Lickable Wallpaper

This Willy Wonka-inspired activity will have everyone climbing the walls! Based on the idea mentioned in the original movie, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” kids are given their own personal patch of edible wallpaper. It’s a silly activity that really sets the atmosphere for any sort of sugar-themed event (“Candyland,” “Wonka,” “Hansel and Gretel,” etc.). This is a great opening activity for an event -- just make sure to write each player’s name on their wallpaper square -- you want to share good times, not germs.

Age

Preschool, School-age, Tweens, Teens

Number of Players

1, 2, 3 to 4, 5 to 10

Prep Time

10 - 20 minutes

Time Length

15 - 30 minutes

Difficulty

Easy peasy (fun and simple)

Indoor/Outdoor

Either

Space Needed

Small (a clearable open space the size of a 1-car garage), Medium (a clearable open space the size of a 2-car garage)

Noise Level

Quiet

Mess Factor

Dustpan, please

Supplies

Candy buttons, or any other paper-backed sort of candy (Fruit by the Foot, for example)

1 sheet of cardstock or heavy weight paper per player (at least 8 ½ by 11)

Glue dots, tacky glue, double stick tape, or hot glue (adult supervision please)

Scissors

Stapler (optional; must have if using Fruit by the Foot)

Duct tape (optional; needed if using Fruit by the Foot)

Open wall space

“Painter’s tape” (or some sort of way to attach paper to walls: earthquake putty, thumb tacks (this will leave tiny holes), etc.)

Pencil or pen (to mark each sheet with player’s name)

Setup

1. Glue one strip of candy buttons in the center of your cardstock with either glue dots, double-stick tape, or hot glue (remember adult supervision is always required with glue guns).
2. If you choose to use Fruit by the Foot, be advised: the fruit likes to pull away from the backing paper, so you will need to do the following.
a. Measure your Fruit by the Foot to the exact length of your cardstock and cut (I used two strips on either side of my candy buttons).
b. Glue the strip to the paper, taking care not to peel the candy from its backing.
c. Fold over the top edge of the paper about 1 inch.
d. Staple the fold: this will “lock” the Fruit by the Foot strip in place.
e. Repeat with the bottom of the sheet.
f. Add a strip of colorful tape to the bottom and the top of the sheet to cover any staples.
3. Once your sheet is done, attach it to open wall space (I usually use either “painter’s tape” or “earthquake putty” since they are easily removable and won’t damage the walls. Always test the product you are using ahead of time to make sure it’s safe on your walls).

How to Play

1. As guests arrive, assign them a sheet of wallpaper, write their names on the sheet (so they can keep coming back to their own patch throughout the event, and can take it home with them when they leave).
2. Let the players lick to their hearts’ content!

Variations

1. Fill up your sheet of paper with candy buttons only (just make sure to leave enough room on the paper to write your guest’s names). When all lined up, this looks really cool.
2. Instead of using individual pieces of paper, use wrapping paper as the backer, and make one long strip that can be adhered to the wall. This is fabulous for continual strips of candy buttons (Fruit by the Foot is not suggested for this). Again, make sure you label each child’s section.
3. If you don’t have the wall space, or are worried about your walls, place the sheets on a table and call them lickable tablecloths or placemats.

Tips

1. Make sure players understand that they are assigned their own strip of wallpaper, and should not lick anyone else’s.