Party games for three year old party?

[giddly]

Hi all. Have read the dire warnings regarding party games for 2 year olds, but was hoping to maybe do a few for my 3 year olds birthday next month (guests will all be between three and four). We have a bouncy castle, and I have devised a version of pass the parcel where everyone gets a prize, but was wondering if you had any more ideas? Or are party games still a huge no-no at three in your experience? I'm a complete novice at this and would be really grateful for any thoughts.
TIA

[giddly]

bump please - anyone?

[ClareVoiant]

hi giddly,

having a 3 yr olds party next week. also have a bouncy castle.

have a skittles game to play (courtesy of another mner), was also going to do pass the parcel, and a musical chairs/bumps type thing.

went to a 3yr old party with a bouncy castle in the summer and tbh, they weren't overly interested in party games. so was only going to do a couple.

hth

[ClareVoiant]

just need to devise a list of nut free foods now.....

[giddly]

Thanks for that - skittles sounds good. Was thinking that maybe they'd be more interested in the bouncy castle, so like you was going to do just a few to calm things down a bit towards the end.
Good luck! Hope you have a lovely day.

[DontCallMeBaby]

I wouldn't bother - at the last 3yo's party we went to, DD was the only one who 'got' even pass the parcel, and she was by far the oldest at 3.9. She's 4.6 now and into the round of 5th birthday parties, and NOW they are really starting to get the games - even at her 4th we didn't bother with games, just the bouncy castle.

[giddly]

Thanks DCMB - was wondering about that.

[Anna8888]

Hmm.

My daughter will be 4 in November. Nearly all of her friends are 4 already (some nearly 5) since the September school intake is done on a calendar year basis here - ie all the children born in 2004.

I was thinking along the lines pin the tail on the donkey; musical chairs: pass the parcel.

Are they too young? They will all have been at pre-school for over a year, so well socialised.

[Lazycow]

Anna - Well I thnk most 4 years olds can probably do a few simple party games.

When ds was 3 we hired a room (no bouncy castle) and I hired quite a few ride on toys and put just put out a lot of toys (borrowed from toddler group that used the same hall)

I also provided stuff for a couple of tables laid out one with play doh and cutters etc and one with stuff to make a crown (I cut out crown templates and provided spakly stickers and some glue ane other shinny stuff)

Basically the children ran around and played for about 30-40 mins. Then we had a game of pass the parcel not all the children joined in and that was fine and they did need a bit of help unwrap etc. We also did pin the tail on the donke (15-20 mins)

There were only 8 children though and that was fine because tbh any more and the games would have taken too long. As it was most of them were looking distractd by the end of the game.
Then they had the party tea and played a bit more.

The party lasted 1.5 hrs which was plenty and in retrospect the party games were superfluous.

I am plannign a similar party for my ds's 4th this year with the addition of a bouncy castle and ball pit.

In my experience parties for children under 5 are better without entertainers etc or too many games. They just need some toys/bouncy castle and things to do that they can choose at their own pace.

[giddly]

Ooh - like the sparkly crown idea. Did it go down well?

[MadameCastafiore]

Hot Potato - cover potato in baking foil and pass round like pass the parcel but pretending potato is hot and when music stops the person with the potato is out - do not do it near china or big TVs as DS thinks funny to just chuck it as do most 3 year olds.

[choosyfloosy]

What's the Time Mr Wolf was best game at ds's 3 year old party.

Have to say that pass the parcel was horribly glum at same event. but it worked OK, sort of - depends on numbers. Would counsel against it if more than 10 children, but people do do it with lots of children - it's just a hassle, that's all.

Try and have someone to keep an eye on the bouncy castle all the time it's in use - not for legal reasons or anything, I just think it can get a bit feral on there.

[choosyfloosy]

What's the Time Mr Wolf was best game at ds's 3 year old party.

Have to say that pass the parcel was horribly glum at same event. but it worked OK, sort of - depends on numbers. Would counsel against it if more than 10 children, but people do do it with lots of children - it's just a hassle, that's all.

Try and have someone to keep an eye on the bouncy castle all the time it's in use - not for legal reasons or anything, I just think it can get a bit feral on there.

[neolara]

I did an egg and spoon race with kinder eggs. Actually it wasn't a race, the kids just tried to walk to the tree and back balancing their eggs. It was a complete failure but hilarious - only two kids returned with their eggs. All the rest scoffed theirs within 4 steps.

[Lazycow]

neolara - That is funny.

Giddly - Yes the crown making was quite popular and not really any more so with the girls than the boys although the boys were noticably less focussed on theirs and just wanted to get on with doing the minimum decoation and just wear it . We wrote their names on and they could take them homw if they wanted.

The most popular thing though was the play doh table. We had a small table with 4-6 chairs and I just put out loads of cheap playdoh I'd bought from woolies and brought along some of ds's cutting and rolling stuff which I added to a cheap pack I'd bought.

The key is to make sure you have more than one roller and lots of different cutters and things to use to roll/shape/cut etc.

[giddly]

Thanks for all the ideas - neolara, don't think my DD would even get to 4 paces,but it sounds fun! Will definately go with the crown idea - thanks for that - and will consider some playdoh. Agree bouncy castles can get a bit wild, and will ask my fierce ex-teacher step-MIL to police it!