Do you do party games for a 3 year old?

[twiglett]

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Might be a good idea to have something up your sleeve in case they start to run riot. I'd go for the pass the parcel, and as you have a cd player musical statues perhaps and pin the tail on something if they look as if they're getting bored. But as you say, you have the playgroup toys. I'd just err on the side of caution.

Good luck - hope you all enjoy it!

Definitely pass the parcel, with a little prize in each layer.
Went to party for 3yo recently and they played "dancing"!! Also pin the tail (with blu tack!!) as well as free lay.

Free Play!!!!!!!

3 year old riot, interspersed with pass the parcel, and maybe musical statues or that one were they all sit down when the music stops - that sounds about right!

Have fun Twiglett, and Happy Birthday to DS!

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Simon says is an easy one. Also "treasure hunts" where you "hide" say, chocolate lollies around the room and they have to find one each. 3y/os can easily do pass the parcel. An easy thing to do is hat/crown making too. Where you cut out crown shape strips, they decorate with glitter glue/stickers etc and get something to wear/take home too. Good Luck. If it all goes mental at they end have dancing competitions too!

Pass the parcel presents-inside felt tips/small book/girlie hair thing/small playmobile set. In each layer I usually do those individual dairy milks or mini milky ways, that kind of thing. I don't wrap the layer presents. I usually use tissue paper to wrap it in as it's easier to rip open, and wrap the last layer (present) in normal paper so I know when I'm at the end. HTH.

I only ever did past the parcel at this age, and made very sure that they all won something! But I only ever put in a small chocolate in each layer.

Most of the children at DD's party on Sat clung to their mummies and wouldn't do anything (except one who seemed determined to explore the bedrooms). We coaxed them into pass the parcel and a couple joined in with musical bumps but they weren't party animals at all.

I will say this, though. They loved their tea and ate it all up!

They love pin the tail on the donkey (in our case bluetack the tail on the cow) musical statues and bumps, and of course pass the parcel, but with something little in each wrapping.

Wouldn't go overboard at this age, but pass the parcel seems to turn up at most parties at this age. The best version I've seen is a tumbletots one where you pass a beanbag round the group, and when the music stops each go the "winner" gets a small prize. There was no large prize for the ultimate winner, but everyone got a go and won something small (in that case it was actually a medallion with "I'm a winner" on it!). Much quicker, no risk of getting the number of layers wrong, or suffering if a child tears off too many layers.

Statues and Pin the tail are also favourites. Best to stick to well known games as trying to explain the rules is a nightmare - I'm sure those 3 work so well because all the parents instantly know what the rules are and persuade their children to confirm...

bear in mind pass the parcel takes HOURS at this age... yawn...
musical bumps very successful. also went to a party recently where they played "wrap the mummy" - where various poor mummies were wrapped up in loo roll by their extremely over excited 4 year olds in teams of 2. winner is the one with the best wrapped mummy. very entertaining way to kill 20 minutes.

We had dd1's third birthday the other day and no pass the parcel. Cake. And booze for grownups.