Party games.....

[Squirdle]

...help me keep around 30 3-7 yr olds busy for 2 hrs!

DS's 2 and 3 are 3 and 5 in a couple of weeks (same day) (gosh that was a mouthful of numbers )

Games I have plannd are:

A treasure hunt (hall has a lovely big garden, so hoping it's dry enough to do treasure hunt, if not indoors)

Musical statues/bumps

Pass the parcel (of course)

Thinking about wearing them out with the 'Red, Green, Yellow, Blue game (each wall a certain colour, children must run to the colour called out.

Will make a pin the nose on a somat

Popping balloons to get sweeties out.

Anything else you can think of. Preferably ones which don't involve making anyhing (because I already need to do the pin the somat, and boys nativity costumes etc)

Any ideas would be gratefully recieved!!

Anyone?

We did one called 'Christmas Corners' which is like 'North, South, East, West' - you play some music and when it stops the children choose one corner to stand in. Someone who isn't looking () says a corner and everyone there is either out or gets a point, depending on how you want to organise it. Call the corners things like 'Crackers' 'Puddings' 'Reindeers' and 'Stars'.

We also used to give the children a wrist band made out of a loop of paper stapled round their wrist. Instead of the 'bad' ones being 'out' the 'good' ones would get a point - a line on their band in felt - and the winner at the end of the party was the one with the most points. It is only a little extra to set up and gets rid of the problem of what to do with the ones who are out while the game goes on.

That sounds good! It is a birthday party, so I will go with a different theme (me being anal about boys birthday being totally separate from Christmas an all that )

Sounds better than the red, green....one tbh as the little ones would get it better! Off to buy paper chains tomorrow then!

go to Party Game Central.....got loads of really good games on there.

Get a laaaaarge piece of paper and fingerpaint in plastic bowls.... they print their hands and names for the birthday children as a mural present....have a bowl of water and towel ready.

Musical chairs variation.... cushions or even newspaper sheets on floor.

Musical statues and Simon says are always popular.

Include some quiet games to settle them down every now and then or you will lose complete control ...e.g. they dance, then stop music and they have to lie on the floor with eyes closed. The first one to laugh (or move if you want) is out. Then start again. But you let them lie as long as you wish to settle them...walk among them and pretend to be choosing.

that all sounds great (though my 4.5 year old would freak at the popping balloons game)

could you get hold of a bubble machine or parachute?

have you thought about a craft? decorating party hat, icing biscuit type of thing? even just a quiet table for colouring in goes down well.

face painting/tattoos are also v popular here

Pass the parcel where the parcel is a "treasure box" (just cover a shoe box in wrapping paper) Lots of little toys and sweets in the box. Children take out something from the box when music stops. Simple map in bottom of box guiding final winner to place where main prize is.

I am definately not doing the paint thing I have awful images in my head!!

I may well buy some mini gingerbread men and tubes of icing.

We had a parachute last year (sister is a Gym coach so snuck it out of work ) but she can't make it this yr, so I will either see if she can sneak it out and send it up with my parents, or have another teacher friend who says she may be able to get one.

Sleeping lions is good...might just 'forget' to wake the lions up

Hi, do your kids know how to play Duck Duck Goose? There's also: What's the Time Mr Wolf, Freeze and Bob, Simon Says, or Doggie Doggie Where's your Bone.

Sleeping Lions (nice and peaceful when you need a rest)

Lots of great ideas on here.

Could also have a dancing competition/ disco type thing - kids always love jumping up and down to music. Or something with actions - the Macarena and the like.