| The date is set, the invitations are out, and | | | | the pan and dice to the next player to their |
| now you're preparing yourself for a house | | | | left, and so on. There are two variations to |
| full of active, energetic children to | | | | this game. A less competitive option that |
| entertain. Have no fear! With a few simple, | | | | ensures that all children get the same number |
| well planned out innovative game ideas, you | | | | of prizes follows the same rules as above, |
| can not only throw a fun and memorable party, | | | | except that enough prizes are placed in the |
| but actually sit back and enjoy the | | | | middle to allow all children to get the same |
| interaction and entertainment yourself. | | | | number of prizes, and the first child that |
| There are several great game ideas for kids | | | | reaches that maximum number of gifts wins, |
| of all ages that wont break the bank, can | | | | take their gifts, and leaves the game. Play |
| encourage teamwork and bonding, are exciting, | | | | continues as each subsequent child reaches |
| challenging, and educational, and are sure to | | | | their maximum number of gifts and leaves the |
| put smiles on the faces of all of your party | | | | game. This is a great way to make sure |
| goers, whether it be at the next birthday | | | | everyone goes home happy! |
| party, slumber party, family get-together, | | | | |
| class party, holiday party, or other event. | | | | Spoons. This is a fast-paced, hilariously |
| To get you started on your way to hosting a | | | | fun party game similar to the game of |
| great party, we have suggested just a few of | | | | "horse," and the more the merrier! It is |
| our favorite easy-to-set-up and fun-to-play | | | | best for ages 8 and up (adults love it too!), |
| party games for kids. | | | | but can be played by sharp younger players |
| | | | also. Have the kids again form a circle. |
| Guess Who I Am: This is a simple but fun | | | | Arrange metal spoons (numbering one less than |
| game that will have the children | | | | the number of players) either in a close |
| interrogating each other to discover each | | | | circular formation or in a pile so they make |
| others' identities. Make a list of | | | | noise when they bump together in the center |
| identities - enough so that each of your | | | | of the circle. Shuffle two decks of cards |
| guests can pick one. For example: Sponge | | | | well, and have one of the players deal out |
| Bob, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Scooby | | | | four cards to each player face down. Leave |
| Doo, Batman, Jimmy Neutron, Power Ranger, | | | | them face down until the game is ready to |
| etc. Make a master list of all of the | | | | start. All players must keep four cards in |
| possible identities for the kids to view. | | | | their hands at all times. The goal is to get |
| Then prepare slips of paper each with a | | | | four of the same cards (not same suits), such |
| single identity printed on it to be drawn | | | | as all 4s, 10s, Jacks, etc., and when you get |
| from a central grab bag. Have each child | | | | them, sneak one spoon. The dealer starts by |
| draw an identity and keep it secret. Then | | | | putting the deck face down and drawing |
| let the questioning begin. Choose any child | | | | quickly one card from it at a time. He may |
| to begin. That child should choose another | | | | keep the card if it matches ones in his hand |
| player to ask a yes or no question about | | | | and discard one of his own face down in a new |
| their character, but they cant ask directly, | | | | pile for the next player to pick from, or |
| for example, Are you Sponge Bob? Once the | | | | pass on the card he just picked by placing it |
| other player has answered "Yes" or "No" to | | | | face down in the new pile of discards for the |
| the question, any of the children can try to | | | | next player to pick from, again, one card at |
| guess their identity. The asking of | | | | a time. The dealer keeps picking quickly and |
| questions moves from child to child in a | | | | passing cards until all cards are gone, and |
| clockwise direction. When a child guesses | | | | may then pick from new cards passed to him |
| correctly another's identity, they win and | | | | when the cards have come full circle. All |
| collect their identify slip from them. If | | | | players should go as fast as possible, all |
| you like, you can put a prize or treat | | | | the while keeping four cards in their hands, |
| associated with each of the identities | | | | keeping count of the spoons, and watching |
| acquired. This is a great game to encourage | | | | carefully for anyone attempting to sneak a |
