “Pizza and Pajamas”, a fun evening with activities and food for teens! Pizza and Pajamas incorporates Teen Services Competencies as outlined by YALSA. Specifically, it fits Interactions with Teens and Learning Environments (ALA, 2010). This program allows for great flexibility. Teens can complete an activity individually, as a group, or just be a spectator. Often our attendees found ways of making the activities their own by doubling up on the foam mats to make bigger houses or competing against each other in pairs.

Materials

  • Masking Tape
  • Yarn
  • 8 Pizzas
  • Scissors
  • Pillow Cases
  • Prizes
  • Gift Bags
  • Hula Hoops
  • Table Top Games
  • Video Game Console
  • Foam Puzzle Mats

Activities

  • Laser Obstacle Course – Yarn attached to a wall and table with masking tape.
  • Build a House – Use 8 foam puzzle mats to build a small house.
  • Hopscotch –  A tapped outline on the floor.
  • Pillow Case Race – Two upcycled pillowcases used to cross a masking tape finish line.
  • Hula Hoop Toss – Participants toss hula hoops over a tall container from an increasing distance.
  • Nintendo Switch – Mario Party, Overcooked, etc.
  • Exploding Kittens Game
  • Superfight Game

This program was a great success, and we hope you can incorporate some of these activities into your next event! We had over 20 participants–all highly engaged. Several teens wanted to repeat the Laser Obstacle Course. We had to rework the course to make it more challenging. The Hula Hoop Toss was surprisingly hard but still fun. Everyone wanted to compete to see who could build a foam mat house the fastest. After the first hour, some participants left, and others stayed to play games and finish off the pizza. Some of the activities may seem a bit young for teens, but that was part of the fun. Recreational activities are a great way to build self-confidence and social skills. 

“Teen Services Competencies for Library Staff”, American Library Association, March 1, 2010.

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/guidelines/yacompetencies (Accessed December 28, 2022)

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