20 Awesome March Madness Activities for Kids

March madness activities for kids are a terrific way for parents to initiate activities that kids will remember forever. This annual celebration of the love of basketball can be used as a bonding experience for parent and child. The way this can be achieved is via crafting and activities. By becoming engaged with your child at their sensitive age, you can facilitate a bond that they’ll tell their own children in years to come.

1. Have Kids Design Their Own Team Mascot: Craft Your Own Family Mascot

March Madness is one of the best experiences any sports fan can have. The atmosphere alone just bursts with excitement. A big part of that excitement is the responsibility of the team mascot. Mascots exist to provide good luck for the team and are also extremely valuable were merchandising is concerned. Mascots get the fans revved up while keeping them entertained. From Michigan States Sparty to UCLA’s Joe Bruin, it’s the Mascots job to get the fans involved. That’s why creating your very own family mascot is a great activity for you and your kids indulge in. Creating your own mascot can be done in a couple of ways.

What you’ll need:

• 1 small stuffed toy
• 1 Drawing pad
• Some drawing supplies (pencils, pens, crayons, markers, etc.)

The first method is to design, draw and color your mascot. If you need ideas, take a look at the top ten mascots in sports. The second option is to visit your local dollar store or Oriental Trading Company to pick up a small plush toy and use that as your mascot. From there you can decorate it or dress it up!

2. Make a Basketball Pinata: Let it Rain Candies!

Pinatas are not only fun to try to break open, but they can also be fun to make. Let the kids help by cutting up the tissue paper, and choosing the candies. There’s only one change we’re going to do for this activity. Many of you may remember making paper mache as a kid using flour and water. However, not only is making flour paste messy, but it was often lumpy. So for this project we’re going to use a product called Modge Podge instead. Modge Podge is a great product that can be used for a great variety of crafts.

What you’ll need:

• Modge Podge
• Newspaper or newsprint
• Cheap paint brushes
• Round balloon
• Orange and black tissue paper
• Kids scissors
• Wrapped hard candies. Do not purchase unwrapped candies as they can get soiled during the process

Got everything? Ok, let’s get started. First, blow up your balloon and tie it off. Next, soak the newspaper or newsprint in Modge Podge or use the brush to apply the Modge Podge to the paper. Apply paper to the balloon, covering the entire balloon. Make 3 or 4 layers of paper and let dry. When dry stick a pin inside to pop the balloon. Cut a hole in the paper marche, large enough to insert candy when done. Next, cut up squares of orange and black tissue paper. Glue the orange tissue paper to the pinata. When done, glue the black paper, following the lines shown here. When everything is dry, add wrapped candies and hang!

3. Make a Basketball Themed Sensory Bin: Let Your Child’s Imagination Run Wild

Sensory bins are designed to allow your child to explore their imagination. Simple to make, sensory bins contain a group of objects which center around a certain theme, in this case basketball. To help you out, we’ve found a good supply of basketball themed small toys here at the Oriental Trading Company.

Once you have a collection of small toys, place them in the bin along with some small scoops. The scoops allow kids to gather up some toys to play with if they want. After all, sensor bins have one rule: There are no rules. Sensory bins allow kids to engage in free play and go wherever their senses take them.

4. Nutter Butter March Madness Cookies: A Fun and Easy Craft That Tastes Good Too

This is a great activity for smaller children, as there’s not much to it and you can eat the craft when it’s done! Basically, you’re going to take Nutter Butter cookies and turn them into March Madness cookies where they depict a basketball being dunked into a net.

What you’ll need:

• 1 or more packages of Nutter Butter cookies
• 1 package of orange Wilton candy melts
• 1 tube of Wilton white piping gel and 1 tube of Wilton black piping gel (you may get more depending on how many cookies you will decorate)

Have everything you need? Good, let’s get started. Melt the Wilton candy melts by following the directions on the package. Dip one end of each nutter butter cookie in the candy melts and place on waxed paper to set. When dry, take the piping gels and decorate each cookie. See, it’s that simple. The previous link offers you a different way to make your March Madness Nutter Butters. If that method is easier, just do that instead.

5. Decorate a Pair of Basketball Shoes: Lets Shoot Some Hoops

This March Madness activity is sure to brighten up any kids day. All you’re doing is grabbing some fabric paint, brushes and decorating a pair of sneakers.

What you’ll need:

• Brand new pair of sneakers or a used pair
• A set of Scribbles fabric paint, colors your choice
• Fabric markers
• A set of inexpensive craft brushes
• Glitter is optional as they do sell glitter fabric paint

Go ahead and get your supplies together before you start. If you’re using used sneakers, make sure the dust and dirt is cleared from them. Now you’ve come to the good part: Roll up your sleeves and decorate those sneakers.

