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Party Planning - Games -
Party Games for Kid's
ANIMAL
HUNT
Hide inexpensive, plastic barnyard
animals or small stuffed ones around a room in the house or in the yard.
Give each child a bag to place their animals in or make Cowhide buckets
from margarine containers. Paint containers white, add black spots to
look like cowhide. Add a rope handle. These make fun treat buckets too.
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SIMON SAYS
One person is chosen to be "Simon" the others stand in a
straight line. The Simon then calls out an action for the children to
follow. It can be anything like.... touch your toes, jump 10 times on 1
foot......& etc. If Simon when giving an action simply state the
action by itself..."touch your ears" anyone who does the
action is out and has to sit down. If the action is stated as:
"Simon says, touch your ears" them everyone must follow the
instruction. You can vary the actions according to the age group of
children you are playing with. The last person who is standing can then
be "Simon"!
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Hot
Potato
You can use virtually any item for the "potato" for this old
favorite. If your child has chosen a character party, and has a stuffed
or plastic toy of the character, use it. For a sports theme, use a ball
or other item from the sport. Even a story book about the theme would
work well. Use music about/from the theme topic for an added bonus.
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Crepe
Paper Tag
This game needs lots of room
- like a backyard..
Split into two groups - each team gets their own color of crepe
paper.
Tie the crepe
paper around the waists of each player - like a belt.
The goal is to rip off the other teams belts before they rip off yours.
Once a player gets debelted, they sit down. The last person left
standing with his belt on wins.
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Dance Along Video
Kids Dance Along Video
Magical Musical Funhouse! Let MJ, the
magical jukebox entertain your young guests. Dance along with this fun
video.
DRAGON
& SPIDER (Outdoors)
Select someone to be the spider. Everyone
except the spider lines up in a single line, holding onto waist of child
in front of him. (This line of children is the dragon.) At a signal the
spider tries to run away from the dragon and the dragon tries to catch
the spider by encircling him with his "head" (first child) and
"tail" ( last child) coming together.
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Duck
Duck Goose
Whatever the theme, simply substitute words from the theme for
"duck" and "goose." For example, use "puppy,
puppy, dog" for 102 Dalmatians. Use "prince, prince,
beast" for Beauty and the Beast. As long as you explain the new
words to the children, any words you select will work just fine.
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DROP THE
HANDKERCHIEF
Items:
4 or more players
handkerchief or
bandana
Drop the Handkerchief is similar to Duck-Duck-Goose. Form a circle of
players facing each other. The person that is "it" will go
around on the outside of the circle. The person that is "it"
will drop a handkerchief behind one of the other players. The person
that drops the handkerchief will race around the circle in hopes they
won't get caught by the person the handkerchief was dropped behind. The
people around the circle has to keep checking to see if the handkerchief
was dropped behind them. The person where the handkerchief was dropped
picks up the handkerchief and chases after the person. The first one to
sit in the empty spot wins. The one who loses will be "it"
next.
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A TISKET, A TASKET
A tisket, a tasket
A green and yellow basket,
I wrote a letter to my love,
And on the way I dropped it,
I dropped it,
I dropped it,
And on the way I dropped it.
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GOSSIP or TELEPHONE
Everyone sits in a circle. The first person whispers a message to the
person next to them in the circle. Each person in turn tries to repeat
the same message to the person next to them. The last person in the
circle repeats the message out loud. Unfortunately, by the time it gets
to the end of the circle the message has changed completely. Then the
person who started the message tells everyone what the actual message
originally was.
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Mother
May I
If using an animal theme, allow the children to address the mother
animal. For example, "Mother Doggie, may I take two steps
forward?" If using a story, movie or TV show theme, select the
"bossy" character. A perfect candidate for this job is
Angelica from Nickelodeon's Rugrats. Or you may simply chose the main
character, such as Snoopy, Barney or Pooh.
