Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 8 year olds are too old for party games?

43 replies

lecce · 21/02/2015 16:00

I am leaning towards an at-home party for ds1 (had a thread about this last week) but, though I like the idea of it not costing too much I am panicking about how to actually make it a party, rather than just friends round for tea, especially as there will only be about 4 guests.

What do people actually do for this age group? Ds doesn't get invited to parties much (see other thread) but one he did go to and rated very highly involved eating chips and watching a film - which I think I could just about cope with Smile.

We have a reasonable-sized garden and ds is very sporty, but we obviously can't guarantee the weather. Any ideas would be very, very gratefully received. I seem to struggle so much with this stuff and dh is not well at the moment, which doesn't help.

OP posts:
Artandco · 21/02/2015 16:04

Movie/ pizza and popcorn party.

Invite over, let everyone add own toppings to pizza bases. Put film on. Microwave popcorn. Pizzas in oven hr later. Finish film. Go home. Add a game of twister maybe

FixItUpChappie · 21/02/2015 16:06

Your not obligated to by any means but it's sad to think of 8 year olds as "too old" for party games.

profpoopsnagle · 21/02/2015 16:09

We recently did a movie/pizza party for DD who was turning 11, just inviting about 5 guests. When they got here they all wanted to play party games Grin

Would second making own pizzas, or decorating cakes. We also did twister and wrap DH in loo roll for the mummy game. What about hiding things around a room- paper footballs etc for them to find. Pass the parcel is quite sedate, musical bumps and sleeping lions. Pin the tail on the donkey or similar? Do you have the game headbanz? If not use post it notes for a similar game.

Original poster
lecce · 21/02/2015 16:09

It was meant as a genuine question - maybe I should have said I find it hard to imagine 8 year olds will enjoy the same type of party a 4 yr olds would.

I want to get this right as it is starting to appear to me that ds is having a hard time in some ways from some of his classmates, and I don't want to make it worse by doing a 'babyish' party.

Twister - fab idea, had forgotten about that game.

OP posts:
mikado1 · 21/02/2015 16:14

It's different I know but I have taught 8-10 for years and they adore party games. A brilliant one is the chocolate game-do you know it?

mikado1 · 21/02/2015 16:15

The flour and balloon games also-all a bit messy so bound to be good fun. What does ds want?

Original poster
lecce · 21/02/2015 16:17

Those games sound great, Mikado, though I have no idea what they are! Ds wants a party, and that is all he knows Smile. He is not big on baking, so not sure about pizzas, though I think it is great and we did it with ds2 last year with success.

OP posts:
soverylucky · 21/02/2015 16:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

profpoopsnagle · 21/02/2015 16:19

this is the headbandz game but you can make your own version with post-it notes.

Use a straw and malteasers to do a relay type game. You need a full bowl of malteasers and an empty one. Each player has their own straw and takes turns to move a malteaser from one to the other. They get to eat what they can move in the time limit.

FurryDogMother · 21/02/2015 16:20

8 is too old for party games? I think of 8 as the perfect age for party games!

profpoopsnagle · 21/02/2015 16:21

If you think they would like a crafting activity, has a really good selection and you can get things like glass pens which cuts down on the mess.

mikado1 · 21/02/2015 16:23

Also treasure hunt in the garden? Is my ds too young for games-3in April? I love this stuff!!

Ok chocolate game-one bar of dairy milk, one hat, scarf, gloves and coat, one dice and music. One child picks the magic number, everyone gets a chance to roll in turns, when magic number comesup cchild has to run quickly to get the clothes on and use the fork and knife to cut and eat the chocolate. Others continue to roll. If another child gets iy in meantime they tun over. You will cry with laughing as a child gets all kitted out only for a shout to go up that X has rolled a 4, or whatever the number is!!!

PiranhaBrothers · 21/02/2015 16:25

DIY pizzas are good - no 'baking' involved, they just need to pile their own toppings on.

If you have a decent sized garden and the weather is okay then a game of football usually goes down well with boys of that age.

I like the sound of the malteser game!

mikado1 · 21/02/2015 16:26

Balloon game-write different tasks on pieces of paper and roll up into balloon s before inflating. Like pass parcel and when music stops whoever has it has to burst the balloon and do the task-tell ajoke do 10 star jumps, your ds can come up with more.

fairylightsbackintheloft · 21/02/2015 16:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mikado1 · 21/02/2015 16:29

Malteaser game sounds great!

Flour game-mountain of flour on plate with cherry on top. Children use butter knife to drag flour to side of plate without knocking cherry. If cherry falls head is dunked in flour!!-my class save up stars for different rewards and party is always a costly one but they say it's worth it! !

Aeroflotgirl · 21/02/2015 17:33

No 8 is not too old for party games. Back in the day when I was about 8/9 I went to parties and played pass the parcel and musical statues and ate jelly and ice cream. sad that 8 is considered too old to have fun, sign of the times unfortunately.

Original poster
lecce · 21/02/2015 17:38

Some great ideas I will be giving a go. Thank you all.

OP posts:
slippermaiden · 21/02/2015 17:40

A quiz with two teams went down well at my 7 year olds party. They all sit still and fairly quiet for it too which is a bonus!

ReverseTheTrend · 21/02/2015 17:49

Sweety game

You need 6 wrapped sweets per child. Take it I turn to roll a die

Actions for score
1 - put one sweet I middle pot
2- put two sweets middle pot
3 - give a sweet to player on your left
4 - give on sweet to player on your right
5 - eat a sweet
6 - win the contents of Middle pot

Play until bored, wat whatever's you have left

whatsagoodusername · 21/02/2015 17:49

Have a piñata. They are great fun. Grin

Just make sure everyone is standing well back while they take turns.

yetanotherchangename · 21/02/2015 17:58

YY to piñata and chocolate game. Also some sort of relay assault course if you have the space? Apple bobbing or doughnut game (ring doughnuts on a piece of string. How much can they eat in one minute with their hands behind their back.)

You are right to plan different sorts of games for 8 yo. My 8 y os would be absolutely mortified if I tried to get their friends to do pass the parcel etc (although more than happy to participate if at a party of younger siblings).

redskybynight · 21/02/2015 18:23

Just had a "party games" party for DD's 9th birthday.

We had

  • musical corners (basically musical chairs but everyone in the corner you pick is out)
  • pass the parcel with forfeits (and no making sure everyone gets a turn or any of the rubbish you pull when they are 3)
  • chocolate game
  • sucking up maltesers with straws game
  • eating donuts hanging from string with no hands
  • various games with balloons
  • jelly baby on flour game
  • blindfold one girl - she had to find the rest and guess who they were
  • smile pussycat (girls sit in circle, one girl is "Pussy" and has to try to make the others laugh

think there were others but the girls seemed to enjoy it. We also spent some time just randonmly dancing.

We also made our own icecream sundaes - put out different icecreams, small sweets, fingers biscuits, squirty cream, sauces etc ...

Original poster
lecce · 21/02/2015 18:28

Yes to ice-cream sundaes - we do that with the dc anyway, fab idea. I even feel a bit excited by the prospect of the party now...

OP posts:
TalkingTree2 · 21/02/2015 18:30

My 14 year old (and her friends) still love party games!!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread