Ideas for christmas party games for cub scouts

[Josie1968]

Hi there

I have recently started volunteering for a local cub scout group since my daughter joined and we are having a Christmas party for them on Thursday, which I have been asked to organise. Does anyone know of any good games that we can play, preferable with a Christmas theme and low cost due to budget constraints?!

I've thought about balloon relay race ie. getting into teams and putting balloon between knees and jumping across to other team mates (wearing reindeer antlers for a festive touch!)

Can anyone else give me any inspiration for games for about a dozen 8-10 year olds please?

Many thanks

Josie

[BackforGood]

Have you look in the Programme Ideas on OSM?
Also the Programmes on line, on Scouts.org?

American Blog but will translate

[Goldwispa]

Not sure what it's called but here goes, everyone sits in a circle. A dice is passed round the circle and if you throw a 6 you go into the middle of the circle where there will be a hat, scarf and pair of padded gloves which you put on. While you're doing this the dice is still being passed around the circle waiting for someone to roll a six. When you have the items of clothes on you have to attempt to unwrap a dairy milk bar, biggish one that is still in its wrapper on a plate with a knife and fork. Once a six is rolled you stop what you're doing take the hat etc off and it's the next persons turn.

Hope that makes sense.

[Ricekrispie22]

My DH is a Cub Scout leader and he says that these are the most popular games. Most of them are messy and involve food (boys, hey?!).

Strawberry shoe lace race: competitors put one end of a strawberry shoelace between their lips and then put their hands behind their back. Somebody else shouts go and all competitors race to get the shoelace into their mouth without using their hands.

After Eight Race: similar to the shoelace race but start with an After Eight on forehead and it's the first player to get it in the mouth.

Blindfold shoe shuffle - Each person puts on a blindfold and takes off their shoes. They then throw them into a pile in the middle of the floor. The referee then jumbles them all up and then shouts GO! The first person to find their shoes by touch and smell alone and put them on is the winner.

Doughnut on a string: another eating with no hands race, this time with doughnuts hanging on a piece of string!

Post-it shake: This fun game has the easiest set-up. All you need are post-it notes and a timer! First, have the players split up into groups of two or three. One child will stand still while their teammates cover them with as many post-its as they can. Once the timer goes off, count how many post-its are still on each player. The team that has the most post-it notes still sticking wins! Start another game by having each team try and shake off all their post-its. The team that shakes off all their post-its without using hands first wins.

Smarties race: Give each child two small bowls and a straw. Fill one of the bowls with small sweets like Skittles or Smarties and leave the other one empty. On the count of three, children must suck the sweets onto the end of their straw, and transfer them to the other bowl. You can either put a time limit on the game, whereby the children get to keep all the sweets they have transferred when the timer stops, or you could have a race to see who empties their bowl the fastest. If you are planning the race version, make sure everybody has the same amount of sweets in their bowl to begin with!

Balloon bulls eye: To start with, give every child a balloon to blow up, and ask them to hold the neck shut rather than tie it in a knot. Place a biscuit in the middle of the floor, and on the count of three, everyone releases their balloon. Whoever's balloon lands closest to the biscuit gets to eat it! If you didn't want to play this with biscuits, you could also use trading cards or stickers as the target.

Balloon shaving: Give everyone a balloon and marker pen. They now have two minutes to draw a face on their balloon, and then apply shaving cream over it. Then give everyone a plastic knife for their razor. On ‘Go’, players now shave their balloon – only without popping it. The first person to do that is the winner.

Jelly relay: divide players into two teams. Give each team a tablespoon and an empty bowl. At the other end of the room/garden, place a bowl full of jelly. Teams race back and forward to see who can get the most jelly in their bowl within 5 (or 10) minutes.


Paper bag pick up: Your prop is one paper bag in the centre of the room, opened up full and standing up. Get the competitors to stand around the bag in a circle. The aim is to pick up the bag without using hands, arms, feet etc and without kneeling down (ie they have to pick up the bag in their mouth by leaning forwards). Each person gets one attempt otherwise they're out of the game. Each time you've gone round the circle, fold the paper bag over one fold (making it smaller) and then repeat the process. The winner is the one who lasts the longest! This game can be adapted for those who are differently abled (put on a table for example). This game was also done with a cereal box and 1cm / 1 inch cut off each time you go round the circle.

[Ricekrispie22]

Shoe box shuffle relay - each team gets 2 shoe boxes. They must race to a cone and back while wearing shoe boxes on their feet. When they return the next person on their team races. They will have to shuffle their feet or they will step out of the boxes. Also if a box is broken that team loses.

[CherryPlum]

Pin the red nose on the rudolf - you can get a poster, nose and mask on Amazon. It's cheap enough and they always find it fun.

Also, christmas bingo, which you can buy or make (pictures of candles/smowmen/candy canes etc. instead of numbers).

[IJustWantToWearDungarees]

Orange spoon fencing is always dead popular. Divide into pairs. Each person has two spoons. One spoon is for balancing an orange on. The other is for knocking the opponent's orange off. Whoever knocks it off first, wins. Sounds ridiculously simple but is great fun and hilarious!

[Babbabump]

Paper plate on top of their heads and a pen - they have to follow your instructions to draw a nativity scene I.e - draw a stable, draw a star above the stable, draw the 3 wise men walking to visit - when they finish they can look (and laugh) at their creations - points awarded for things like star being above roof of stable and 3 wise men being next to each other or touching the floor etc :)

Hope this helps

[MrsPnut]

Dress the snowman game, items of clothing spread across a distance, two teams and have to race to dress their snowman.
We also played hungry hippos today with plastic balls and shoe boxes.

[Jayde13]

I recently did a lucky dip. Worked out quite cheap as brought 100 little toys from 'Jay Stocks Party Bag Fillers' on amazon. Toys were great quality and they are only £11.99!

[Josie1968]

Brilliant ideas thank you so much!! Akela had suggested pass the parcel but I just wanted to do something a bit different and a bit more fun really...

I seem to be having trouble getting onto OSM, not sure why, but the link you posted has some really good ideas, thank you (BackforGood)

Goldwispa - yes I know this game, it's great fun but they didn't seem too keen when I mentioned it..! We've played it lots over the years when our kids have had birthday parties :)

RiceKrispie22 - wow thank you so much for taking the time to tell me about all of those games!! Much appreciated :)

Thanks again to everyone who has replied, I really do appreciate it :)

Josie x

[Josie1968]

Goldwispa - when I say 'they' didn't seem too keen I actually meant Akela! I think the cubs would love it so still might do it :)

Thanks x

[AlwaysDancing1234]

Stole this idea from a Celebrity Juice game called ‘Don’t Show Keith Your Teeth’ (look it up on You Tube if you’ve no idea what I’m on about!) but obviously without the swear words.
Categories can be “things you eat for Christmas dinner” or “things you find in a Xmas stocking” and each player has to say something without showing their teeth, laughing or hesitating. Easy and fun

[StieveDavies]

Get yourself a copy of "1000 Fantastic Scout Games." It's very useful and only £9.99 on Amazon.