| interaction, memory skills, and lots of | | | | spoon while they are picking cards. Once the |
| laughs. The best part is that its an easy | | | | first spoon is taken by someone who has all |
| game to play again and again simply by | | | | four of the same cards, everyone else must |
| starting over with each child drawing a new | | | | try to grab a spoon before they are gone. |
| identity, or change the topic for the next | | | | The one left without a spoon gets a letter. |
| round and make each identity an animal, a | | | | The first person who spells "SPOONS," is out |
| job, a food, a toy, a super hero, etc. -- use | | | | of the game, and a spoon is removed from the |
| your imagination and have fun with it. | | | | center to ensure there is always one less |
| | | | spoon than the number of players. If the |
| Plan a Treasure Hunt: All kids love the | | | | person who sneaks the spoon is not noticed by |
| thrill of a hunt -- solving clues and | | | | anyone else, he should sit the spoon in his |
| tracking down lost treasure. You can make a | | | | lap, and keep passing cards until someone |
| treasure hunt simply at home with a little | | | | notices one is missing. Watch out for people |
| time and creativity. First, look around your | | | | pretending that they have four of a kind |
| house (just the areas where the party will be | | | | they may reach out towards the spoons, but |
| gathering) and find some good hiding places. | | | | not touch them to fool someone else. If they |
| Then write clues on pieces of paper of a | | | | touch a spoon accidentally on such an attempt |
| difficulty level appropriate to the group you | | | | and do not have four cards, they get a |
| will be entertaining that will lead them to | | | | letter. If someone else is fooled and thinks |
| those hiding spots one by one. For example, | | | | they are going for a spoon, but they don't, |
| one clue might be "Youll have to be nimble, | | | | and touches a spoon when they don't have four |
| youll have to be quick, to find the next clue | | | | of the same cards, they get a letter. Only |
| hidden under this stick The next clue of | | | | the first person who touches the spoon when |
| course would be found hidden under a candle | | | | they shouldn't have gets the letter the rest |
| or candlestick. Prepare at least ten | | | | who follow do not. They simply put them |
| different clues to lead the children on a | | | | back. Play continues until one person is |
| hunt all about the party area, which can | | | | left and wins the game. |
| include outdoors, such as at a picnic or | | | | |
| park. Hide the clues ahead of time before | | | | Charades: This is a classic party favorite |
| the children arrive. The first clue should | | | | that is always good for a few laughs. |
| be handed or read to the children, and the | | | | Prepare ahead with some charades to act out |
| second hidden in the answer location, where | | | | that are appropriate for the group and age |
| the next clue can be found, and so on until, | | | | level. If youll be entertaining younger |
| at the end when the last clue is solved, the | | | | kids, give them simple words to act out, |
| final winning treasure ticket" is found. You | | | | making it clear that they cannot speak. For |
| may want to provide a reward, such as goodie | | | | example, sing, happy, monkey, dog, guitar, |
| bags, party favors, sweets, presents, give | | | | sick, hungry, bounce, flower, climb, draw, |
| certificates, or other treats both along the | | | | etc. For older children, prepare a couple of |
| way or at the end. One variation is to | | | | categories of clues and write the category on |
| attach a piece of gift wrap to each ticket, | | | | a piece of paper or white board. For Example: |
| and the one who finds that ticket gets the | | | | Movie Titles (The Lion King), Sayings (You |
| gift that matches the wrapping paper. Of | | | | win some you lose some), Songs (Twinkle, |
| course, prizes are not necessary, and solving | | | | Twinkle Little Star), etc. Prepare the |
| the final clue and knowing you won can be | | | | charade tabs ahead of time. Divide the group |
| satisfaction enough. Just be prepared -- | | | | into two teams. Team #1 will draw a random |
| this game often brings the Can we do it | | | | charade tab and try to act it out for their |
| again!? request. If you lack the time or | | | | own team (give a set time limit). When time |
| creativity to create clever clues and a | | | | is up, if the first team hasnt solved it, the |
| treasure hunt on your own, there are great | | | | other team can take a guess to try and steal |
| inexpensive pre-made custom printable | | | | the point. Then Team #2 takes their turn, |
