Party games for 3yr olds please!!

[babydriver]

Hi, DS's 3rd birthday party is on Saturday and I'd love ideas for party games please. There will be 5 children in total, all just 3. Went to a party a few weeks ago where the children were older (almost 4) and they did musical statues etc but DS just didn't get it - too young I think. So now I'm on the hunt for other ideas.

I'm already planning:

• pass the parcel
• decorating the plain white paper party bags
• decorating a cut out spiral paper snake that they can take home and hang up
• eating cake etc

...erm that's it!

I've got 2hrs to fill, so all ideas welcome!!

[Twiglett]

no no don't do party games for 3 year olds

set up a table with some paper plates, pritt sticks and pieces of shiny paper and make some fish .. (ie cut a triangle out of one side of plate and stick to other side of plate and draw on a face then let kids stick on the 'scales') .. or similar

put some music on

provide some big toys .. duplo? ride-on toys

and leave 'em alone

[Clary]

Babydriver as you say, 3 is a bit young to take part in much beyond pass the parcel IME.

Will you be at home? Do you have a good space where you can put out some toys - indoor ride-ons, pop-up tent etc - and just let them play?

What also works quite well is songs - do all the usual playgroup ones like dingle dangle scarecrow, incy wincy spider, wind the bobbin, sleeping bunnies, big red tractor etc.

[cece]

agree with Twiglett what you have arranged enough is plenty and then just let them play!

[wheresthehamster]

Pin the tail on the donkey variation is quite good.
Enlarge a picture of yourself/partners face or well known cartoon character to A3 size and cut out some red noses and get the children to stick them on the picture with blu tack. Usually good for a laugh.
Eat about half way through then if you have a candy floss machine or popcorn maker get them to make their own afters (supervised of course!) or if not ice cream factory always goes down a treat.
Then it should be time to go home.

[clairemow]

and if it's sunny, chuck them in the garden for a bit...

We went to a 3 year old party the other day, and they did musical bumps - a variation. They all loved it. Basically same rules, first child to sit down (you choose!!) gets a sticker - i.e. everyone gets a sticker! They don't get the last one to sit is out thing...

[tassis]

i'd say you've got a lot of good ideas already

could you put on music and let them dance? ds loves this

do hokey kokey and similar songs

balloons? bubbles?

free play

[Aderyn]

I'm in the process of planning DD's party and on the look out for game ideas. She will be 4 but some of her guests are only just 3.

I have spotted a toy at Mothercare which I am going to buy should the games all dry up in 15 minutes.

It's called a Flying Fish game or something like that. Have a look at the Mothercare website - you'll see it. It's battery operated and the machine fires lots of little foil fish up through a tube which children have to try and catch in nets. Take a look. It says 3 years upwards.

[babydrivertoo]

Thanks, some good ideas here. Yes, we're at home so will look carefully at toys that can sensibly be shared. And I like the idea of musical bumps with stickers, and doing some songs and stuff.

Other thoughts still welcome...