Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How many party games?!!

15 replies

GhostOrchids · 06/05/2024 19:02

It’s been a long long time since I last went to a kid’s party…

I’ve been asked to organise games for a community event. I’m in charge of games for the 4-6 year olds, we’re expecting about 10-15 DC. The event lasts 3 hours but there will be a sit down afternoon tea so I guess I need 2 hours of games to play or other ideas to keep them entertained!

How many games would I need? What kind of games do your DC like?

OP posts:
GhostOrchids · 06/05/2024 20:42

Anybody?

OP posts:
FilthyforFirth · 06/05/2024 20:46

Mine are 3 and 6. They would enjoy pass the parcel, some sort of treasure hunt (hide sweets/choc coins etc around the hall), they would love balloons to play with, a pinata. Basically anything that wins them something!

Hope helpful.

PrincessTeaSet · 06/05/2024 20:46

2 hours is a long time. No help on.the games front but I have found a colouring table goes down well with that age group. They don't always like games.

blackteaplease · 06/05/2024 20:48

Is it outdoors or indoors? Our village fair runs kids races but only for around 30 minutes. Mostly old schools sports eg day sack race, egg and spoon, 3 legged, tug of war and they also have wind up snails that are very popular.

What about some group games like duck duck goose, what's the time Mr wolf and a giant parachute?

TipsyKoala · 06/05/2024 20:49

Also don’t expect them to sit down to afternoon tea for an hour, more like 10 minutes! Plan for traditional party games but also something quieter and sit down like crafts eg making masks or crowns.

sciencemama · 06/05/2024 20:49

Mark making
Face painting
Tattoos
Duplo
Balloon games
Pass the parcel
Musical statues
Soft play
Ring toss or throw bean bag into hoop

blackteaplease · 06/05/2024 20:49

Oh yes treasure hunt is a good shout.

FilthyforFirth · 06/05/2024 20:52

Completely agree with a craft table. I do one at every one of my kids parties and it is always popular.

Nannyogg134 · 06/05/2024 20:53

I was at my 5 year old nieces party this weekend and this is how it went:
Arrive at 2pm- music on, bubble machine, all kids went batshit crazy dancing
2:30- Pass the parcel (lots of layers)
2:45- dancing and clear up wrapping paper
3:00- musical statues/bumps and 4 corners game
3:30- food
3:45- some kids still eating food, others going getting a stick on tattoo from my sister. Once everyone's done, she did a dance 'contest' where my teenage niece and her friend walked around giving out beads, lollies etc to everyone as a prize.
4:00- cake, happy birthday and party bags

I realise this isn't a community event sorry, just giving an idea of timing :)

NuffSaidSam · 06/05/2024 20:54

I'd avoid anything too competitive or with too many rules.

Craft/colouring table always goes down well. You could do multiple tables like this e.g. biscuit decorating, colouring and stickers, make a mask etc.

Things that kill a lot of energy like musical statues, What's the time Mr Wolf?, grandmother's footsteps, keep the balloon off the floor etc. are always good.

Pin the tail in the donkey and pass the parcel are classics that are usually popular and don't cause too much stress.

GhostOrchids · 06/05/2024 20:56

Thanks, everyone! It’s outside, weather permitting. The tea is for everyone, parents and DC, so there will be a break of one hour.Thankfully for me! 😂

OP posts:
bluetopazlove · 06/05/2024 21:04

Please have a quite area area , some kids will need a break.

ridingfreely · 06/05/2024 21:07

Musical statues/ bumps
Pass the parcel
Pin the tail on the (insert whatever animal here)
Get a stick and hold it out and play limbo with music
Bubbles or if any budget a snow/ foam machine
Simon says
What's the time mr wolf
Stuck in the mud
Piñata

However that's a lot of time to fill and I think 1.5 hours of games with a break in the middle is enough or u will start getting poor behaviours and over tired kids

ridingfreely · 06/05/2024 21:09

Oh also if there is outdoor space a traditional 'sports day' event does well

Egg and spoon
Balance the beanbag on the head
Races
Etc

PandaG · 06/05/2024 21:17

Far more than you think you will need, so you always have something to pull out of the bag.

I'd do activities as well as games, so some crafts (decorate a handled paper bag as first craft to keep all other crafts/winnings in) make a bracelet - pipe cleaners and pony beads, or animals out of pipe cleaners. Paper plate masks, ice a biscuit (rich tea, glance icing, sprinkles and sweets), colouring in (plenty of free pages to print online).

Team games/races - balloon over the head/under the legs - person at back run to front and start again. Pass orange down the line from under the chin - person at back run to front and start again as before. Pass balloon between the knees - can just do this passing down the line or waddle a race before passing on. Targets - circles on floor and bean bags child 1 throw bag I to circle 1, child 2 throw bag into circle 2 etc (have to retrieve and try again from the base line if they miss, child 2 can't try until 1 is successful). Once each circle has a beanbag in children retrieve bags one at a time - child 1 swaps to back of the line and repeat, so by the end of the race each child has had to aim for each circle.

Party participation games - hokey cokey, heads and shoulders etc, with say the Macarena, Baby Shark, Agadoo, and some general dancing. If you have a bubble machine on during the general dancing this goes down very well!

Musical chairs, statues, islands (newspaper) Simon says.

Rather than a treasure hunt for sweets, do a pairs treasure hunt. Get a load of old birthday or Christmas cards, and cut the picture in half. Hide one half, and give each child or team one of the remaining halves - once they find the picture match they bring it back to you for another half. Team with most pairs at the end wins. (could also use a pairs game for this, or even 2 packs of cards, but these can look a bit too similar for little ones)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page