| Party games are always popular at kids' birthday | | | | as girls - and try to make sure that they alternate - a |
| parties, but often parents think they are difficult to | | | | girl winner followed by a boy winner. |
| organize and are worried that the kids will not want to | | | | I find if there are two boy winners in a row, the girls |
| play. | | | | complain that it is always the boys who win. |
| Comparing the cost of a professional entertainer with | | | | 7 Get a friend to help you. It is much easier with two |
| the cost of a few good prizes, and a little bit of | | | | or even three. And, once you've volunteered, finding |
| know-how, and you will quickly see how doing it | | | | helpers isn't hard. |
| yourself will save you money! | | | | 8 Make sure the games are suitable for the venue |
| 1 If you want the kids to play you must provide good | | | | and the age of the kids. A great game is the Burst the |
| prizes. | | | | Balloon game, where two teams are given a balloon |
| I buy good quality plush toys in the sales and I make | | | | for each child. Each player, in turn, runs to the other |
| sure the kids know these are the prizes, and not the | | | | end of the room, puts the balloon on a chair, sits on it, |
| usual lollipops or a chocolate bar. Most kids don't | | | | and bursts it. Then they run back and tag the next |
| consider these as worth playing for. | | | | player. |
| 2 Always give the best prize away last. Once it has | | | | A good game, but only if the room is long enough, and |
| gone, the kids may stop playing. | | | | the kids are old enough not to cry when the balloons |
| 3 No-one is ever out in my games. | | | | burst. |
| Even in games like Musical Bumps they all participate | | | | 9 It is usually best to start the party with a few games. |
| throughout. | | | | This means the early arrivals aren't sitting around |
| This means they all always have a chance of winning, | | | | bored, and any kids turning up late don't miss the main |
| and it eliminates the chances of those kids who are | | | | event - quite often a magician. |
| out causing trouble. | | | | 10 When the main event has finished his act, and the |
| 4 Team games are best when each team has a | | | | kids have been fed, you can finish off with a game or |
| similar number of boys and girls; similar ages on each | | | | two while the other parents are arriving to collect their |
| team; and an equal number of smaller kids on each | | | | wards. |
| side. In other words, as evenly matched as possible. | | | | No need for big prizes here. Lollipops will do so kids |
| 5 Avoid boys versus girls, especially if there is more of | | | | being collected won't feel they are missing out too |
| one than another. If there are eleven boys and only | | | | much. |
| nine girls you can't expect one of the boys to swap | | | | A little pre-planning is usually all it takes to provide a |
| sides. | | | | well-run and exciting party. So, why don't you try it! |
| 6 Always ensure that there are as many boy winners | | | | |