| treasure hunt games available online designed | | | | and so on. Be sure to rotate the charade |
| around common household or outdoor objects | | | | actor on each team each time. Decide on a |
| that come with hiding guides that you can | | | | set number of points to be reached, and the |
| purchase online, download, and print and play | | | | first player or team that reaches that number |
| instantly, such as at | | | | of points wins! |
| | | | |
| Truth or Do Balloon Stomp: This is the | | | | The Cotton Bowl: Another fun team party game |
| traditional truth or dare game with a new | | | | for all ages that is hilarious to watch and |
| twist that will have children choosing their | | | | play. Split your party goers into two even |
| own fate one balloon at a time. Prepare a | | | | teams. Place two chairs back-to-back, with a |
| bundle of balloons filled with pre-made | | | | player from each opposing team in each chair. |
| rolled Truth or Do questions or commands. | | | | Blindfold both players well and ensure that |
| Each child takes turn choosing a balloon, and | | | | they cannot see. Hand them each a large |
| stomping it open to reveal their Truth or Do | | | | spoon, and place a bowl containing equal |
| hidden tab within. Be appropriate to your age | | | | numbers of well-separated cotton balls on |
| group. Some Examples of Do tabs might say | | | | their lap. The host stands between the two |
| Act like a dancing Monkey, Walk the length of | | | | holding two paper plates on each of their |
| the room with a book on your head, Sing the | | | | heads. A timer is started. Each seated |
| National Anthem, etc. Some Examples of Truth | | | | competing player has 30 seconds to scoop as |
| questions might be Tell your most | | | | many cotton balls out of their bowl using |
| embarrassing moment, etc. You can print one | | | | their spoon and carefully raise the cotton |
| "Truth" and one "Do" on each ticket to give | | | | balls and place them on the plate over their |
| children the choice of which they will do. | | | | head. When the buzzer is up, the number of |
| | | | cotton balls on each plate gets added to the |
| Double or Nothing: This is a fun, | | | | respective team's score. One point for each |
| competitive game that kids love, that any | | | | cotton ball successfully placed on the paper |
| number of players can play, and that all | | | | plate that does not fall off. Typically, the |
| different ages can play together. Have the | | | | first team that collectively reaches 50 |
| party guests form a circle. Place a pile of | | | | points wins, but you can set the goal to |
| small, wrapped party favors or suitable gifts | | | | whatever you wish. |
| in the center of the circle, typically | | | | |
| numbering at least double the number of | | | | Pass it On: A great get-to-know-you game. |
| players. The host decides on how many times | | | | Have the children gather in a circle to share |
| around the circle play will go, but it should | | | | their favorite things. Start with one child |
| circle completely before ending a game so all | | | | (the party boy or girl preferably) who should |
| players get an equal number of turns. If a | | | | announce, for example, My name is John and I |
| birthday, start with the birthday child. | | | | like Football." Then, the next child in line |
| Otherwise, the host may choose or start with | | | | might say, John likes football. My name is |
| the high roller of two dice. Put the two | | | | Matt, and I like candy," and so on. Set a |
| dice into a shallow metal pan or other | | | | prize if the kids can make it all the way |
| container with a flat bottom. The first | | | | through without slipping up. If they get |
| person rolls the two dice once in the pan. | | | | stuck, they can start again at the beginning |
| Each child that rolls doubles gets to choose | | | | with the child who got stuck going first, and |
| a prize out of the center pile or steal one | | | | then working their way back through the other |
| from someone else who already has one, but | | | | children. This is a great memory game that |
| they must not open any presents they win | | | | will have children concentrating, |
| until the end of the game, and must place all | | | | interacting, and getting to know each other |
| presents in front of them unopened during the | | | | at the same time. It can easily be played |
| game. If they roll doubles, they get to roll | | | | over and over again by changing the fact to |
| again immediately, and each time they get | | | | be shared, such as favorite candy, cartoons, |
| doubles, they get to choose another prize. | | | | books, foods, animals, games, etc. |
| If they do not roll doubles, they must pass | | | | |