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RED LIGHT /
GREEN LIGHT
In this game, one person plays the "stop light" and the rest
try to touch him/her. At the start, all the children form a line about
15 feet away from the stop light. The stop light faces away from the
line of kids and says "green light". At this point the kids
are allowed to move towards the stoplight. At any point, the stop light
may say "red light!" and turn around. If any of the kids are
caught moving after this has occurred, they are out. Play resumes when
the stop light turns back around and says "green light". The
stop light wins if all the kids are out before anyone is able to touch
him/her. Otherwise, the first player to touch the stop light wins the
game and earns the right to be "stop light" for the next game.
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FLASHLIGHT TAG
Played at night, this game mixes the popular games, hide and seek with
tag. The person who is "it" waits at the "jail"
counting to a high number while everyone else hides. Then, armed with a
flashlight, this person searches for the others who may be switching
hiding spots. The flashlight must remain on at all times and may not be
covered. When "it " spots someone, s/he must use the
flashlight to get a close enough look at the person to identify him/er
and call out his/er name.
What happens when a person gets caught,
gives rise to variations of this exciting game. One variation is to pass
the flashlight to the caught person, so s/he becomes "it."
Another version is to send each caught person to "jail" to
wait until everyone is caught. The first person caught then becomes
"it." Another variation is to have more than one person (or a
team) be "it." With this configuration, people who are not
"it" can tag other people (or team members) free from
"jail." One of the "its" may stay near to guard the
"jail."
Players will find new and interesting ways to improve their play. One
such strategy is to watch where it have already searched, and then
switch to that hiding spot. One might also find success by following it. For added challenge, players may
camouflage
themselves with dark clothing and face paint. This game is excellent for
developing great strategies of guerilla warfare in young minds. This
game will also encourage paranoia in parents and entire neighborhoods.
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Don't
Wake the Dinosaur
This is a fun game where one child is selected to be the Dinosaur. The
dinosaur hides his face and lays on the ground as if asleep. The other
children creep up on the dinosaur and ask "Are you asleep?"
The dinosaur answers "Yes" several times. He then at one point
answers "NO!" and the children scatter to avoid being tagged.
The first child tagged is the dinosaur for the next round. For
Cinderella, you could make the dinosaur "the evil stepmother."
& etc.
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Dino
Egg Toss
This game must be played
outdoors for it gets a little messy.
Divide your guests into two equal teams.
Have them line up in two horizontal lines facing each other about 2
feet apart.
The person facing the other will be partners.
Give one line an unboiled egg.
At the sound of "go" the partner with the egg will toss it
to the one facing him. They must catch it without it breaking. If
someone breaks the egg or does not catch it, they are out. Before they
toss it again they both must take one step backwards.
Repeat this until only one team is left.
You may substitute water balloons instead of real eggs.
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Bone
Drop
Have child stand over a jar
with a somewhat small opening (depending on child's age). Let them have
10 clothespins and see how many they can put in the jar by dropping them
as they stand straight up.
WHEEL BARROW RACES
Divide your party guests into two equal teams in two single file lines.
Have the leader of each line get on their hands and knees. At the start
of go the player behind them will grab his/her ankles and hold up their
legs so they can only walk on their hands. Race to a designated area and
have them reverse on the way back. Continue until one team finishes
first.
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BURLAP SACK RACES
Divide your guest into two equal teams. Give each team a burlap bag that
they step into and have them race to a specified distance and back.
Continue until one team has completely finished. The one team who
finishes first wins.
Purchase burlap fabric to make bags
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DROP THE
CLOTHESPINS
You will need:
Jar
10 clothespins -You can purchase clothespins
at hobby stores.
Have child stand over a jar with a somewhat small opening (depending on
child's age). Let them have 10 clothespins and see how many they can put
in the jar by dropping them as they stand straight up.
