Party Games
Party games are a must have at any successful party. It is important to have enough prizes for each child so no one feels left out. You may want to have two “prize bags” for each game, one with smaller less expensive prizes and one with the “winners” prize. If you start out the game process by explaining to the children that everyone gets a prize, you are more likely to have happy children. There is no need to spend a lot of money on prizes, most children are happier with quantity rather than quality. You also need to keep in mind that a lot of small prizes may not be age-appropriate for infants and toddlers as they may be a choking hazard.
See our large selection of bulk small toys and prizes here.
Here are some games that have been popular:
Potato Sack Races – This is a great outdoor game for children of all ages. If you don’t have potato sacks, you can use old pillow cases or purchase some from your local thrift store. Have the children hop with both feet in the sack from one end of the yard to the other, the first one to the end wins! You can also work in teams.
Snake in my Boot – This is a good game to play if you’re having a cowboy party or a train party. Take any old cowboy boot (if you don’t have one, you can purchase one from your local thrift store) and have children toss or drop small plastic snakes into the boot. Give each child a chance to toss a specified amount of the snakes and the one who gets the most in is the winner.
Hot Potato – This is an old time favorite and lots of fun. You can play this game and customize it with many different party themes too. Instead of using a potato, you can use a small stuffed toy, a ball or most other non-breakable items as long as there are no sharp edges. Play this game using music or simply turn around and say “stop” and “go”.
Musical Chairs – This game is good for children over the age of 3. Smaller children may not understand the concept of “being out” and may become upset when they are removed. To help control this, you may offer a small prize to all the children who become “out” and a larger prize to the winner.
Treasure Hunt – This is a great game for outdoors but you can also set it up indoors. You’ll need to set it up before the guests arrive so no one sees wher you place the treasures. You can use items you have around the house such as a yarn ball, plastic cup, paper bag, etc. Make a list of all them items you’ve hidden and make enough copies to hand out to each child or you can make a giant list on construction paper and hang it in a central location for all to see. It’s best to hide at least two items per child so that each child will have the opportunity to find at least one. The child who finds the most treasure wins! You can also hide items that the children can keep such as toys or bags of candy.
An alternative to having games and prizes at your party is doing arts & crafts. |
