Mumsnet Talk

Title says is all really.

We are having a 5th birthday party for about 15 children and want to do some fun games that are a bit different and will keep their attention. Any ideas???

Do you have any particular themes? How many boys/girls? I usually do a combination of some traditional party games, altered to fit in with theme, and a few more specialised games. At 5 you don't want anything too complex, as they might not have parents to help so they need to understand it themselves.

austerityhousekeeping.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/gaming-the-old-fashioned-way/ how about this i have just been looking for ideas for my DS

It will be about 15 children with an even split of boys and girls. There is no specific theme, but DD loves princesses but I don't think the boys will be too impressed if that was a theme!

Berryfreeze - thanks for the link, there are some good ideas there.

Oooh, am all ears with DDs birthday coming up. We have a vague animal theme. A range of ages so need things suitable for 2yo upwards.

We've had to discount pass the parcel as too many kids.

Can 5yo cope with pin the tail on the donkey games?

Was thinking of some kind of treasure hunt where they have to collect objects/pictures hidden around the room, or answer simple questions from certain adults. Haven't got much further than that though.

Will provide a couple of tables with colouring/crafty activities for those that don't want to get involved in organised games.

DD only request is musical statues - will finish with that and a bit of energetic dancing.

You can do pass the parcel with larger numbers by having more than one parcel being passed.

I have contemplated that Seeline, but keeping track of who has had a layer would be a complete headache, plus some of them are only 2 and want to open it each time they get it. DD loves pass the parcel, but I think 25 kids is just too many. Though I did contemplate running 2 seperate circles at different times. Just too much organisation tho.

I have done pin the tail on the donkey when my dd was five and it was a big hit. They loved it and didn't seem to care who won.

The other favorite was 'duck, duck goose'.

For our dd 5th party are doing fairies and goblins, you could do princesss + knights (bit cooler than princes!). For games we are doing pass the parcel (20 children, 2 parcels, overwrapping a few layers and spare sweets in case anyone missed out); musical mushrooms (each time a mushroom removed -have done some cardboard mushrooms); relay race with wands/swords to collect treasure (football markers); fairy godmother (simon) says; what's the time mr goblin?; game where pretend to be different characters in theme when leader calls out (fairy, goblin, rabbit, mushroom etc); fairyland ball (musical statues) have to freeze when humans come; plus some craft.

I have found pin tail on donkey takes quite a while, but maybe after a more energetic game, or when they arrive / get down from party tea. Having said that we did play fishing game last year at ariel party which they enjoyed. Two fishing rods (stick with string + clothes peg on end); adult under table covered in cloth, children go fishing, either get little prize, or booby prize (one welly boot, half bikini etc), those who get booby prize can go to back line and try again.

I love the sound of that fishing game duracell! I might do that at the next party