I'm a party planning virgin, please help me (I know this has been done before, be patient with me!)

[ELF1981]

Howdy.

My DD is going to be two in October and I am going to have a little party with her at my parents house.

There will be approx 14 children (eeeek) (mostly relatives so cant slim on the numbers) ranging in age from one year to ten years. Most of them are between two and six.

My plan for food is to keep it simple - sandwiches, jelly, ice-cream etc, but I need some ideas for games that they can all join in on. The only thing I can think of is pass the parcel, and pin the tail on the donkey.

What games can they play?

Many, many thanks for your replies!!!

Sand pit or some kind of container filled with sand to find treasure (gold chocolate coins).

Walk the plank type obstacle course.

Pin the eye patch on the pirate.

Oooh, good ideas.

Do you think they would be capable of music chairs / statues?

In teams of 2, one blindfolded the other has do direct them to the other side of the garden, or room or even house to find the loot (could be hidden inside washing machine or under door mat) the director will have to describe how to get exactly to the prize.

I think you've got the wrong thread there haychee, the OP didn't mention pirates

Musical chairs/statues will be appropriate for all ages. 2yrs old however might need a little direction/encouragement.

Ahhh, by DD's fave cartoon character is FiFi and particularly enjoyed (or I did!!) the pirate game!

Oh god, your right! Not a mention of pirates anywhere! Where did i get that from? Wierd. Another thread? Or did i just make it up?

My thread about ideas for a pirate party is also in active convos at the moment, maybe you saw that?

LOL I noticed there was a thread on Pirate theme
Might go and nick the ideas and make them into a FiFi theme!

Chin races? Using oranges or tennis balls?

Thank god, at least im not going totally mad! I read it in active convos - not just pulled out of my head from nowhere. Sometimes i worry about myself

I think you have to be prepared to let the games drop by the wayside as well tbh. Sometimes they work really well but I have found myself feeling a bit daft for stopping them all doing free play to come and do my controlling games.

I like making a disco room, clearing it as much as possible and having loud dancy music. That's great for all ages.

Also you can get the 10 year olds to run something like a lucky dip or give them somethng to organise. It makes them feel important and like they're not being seen as little kids. It works for the little ones too.

I agree, they far more enjoy just running riot. But would be handy to have a few tricks up your sleeve incase they get bored or fed up with eachother.

thank you very much for the ideas. writing them down on my list, just got to finish the invitations now!

Dead Lions/Tigers is good for after they have stuffed themselves with food and will be sick if they jump around. Not sure if the 2 year olds will lie still enough, but you could allow them a few wriggles whilst keeping it quite strict for the older ones.