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EGG TOSS
This game must be played outdoors for it gets a little messy. Divide
your guests into two equal teams. Have them line up in two horizontal
lines facing each other about 2 feet apart. The person facing the other
will be partners. Give one line an unboiled egg. At the sound of
"go" the partner with the egg will toss it to the other. They
must catch it without it breaking. If someone breaks the egg or does not
catch it, they are out. Before they toss it again they both must take
one step backwards. Repeat this until only one team is left.
You may substitute water balloons instead of real eggs.
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RED ROVER
This is an outdoor activity and requires 6 or more players. Best played
by children 6 years or older. Divide the players into two teams. The
teams link arms and stand opposite each other about fifty feet apart.
The birthday or chosen child should be at the end of one line so he or
she can go first, naming a child on the other team this way: "Red
Rover, Red Rover, let Todd come over (calling a child from the other
side). Todd then runs across the play area and tries to break through
the chain of opposite players. If he breaks through, he goes back to his
own team. If he doesn't, he joins the team he couldn't break through.
Theoretically, the last person to join a chain is the winner, but often
the game doesn't get this far. Play just until the children feel like
playing something else.
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UNTANGLE THE KNOT
Have the kid's stand in a circle facing inward. Everyone extends his or
her right-hand into the middle of the circle and takes hold of someone
else's hand. Then, they do the same with their left-hands. The object of
the game is to see if they can untangle the "knot" by ducking
under people, stepping over them or turning around. No matter what
happens, they can't let go of hands!
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THE
MUMMY GAME
Divide kid's into two teams. One child
from each team is chosen to be the mummy. Each team is given a large
roll of toilet paper and a roll of tape. At the signal "Go"
each team must wrap their mummy with the toilet paper, leaving small
holes for the eyes, nose & mouth. The first team to use all their
toilet paper roll up is the winner.
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THE
ORANGE RACE
Divide kid's into teams
and have them line up in a straight line. Give each team an orange. The
object of the game is to pass the orange to the next member on the team,
chin to chin. If they drop the orange they must start over. The first
team to pass the orange all the way down the line is the winner.
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LIMBO
& LUAU GAMES
Use a broom handle or
other pole about 6 foot long. Start by holding the stick about 3-4 feet
off the ground. Start playing festive party music. Each child leans back
and dances under the pole. After each child has gone under the pole, the
pole is lowered and each child again goes under the pole. If the child
falls, they are out of the games. The game continues until only one
child remains.
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Garden
Spy Game
Here's one to test your memory. Collect about 20 garden items, and place
them on a tray. Make a master list of all the items. Create individual
or team sheets that have "I Spy" as the title and numbers
listed below to match the number of items on the tray. Use a large cloth
or towel to cover the items on the tray. Don't let your child see the
items you selected, so they can play too!
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"Name
it" Tag
This is a fun version of tag which has one
basic rule. The only way the children can be safe from "it" is
to stop in place (before being tagged) and name something or say
something. For example: with any show/movie/cartoon theme, the children
are safe while stopped and singing the theme song. (It must then turn
his attention to another child.) With animal themes, the child might
have to stop and make the animal's sound (barking, meowing, roaring,
etc.) to be safe. For older children, you might have them stop and name
a character or scene from the show/movie/cartoon/book, or name an item
from the sport/activity. They then have until the count of 10 to be
safe, then must begin running again. It the theme topic has several
familiar songs (such as Barney, Blue's Clues, many movies) the children
may stop and sing any song from the show/movie/cartoon/book.
Ballerina
Relay
Purchase two pairs of the appropriate
sized ballet slippers & two tutu's. Play "Ballerina
Relay". Divide the girls into two teams and have them
put on the tutu & ballet slippers, then tippy-toe to another corner
of the room. Spin around and courtesy, then leap back to the next girl
on their team. Have them exchange shoes & tutu with the next child.
Play continues until one team has finished. Assign two adults to each
team to help remove and tie on the slippers.
