The most exciting part of a children’s party is the party games, and why not start with the classics? We’ve all played musical chairs, pin-the-tail, and limbo. But have you played them like that? Learn how to give each classic kid’s party game idea its own unique twist to fit your party theme.
BEAN BAG THROW/FEED THE MONSTER
Draw a monster’s face on a piece of heavy cardstock or cardboard and cut a hole in the box where its mouth would be, just big enough for the bean bags to easily toss through. Lean the monster’s face against a chair and place it 6 to 8 feet away (depending on the abilities of the guests).
Everyone takes turns tossing three “food” items (use bean bags, cloth balls, rolled-up socks, or other small objects like squeaky dog toys) into the character’s mouth. after each child
turn, retrieve the “food” and hand it to the next child. Every time a child successfully “feeds” the monster, he gets a small prize, such as a sticker or wrapped candy.
Twist: Use a character that relates to your party theme instead of a monster: T-Rex for the dinosaur party; Clown for a Circus party; Gorilla for a party in the jungle
DUCK DUCK GOOSE
Gather your guests to sit in a circle and let the kid of the party start as the “Goose.” Walk around the circle gently tapping each child on the head, saying “Duck” with each tap. At any time, the child at the party can choose the next person to be the Goose, by saying “Goose” by tapping that person on the head. That boy gets up and chases the birthday boy around the circle.
If the new Goose doesn’t mark the birthday boy before he goes all the way around the circle and sits in the open spot, then the new Goose becomes “it.” If the new Goose marks the birthday boy, then the birthday boy remains “it” for the next round and the game continues.
Twist: Buzz, Buzz, Sting for a bug party; Tick, tick, tock for a pirate party
GUESS HOW MANY?
Before the party, fill a jar with candy or small toys. Count them before putting them in the jar. As your guests arrive, have each one guess how many toys or candies they think are in the jar. Write down each person’s guess. At the end of the party, the person who guesses the closest number is the winner and takes the jar home.
Twist: small plastic insects for a Bug Party, black and orange jelly beans for a Halloween party; small plastic dinosaurs for a dinosaur party
HOT POTATO
It is played like the classic game Hot Potato. Children sit in a circle and pass around an item while an adult leader plays music. The child holding the item when the music stops is out. The last player left without the item is the winner.
Twist: Pass out a large furry toy spider for a Halloween party; rubber snake for a western party; teddy bear for a teddy bear party
Another Twist: Cold Potato – Kids throw a water balloon from one side of the circle to the other. The player holding it when it breaks is eliminated. The last player left dry is the winner.
LIMBO
Two adults hold a stick, mop, or broom at the child’s height. Start the music (Caribbean is the best). Children should walk under the post without touching it. After each round, the adults lower the pole an inch or two. When the pole is too low, children can bend backwards and slide under it, or even crawl. If a player touches the post, he is out.
Twist: Pirate Limbo – Adults hold a gaming sword; Halloween limbo: adults hold a witch’s broom; Fairy party: adults hold a magic wand
Another Twist: Water Limbo: Ask an adult to point to a stream of water for the kids to pass under the limbo. Great for a pool party!
MEMORY
Put about 10 to 15 small items or toys like a pencil, a watch, a comb, a spoon, a toy car, etc. on a tray and cover with a cloth. Ask guests to sit in a circle with the tray in the middle. Remove the cloth for 60 seconds while the guests try to remember as many objects as possible. When the time is up, replace the cloth.
Now each person has to name an object on the tray. The first person to fail to name an object, repeat an object, or name something that isn’t on the tray is out. The tray is then removed and some or all of the objects are replaced, and the game restarts with the person following the one out. If the game is too easy for the group, add more items or reduce the time.
Twist: Use any object related to your party theme: construction trucks for a construction party; makeup items for a costume party
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Place one less chair than the number of guests at your party. Turn on the music and have the children walk in a circle around the chairs until the music stops. When the music stops, everyone tries to sit in an empty chair. (Only one person per chair) The person who cannot find a chair is out. One chair is removed and the game continues until only one person remains (the winner). This game can also be played with pillows or cardboard pictures placed on the floor for children to jump on.
Twist: musical anthills for a bug party; Musical Islands for a Pirate Party; Musical spider webs for a Spider-Man party
PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY
When it’s time to play, tape your poster to the wall and put a piece of tape on the back of each object that the children will place on the poster. Blindfold each child, turn them around and point them at the poster. The child who pins their item closest to the designated spot is the winner!
Twist: Put the nose on the clown; Pin the tooth on the T-Rex; Pin the spider to the web for a bug party; Set the X on the treasure map for a Pirate Party
SIMON SAYS
The children stand in a group in front of the leader. The leader says, “Simon says, ‘Do this,'” as he taps his head, claps his hands, turns around, etc. The children should follow the leader’s actions, but only if she starts with “Simon says…” If the leader simply says “Do this”, the children should not do anything. If a kid makes a mistake, she’s out. The last child “in” is the winner.
Change: Change “Simon Says” to a character related to your party theme: “Blackbeard Says” for a pirate party; “Spider-Man Says” for a Spider-Man party; “Cinderella says” for a princess party.
SPIN THE BOTTLE (to open gifts)
Ask guests to sit in a circle holding the gift they brought. The birthday boy spins a soda bottle and opens the gift of the party guest whom the bottle is pointing at when it stops. If he stops at a person who has already given a gift, he just goes left until you find someone who hasn’t opened the gift he brought. A calm and quiet way to open presents without so much pushing and shoving.
Twist: spin the spyglass for a pirate party; Spin the ruler for a construction party; Spin the Barbie for a Barbie or Princess party
Copyright 2005 Kids Party Paradise All Rights Reserved