Children’s Party Games That Have Stood the Test of Time.
Even if children’s party games are not your thing, they are hard to avoid, so it’s best to be prepared! There are lots of ideas below, that will no doubt be familiar games from your childhood. Please bear in mind the age of the children and choose the games that you think will be the most appropriate. Before deciding on the games for your party, you may want to take a look at my blog on Planning Children’s Parties Games.
Sleeping Lions
All the children lie still on the floor pretending to sleep. If any child moves, they are out.
Parachute Games
There are many games you can play with a parachute for kids of all ages. You will find a good selection of them on Kids Activities.
Musical Chairs/Statues/Bumps
All the children dance to music and when the music stops they either have to stand still like a statue, sit on a chair or sit on the floor and the last one to do so is out. (There should always be one less chair than children playing).
Pass the Parcel
The children sit in a circle and pass the parcel from one to the next. When the music stops, the child holding the parcel unwraps one layer to reveal a prize. It’s a good idea to have enough layers for each child to win a prize. (You could reuse wrapping paper or use fabric bags to make it more eco friendly).
Pin The Tail on The Donkey
Each child takes it in turn to be blindfolded and tries to pin the tail on the donkey. This game can easily be adapted to other animals or characters to suit the theme of your party, eg pin the horn on the unicorn, pin the sheriff badge on the sheriff, pin the magic wand on the wizard etc.
What’s The Time Mr Wolf?
One child stands at the far end of the space with their back to the others. The children shout ‘what’s the time Mr Wolf’ and the wolf replies. If the Wolf says 6 o’clock then the other children take 6 steps. Mr Wolf can turn round at any time and if the Wolf sees any children moving, the Wolf has to try and tag them and they will then become Mr Wolf.
Flap the Kipper
All the children stand at the start line with a folded newspaper and a fish cut out of newspaper, which should be placed at their feet. The children have to flap the newspaper to waft the fish up to the finish line. (Best played on hard, smooth floors).
Duck, Duck, Goose
One child is the ‘fox’ and goes round the outside of the circle of children tapping each on the back and saying ‘duck’. At some point the fox chooses to tap one child and say ‘goose’. The fox and the goose then both run round the circle as fast as they can to see who can get back to the gooses original spot. whoever is last is then the fox.
Hula Hoop Games
Split the children into teams and each team has to pass the hoop down the line; the first child steps into the hoop and lifts it over their head, the second child puts the hoop over their head and steps out of it and so on. The fastest team to get the hoop to the last person is the winning team. You’ll find lots more hula hoop games online.
Donut On a String
Hang donuts on a string and then the children see who is the fastest to eat their donut, without using their hands. If you are playing this indoors, avoid donuts with fillings!
Apple Bobbing
The children have to try and get an apple out of a bucket or trough of water only using their mouth.
Hopscotch
An old school game that just requires some tarmac or a pavement, chalk and a stone. Learn the basic rules on Parents, family activities.
Grandmothers Footsteps
One child is ‘grandmother’ and is at one end, with their back to the other children. The other children have to creep up behind ‘grandmother’ and try to tap ‘her’ on the shoulder. Grandmother can turn round at any point and call out anyone that they see moving – they are then out for the rest of that round.
Penny Toss
All the children are given an equal number of coins, which they in turn try to throw in to a small plastic tub floating in a paddling pool/baby bath full of water. The child that gets the most coins in the pot is the winner. (Don’t leave the children unsupervised with the water).
Memory Game
Lay out some objects/toys/cards for the children to look at and try to commit to memory. Then cover them up with a blanket and see who can remember the most items.
Blind Mans Bluff
One child is blind folded and stands in the middle of the circle, while the other children spin them round 5 times. The circle of children disperse and the ‘blind man’ has to find them.
Stuck in The Mud
One child is ‘it’ and has to tag the other children. Once tagged the child is ‘stuck in the mud’ and can’t move until another untagged child runs between their legs. A child cannot be tagged while crawling under another child’s legs. The game is over when all the children are ‘stuck in the mud’.
Murder Winks
All the children should sit in a circle and one is selected to be the detective. The detective leaves the room while a murderer is selected. The detective joins the circle again and the murderer starts to wink at all the other children one by one, who each play dead once they are winked at. The detective has to guess which child is the murderer before all the other children are ‘dead’.
Get Dressed
All the children’s coats are put in a pile at one end of the room and all their shoes in another pile at the other end of the room. The winner is the first one to find and get dressed in their own coat and shoes.
Sports Day
Three Legged Race
Egg & Spoon Race
Sack Race
