indestructible pinatas (inspired by Mos Mom)

[klmklm]

Has anyone ever had a (store-bought) pinata that the kids could actually break??

I remember one birthday party where the birthday boy's father finally pulled the dinosaur pinata to the ground and was whaling on it with a baseball bat, and it still wouldn't break. They had taken so long trying to let the kids break it that the party was running late, parents were arriving to pick up kids, and that dad was starting to turn red in the face trying to break that thing so everyone could go home.

 

[Bob Slydell]

We'll find out this weekend. I have to say, though, it seems like the situation you described is the more common one I've seen.

 

[decker96]

My daughter has had a pinata for her party the last 3 years and either I or my DH has always had to break them at the end. We have some plastic golf clubs that work better than a bat because the club face works like kind of a hook to punch a hole in the pinata. But, the hole is always on the top so the candy still doesn't come out. We usually let each kid at the party have three hits, then we punch a hole in the top and dump the candy out. The kids don't really care, they just want the treats!
I have seen a new pull-string kind in some stores. There are about 12 ribbons hanging from the bottom of the pinata and one is attached to the trapdoor which when pulled opens up the bottom and the candy all falls out. I asked DD if she wanted to get one of those for her party this weekend (she's turning 7), but she said no because what if the first person that pulls it opens it up, that wouldn't be any fun.
So, I guess it's back to me beating on the regular pinata to get the candy out. At least I get to take out some of my frustrations on it! LOL!

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

We have done the pull strip ones for both kids for the past 2 years (total of 4 times) There are more like 30 ribbons on bottom. I am not lying when I say all 4 times we have gotten down to less then 3 ribbons before it opens. If it happens again, I'm calling Ripleys.

As for the whacking kind. I always take a box-cutter to it before hand, or you'll be there all day.

Also with the round pull string ones, they are just decorated with a mylor ballon. So I save the thing, tape it up, add some ribbons each year, and buy another ballon to match the current years theme.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by BoyLovesBuzz
As for the whacking kind. I always take a box-cutter to it before hand, or you'll be there all day.

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to try that.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

At our last block party the darn thing fell out of the tree totally intact... the hanging strap broke!

 

[chager]

We did one of those pull the ribbon ones a few years ago. Well we must of gotten a defective one because it NEVER opened!!!!! We ended up using a knife to open it!!!

 

[poohtown]

OMG- this is too funny!

About 10 years ago, my mother brought a pinata to my daughters birthday party. All the kids where whacking the thing to death but it didn't even get a dent. Then the adults were taking turns. Still no one could do it. My husband was last because we were all sure Mr. truck-driving, heavy-lifting, hulk-man would smash it to pieces. He ended up with the thing on the floor, banging it, stomping on it, etc. The thing would not crack. Finally he went to the garage and came back with the saw. He cuts the thing in half, opens it and guess what......it's empty. My stupid mother doesn't realize you have to actually put the candy inside. The kids looked heartbroken but we were laughing our heads off. Quick thinking - I told the kids it must be a treasure hiding pinata and the candy fairy must have been hiding candy while we were trying to open the pinata. The scampered off while I ran to the kitchen and scooped up all the candy I could find and started throwing it behind the couch and chairs. We were finding candy for a month after that party and still laugh about it.

 

[decker96]

Poohtown -- That is hilarious!!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

We've used the pull string pinata and had each child get a string and pull them at the same time. This works out well for very young children. They all get to participate and they get treats quickly.

I've also used an exacto knife and cut little slits at inconspicuous places on a regular pinata. It helps it bust open a little easier.

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by decker96

I have seen a new pull-string kind in some stores. There are about 12 ribbons hanging from the bottom of the pinata and one is attached to the trapdoor which when pulled opens up the bottom and the candy all falls out. I asked DD if she wanted to get one of those for her party this weekend (she's turning 7), but she said no because what if the first person that pulls it opens it up, that wouldn't be any fun.

With the string pinatas, you don't have one kid pull at a time. You gather all the kids around the pinata, giving each one a string and then everyone pulls at the same time. OPens up and the kids dive for the candy. These are the type used down here and I rarely see the Mexican type that you hit here. It's a Cuban thing. They normally have 20 to 30 strings to pull.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My son's class had a pinata at a party. My son had the first try. The pinata cracked open on the first hit. His teacher stills talks about that 5 years later. She said she makes the baseball power hitters get in the back of the line.

Lori

 

[SeaSpray]

When my DSs who are now 16 and 13 were probably around 4 and 1 yr old, we had a backyard party and had a "Barney" pinata. Well you should see the video we have of everyone BEATING Barney, to get him to open up. It started out with letting ONLY the younger kids taking swats at Barney...but after a long time, the adults started swinging at him. We started with a plastic wiffleball bat and ended up with an aluminum baseball bat. Eventually we had to cut him open. LOL

 

[stinkerbelle]

When I was younger, my mom used to always get a pinata for the young kids at family BBQ's.

at the last one, one of my cousins goes up to my mom and says "Geez Chris - is it made out of tupperware?" heheheh

ETA

after the little kids couldn't bust it open - the big "kids" all took turns at it - I had a beer in my hand and a bat in the other. heheh When it finally busted open - all the candy (smarties/lollypops/etc..) were reduced to dust! hehehe

 

[HisEllyNelly]

We smartened up last year and also did the knife trick....it helped immensely.Neither of my children are having a party at home this year though so we dont need a pinata thank goodness.