Print out two pictures of each Harry Potter character, such as Hermoine Granger, Ron Weasley, Professor Dumbledore and Hagrid. Cut the pictures into squares. Flip all the cards over, or face down, on a table. Each child will take a turn flipping over two cards. The goal is to make a match. The child with the most matched cards wins. For older children, use words instead of pictures. Create two cards with the same word or phrase. Include the names of well-known characters, Quidditch terms and such words as muggles, animagi, disapparate and apparate.
Buy inexpensive craft brooms, as well as such decorating materials as felt, sparkles and beads. Let each child decorate and personalize her broom. Remember, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has four houses. Each house has its own colors: Gryffindor's colors are scarlet and gold; Hufflepuff's are yellow and black; Ravenclaw's colors are blue and bronze; and Slytherin's are green and silver. Consider the colors for each house when you select your decorations.
Create a Sorting Hat quiz. Before a student enters Hogwarts, she has to be sorted into a house. Each house values different qualities. Gryffindor--Harry Potter's house--prizes bravery and loyalty, while Hufflepuffs value hard work. Ravenclaws hold intelligence in high esteem and Slytherins are ambitious and cunning. The Sorting Hat decides which house best fits each student. Have each child take the quiz. Based on a child's answers, "sort" him into his house. Purchase cloaks for each child to decorate in her "house colors."