There’s one very good reason kid’s parties are almost as much fun as adult parties, considering that they’re not usually open-bar — the games! If it wasn’t for the party games, we’d all sit around eating cake and ice cream and staring at each other til it’s time to open gifts. That’s no fun1 If you’re putting together a kid’s party, or if you just happen to be at one that could use a little more fun, here’s my list of 7 great party games for kids…
Photo Credit: Daniel Morris
A classic, with so many modern updates! It’s simple — there’s a poster of a donkey missing his tail. Each child takes turns putting on a blindfold, then an adult spins them around a few times, hands them a tail with sticky-tape on it, and the dizzy, disoriented, blindfolded child tries to put the tail where it belongs.
Photo Credit: enjae
This game requires one adult and as many kids want to play. The kids all line up like they’re preparing for a race. The adult stands, facing them, some distance away. The goal for the children is to be the one to reach the adult first… the adult says “green light” which means the kids can move… and when the adult says “red light,” they have to stop. If a child doesn’t stop, they get sent back to the beginning.
Photo Credit: lydiafairy
This one’s fun for the kids even if they don’t progress any further than drawing on the sidewalk with colorful chalk! And what kid, or adult, for that matter, doesn’t like hopping around on one foot?
Photo Credit: David Maddison
This game used to be my favorite! Line up one chair for each child playing, minus one. Play some music as the children circle the chairs. When the music stops, each child sits in a chair… and whoever is left standing is out. Take a chair away, and repeat this process til there’s only one child left… the winner!
Photo Credit: whiteafrican
This one can be great fun, as long as no-one gets pegged in the face with a bean bag! You can even create your own board and bean bags… and get creative with the prizes, too… how about a lovely tarantula?
Photo Credit: outoffocus53
I’ve seen everyone from old men to the littlest children playing this game. You don’t have to sketch out an entire green for it, just throw out the marker ball and let the little ones see who can get their ball closest. For older kids, add more rules… but for the little kids, make it simpler.
Photo Credit: kmrphotography
Make a list of items, scatter them about indoors and out, and turn the kids loose! Whoever finds all of the items first wins… I’ve played grown-up versions of this game where the items were a lot more odd, and we had to drive around town in teams to find them… so much fun!
Those are just a few great party games for kids, but I’m sure there are so many more! Which games do you always arrange at kid’s parties? Or is there one you are sure would fail? Maybe I ought to just get a piñata… hmm… Please let me know!
Top Photo Credit: Pink Sherbet Photography