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Pass
the Hat Please
Have the children sit in a circle. Start
the music, as the music plays a Hat (or other item related to your
theme) is passed around the circle. When the music stops the
person holding the Hat is Out. Continue until only one child remains.
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Tommy
Minds the Farm (use birthday child's name)
Pretend is a favorite activity for
children, so you are going to pretend that Old McDonald has to go away
for the day and that Tommy (birthday child's name) is going to mind the
farm. Start by pretending to drive to the farm. Then when you get to the
farm, Tommy is going to take a walk around the farm to see that all the
animals are happy. When you met the horse. Say, Hi, Horsey. When the
Horse answers he says " Quack, Quack! Pretend to be puzzled and say
" I thought a horse went "Neigh, Neigh"! , Then visit the
Cow. and say, "How Now, Cow". The cow says "Oink, Oink.
Continue by mixing up the animals sounds. (Pig says "Honk",
Goose says "Meow", Goat say "Rrruff", Cat say
"Baa Baa", Dog says "Cluck Cluck", Sheep say
"Buzz, Buzz", Duck says "Ribbit", Frog says "
Cock-a-doodle-doo", Turkey says "Neigh", & etc.)
Pretend to be very confused and say "Something is really wrong here
on the farm". Then pretend that you get a letter from Old McDonald
that says that the animals like to play tricks on people. Just in case
they try something funny, here is a song to help keep track of things.
Then sing "Old McDonald Had a Farm".
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Fun Dances for
Kids
- The Chicken Dance
- The Bunny
Hop
- The Twist
- The Hokey Pokey
Halloween
Games
Spider Web (good
ice breaker game)
Props: A network of yarn (as many
different colors as guests), wound around tables, under rugs, across
doorways, and among other pieces of yarn in the party room. Clothespin
attached to end of each color of yarn.
As guests set foot in
house they are met with a network of yarn. Each is given one of the
clothespins and asked to untangle his/her color of yarn. The winner is
the one who untangles his yarn first.
Chinny Chin Chin
Props: Apples or Oranges
Divide guests into two teams. Line them
up. Under the chin of first person in each line, tuck an apple. He turns
to the next in line and, without using his hands, transfers the apple
into position under his chin. If apple drops, he picks it up and tries
again. The first team to transfer the apple to the end of their line is
the winner.
Broomstick Relay
Props: Balloon & Broom for the each
team.
Divide kid's into 2 or 3 teams with 4, 6
or 8 to each team. Half of each team line up on one side of the room and
the other half of the team line up on other side of room. Give the first
person on each team (on one side of room) a balloon and a broom. At
signal, the first person on each teams starts sweeping his/her balloon
across the floor to his/her team member. If balloon breaks, provide team
with another balloon and they must begin again from the starting line.
When first person reaches their team member across the room, the next
team member quickly grabs broom and sweeps balloon back to the other
side. First team through wins.
Variation For Teen Parties:
Choose partners. Broom and balloon for
each girl, each a different color. Girls line up at one side of room,
boys at other. Each girl places a balloon on starting line; then she is
supplied with a broom. At signal, she starts sweeping her balloon across
the floor to her partner. If it breaks, couple is disqualified. When
girl reaches boy, he quickly grabs broom and sweeps balloon back to the
other side. First couple through wins.
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Valentine's
Games
Valentine's Relay
Props: Two chairs at one end of room,
with empty bowl on each. Two chairs at other end of room, with bowl on
each containing a red tissue -paper heart for each player. A soda straw
for each player.
Supply each player with a straw. Divide
players into two teams; members of each line up behind their captain at
one of the chairs with an empty bowl. At the word "Go",
captain races to opposite end of room, picks up a heart at the end of
his straw by sucking in his breath, then races back to chair at opposite
end of room and deposits heart in empty bowl. Next player follows suit.
( If heart drops, player must get down and suck it onto end of straw
again.) First team to finish gets a box of candy kisses for each team
member or other valentine's prize.
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