6. Have a March Madness Story Time: Bond, Learn, and Enjoy

There’s no doubt that when it comes to basketball, the fans can get pretty intense as they cheer on their favorite teams. But not all March Madness activities for kids need to be immersed in active play, or even crafts. You can also enjoy some quiet times, and that means having a story time.

The greatest basketball player to ever live was Michael Jordan, and his mom and sister wrote a book about him called “Salt in His Shoes”. By reading this book to your kids, you’ll be able to have discussions about the player and the game of basketball. The benefits of reading to your child are immense and include assisting in brain development, literacy and bonding with parents.

7. Make March Madness Oreo Cookie Pops: A Tasty Way to Enjoy the Festivities

The inspiration for this activity comes from the website endlesslyinspired. The great thing about this March Madness craft is that it’s inexpensive to do and can be adapted to other holidays like Easter, Halloween or Christmas.

What you’ll need:

• 1 family size package of Mega Stuff Oreo’s
• 1 package of lollypop sticks
• 2 packages of orange colored Wilton chocolate melts
• 1 or more tubes of Wilton black decorating gel
• Plastic gloves

All set? Ok, let’s go. First, gather your supplies and put them within reach. Next, take one lollypop stick and insert it into the creamy center of the Mega Stuff Oreo. Making sure to leave plenty of stick for people to grab and hold on to.

To continue, take your orange chocolate melts, follow the directions on the bag so they are nice and melted. Now, dip each of the Mega Stuff Oreo’s with the lollypop stick into the melted orange chocolate melts. Remove and place on wax paper to set for around 15 to 20 minutes. You can also place them in the refrigerator to set.

Finally, take the Wilton Decorating Gel and follow the image here and draw the lines. There you go. You now have a bunch of scrumptious March Madness Oreo pops to snack on while you watch the big game.

8. Throw a March Madness Party! Let Loose and Enjoy

Like the Superbowl, fans of March Madness really enjoy their parties. So let’s toss a kids version of a March Madness party. First, sit down with your kids and make a shopping list of all the party goodies they’d love to have.

Next, visit the local dollar store or visit Oriental Trading Company and grab some inexpensive party favors like plates, a table cloth or 2, napkins, balloons, streamers, tableware and cups. You can make the theme color orange to represent basketballs, or you can choose the colors of your favorite team.

9. March Madness Grab Bag: A Simple Activity That Can Be Combined With Others

This is a fun activity that can be done on its own or at the March Madness party. Grab bag rules are simple: You can either buy a bunch of basketball themed small toys and have the kids choose, or you can have kids pick names from a grab bag where they then buy that child a basketball themed toy. Whichever road you choose, we just know you’ll have a great time.

10. Make a March Madness Collage: Something to Make, Frame and Hang on Your Wall

Collages are a fun activity, one where the entire family can join in on. Not only is it an enjoyable March Madness activity, but it can also serve as a family keepsake, one that can be kept for generations to come. The needs are simple, just cut out March Madness pictures from a magazine or print them out from the internet.

What you’ll need:

• 11 x 14 inch canvas board, one for each child
• Glue stick
• March Madness imagery

Cut your images out and lay them aside. Next, take a canvas board and attach them to the canvas board with a glue stick. You can overlap the images if you want, this is your thing so design it the way you want. As it’s on canvas board, you can choose to have it framed when done! This way, you can hang it in your office, den or living area.

11. Improve Your Dribbling Skills: Learn Eye and Hand Coordination the Fun Way

Improving your dribbling skills is something you and your kids can do even if you don’t have a basketball net set up in your yard. Dribbling skills are paramount in the game of basketball. By practicing these skills you’re not only celebrating March Madness, but you’re also becoming a better player.

12. Have a Pre-March Madness Game Night: Getting Revved Up for the Big Games

Before the games begin, how about filling the popcorn bowl up to the brim and watch some previous clips or full March Madness games? How? Well, it’s easy, just search YouTube and you’ll find plenty of clips and full games to watch. Take this time to have discussions with your children, explaining to them just what March Madness is. Explain the rules for the game and how it’s different from the NBA. One of the biggest advantages is to answer any questions before March Madness begins so you can all relax and enjoy the game as a family.

13. Make a March Madness Kite: Show Your Support for March Madness from Up Above

Gather all the kids together, both young and not so young, because today you’re going to make and fly your very own March Madness kite. Adults, you’ll need to be on hand as well. The only difference is that you’ll need an orange plastic tablecloth and a black Sharpie. On the tablecloth you’re going to draw pictures basketballs, sign your names or whatever else you can think of. Once you’re done, take it out and fly it.

