Kids Party Games
It takes more than balloons, streamers and matching plates to
create a birthday party your child will never forget! But
don't worry... often what makes a child's birthday party
a huge hit can be as simple as a pre-prepared game or
activity.
Ask your child what games they would like to play at their party.
You can purchase pre- prepared party games or adapt a traditional
party games to work with your theme. For example "Duck,
Duck, Goose can be changed to "Princess, Princess,
Frog" or Spiderman, Spiderman, Green Goblin". With the
use of the some computer or artistic skills, markers and poster
board, Pin the Tail on the Donkey can be turned into "Pin
the Crown on the Princess".
Next, you need to consider your party space and whether
you'll need to play indoors. I recommend that you select
games that can be played indoors and outdoors or have a few easy
games planned in case there is a weather change.
Remember to have more games prepared than you expect. If you
sense that a game is not going well, then either adapt it or move
on to another.
Make sure you are prepared with all the game equipment and prizes
ready to go. You may even like to try the game before the party
to see how it goes.
When deciding on party games, consider games that are inclusive.
For example when a child is “out” in musical chairs,
ask them to help with the music. Team or group games work well,
where kids need to work together to achieve a task, like a
treasure hunt. The treasure can then be evenly divided amongst
the entire group.
Every child likes to be a winner, so play games that allow this
to happen.
Have a look at our suggestions for indoor party games and outdoor
party games
Indoor Children's Birthday Party Games
Duck, Duck, Goose
A group of players sit in a circle, facing inward, while another
player, the 'picker' (a.k.a. the 'fox'), walks
around tapping or pointing to each player in turn, calling each a
'duck' until finally picking one to be a 'goose'
The 'goose' then rises and chases and tries to tag the
'picker', while the 'picker' tries to return to
and sit where the 'goose' had been sitting. If the picker
succeeds, the 'goose' is now the new picker and the
process begins again. If the 'goose' succeeds in tagging
the picker, the 'goose' may return to sit in the previous
spot and the 'picker' resumes the process. This can also
be played outside.
Sardines
All children except one count to
twenty together while one goes into hiding. When they reach
twenty the children must hunt for the missing child. Whoever
finds the child will be squashed into the one hiding space. When
the last child discovers the hiding place, the game can be played
again with the child who found the hiding place first taking a
turn as the next hider.
Blindman’s Bluff
Blindfold one child
and spin her around three times. The other players must move
around making noise and so on while the blindfolded player tries
to catch them. When she catches the child, she must guess who it
is. If she guesses correctly, the caught child takes over as the
blind man.
Musical Chairs
Make two lines of back-to-back chairs. There should be one less
chair than the number of children. When the music starts,
children march around the chairs. When the music stops everyone
sits down. The person without a chair drops out. Remove a chair
and start the music again. The game continues until only two
players are left competing for the last chair.
Musical Statues
The children dance about as music plays. When it stops, all
players must freeze like statues. Anyone who twitches is out. The
game goes on until only the winner is left.
Mismatches
Divide the children into two
teams. One team leaves the room while the other makes
‘mismatches’ by altering things in the room. They
might change the position of an object such as turning a vase
upside down or might change something about a person, such as
putting a coat on inside out. At the end of a time limit the
other team returns and tries to spot the mismatches. Any
mismatches that have not been noticed within a designated time
limit score one point to the team that made them. The team then
change roles. The team with the most points wins.
Squeak Piggy Squeak
Children sit on chairs
around the room. Blindfold one child, turn him around a few times
and give him a cushion. While the children sit silently as
possible, the ‘blind’ player must find a child, sit
on his lap with the cushion and call out ‘Squeak Piggy
Squeak!’ The child makes a piggy noise. If the blind player
correctly guesses whose lap he is sitting on, he changes places
with him. Children should rearrange themselves and their chairs
before starting again.
Musical Bumps
The children dance about as music plays. When it stops, all
players must immediately sit down. The last one to sit down is
out. The game goes on until only the winner is left.
Outdoor Children's Birthday Party Games
Back to Back Race
Divide the children into pairs and have them stand back-to-back,
locking their arms at the elbows. The pair must run, as best they
can, from one line to another, face the other way and run back
again. The first pair who get back to the starting line
wins.
Drop the Handkerchief
Have the children
form a well-spaced circle facing inwards. Whoever opts to be
‘it’ run around outside the circle with a
handkerchief. At any stage she can drop the handkerchief behind
one of the players in the circle. Immediately the player
discovering the handkerchief must pick up the handkerchief and
chase the ‘it’ around the circle. If ‘it’
beats the child back to the vacated space, she joins the circle.
The child outside the circle takes a turn dropping the
handkerchief.
Freeze Tag
The birthday child can be selected to be it (the person who has
to tag other people) first. The tagger tries to tag all the other
children. If a player is tagged, he or she must freeze. Players
who are not frozen can "unfreeze" frozen players by
touching them. The first player to be frozen three times becomes
it (the tagger) next.
Shopping List
Each team will have 2 team members a boy and girl is best but not
necessary to have fun. One member of the team (girls) should form
a line and stand facing their team members (boys) who are on a
line 25 feet away.
One group is given a shopping list (girls) of 10 items with
various amounts for items listed. The team mates boys are given
pen and paper to write down the list.
This list should content about 10 items. (Example : 1 bottle
of milk, 2 packets of gelatine, 4 bars of chocolate, 4 kilograms
of sugar, etc.) The lists should different to each other to avoid
copying from other person.
At "go" girls read out the list they have to their
partners and the partners should take down the lists according to
the correct order they read. The first team that thinks they have
completed the list raises their hand and everyone is asked to be
silent. As the list is checked, if the list is a match they win
and if it is not then that team is out of the game and the game
continues until someone has correctly completed the shopping
list.
For a stress-free option hire a professional entertainer so you can sit
back and enjo the party or save time by hiring a Party in a Box with prepared Party Plan,
games, activities and more.