14. Make a March Madness Gift Basket: Have Fun Creating Baskets of Treats and Goodies

Gift baskets are great to pass around to friends, use for parties, or as gifts. They are very easy to make and require no skill whatsoever.

What you’ll need:

• Basket(s)
• Small basketball themed toys
• Gift basket grass or filler

In order to keep the prices down, you can visit the Oriental Trading company. Here, you’ll find tons of inexpensive trinkets for your gift basket. Also, remember it’s cool to add a few goodies to the treat basket as well.

This is the easy part. Just take some of the gift basket filler or ‘grass’ and place it in the basket. Next, you simply add your trinkets and candies. Once finished you can also add a bow to the top of the basket.

15. Basketball Cake: Great March Madness Activity for Kids and Moms!

Not only is this a great idea, but it also makes for a terrific centerpiece on your March Madness party table.

What you’ll need:

• 1 3D basketball cake pan
• Orange Icing
• Black or brown icing

Though mom will be responsible for baking the cake, the kids can help by measuring the ingredients, handing items to mom, and of course, they get full charge when it comes to decorating the cake.

16. Make a March Madness Diorama: Crafting an Entire Scene for Display

One of the best March Madness activities for kids is to make a basketball themed diorama. Most schools have kids do dioramas for a variety of reasons. The main reason is the educational benefits incurred. As the child designs and makes their own diorama they are learning about the theme as they go, whether it’s about space or dinosaurs.

What you’ll need:

• Construction paper
• Glue stick
• Box: Your size
• Basketball images
• Markers

Ready to go? Then let’s get started. Keep in mind that your diorama can be as you want it. In other words it can be realistic or not. The important thing is to take this opportunity to bond with your child as you talk about basketball, or whatever else pops up.

The type of basketball images you can print out can be anything from a basketball floor, to crowds of people in the stands. For instance, if you print out a basketball floor, all that you need to do is cut it down to size, and glue it on the box and you could take crowd images and glue them to the sides of the box, and so on. Be as creative as you want, you can even include a mascot.

17. Have a Game Night: Experience the Thrills of Basketball In Your Own Living Room

This is for those folks who have either a gaming PC, Xbox or Playstation. Why? Because you and your kids are going to gather some refreshments and have a video game basketball night. One of the best is 2K20. Even though it’s NBA and not NCAA, playing a video game with your kids is a great way to bond, as well as explain the rules of basketball to younger ones before March Madness begins.

18. Make a March Madness Decorator Plate: A Family Heirloom in the Making

This is one of those activities that you can hang from your kitchen wall, where it will stay for years to come. This simple craft is basically for the smaller kids, but all ages can join in.

What you’ll need:

• Large dinner plate(s) or platters
• Craft paint your color choice
• Variety of Sharpie Markers
• Basketball themed Foamies if you wish

Got everything together? Good, lets’ get started. The first thing is to make a hand print of your child’s hand. This will go in the center of the plate or platter. You do this by painting some craft acrylic paint on the palm and fingers of your child’s hand. While the paint is still wet, you then make an imprint of your child’s hand in the center of the plate or platter. Once that’s done, set it aside to dry. Once the hand print is dry, the kids can proceed to decorate the plate/platter as they see fit using markers, Foamies, whatever else you have on hand.

19. Round Basketball Plaque: An Easy Craft for Smaller Children

This is the perfect craft for the little ones, as there’s not much to it. Basically, it’s a basketball plaque for you to hang on your wall. There are 2 ways to construct this craft. You can either cut a large circle out of cardboard, or you can visit a craft store online or in person to purchase a round wood plaque.

What you’ll need:

• Cardboard or round wood plaque
• Orange craft paint
• Scribbles black fabric paint
• Craft brushes

If you’re using cardboard, you can trace the outline of a circle using a plate and cut. When you’re ready, take the orange paint and paint the entire surface of the wood plaque or cardboard circle.

20. Create a March Madness Basketball Scrapbook: Creating March Madness Memories

Making a scrapbook is a great March Madness activity for kids in the family. Here, kids of all ages can engage in the craft along with parents. By creating their own March Madness scrapbook, they get to become familiar with the game of basketball while pasting all manner of images and decorations.

What you’ll need:

• 1 small scrapbook
• Some scrapbooking paper
• Imagery
• Children’s scissors
• Glue sticks
• Stickers
• Colored pens and markers

March Madness images can be printed out from the internet or cut out of magazines. Don’t forget to include some family photos as well. Once you have your images, you and your kids can now begin to make some scrapbooking pages. Take a sheet of scrapbooking paper and begin to decorate it with stickers and pictures. Use markers and colored pens to add doodles, signatures and other designs. Once the page is done, just glue it into the scrapbook.