Party Games

• Age: 3+ (with supervision for younger children)
• What you will need is:
  • Piñata
  • Rope
  • Selection of candy, treats and favours to fill the piñata,
  • Piñata Buster
  • Blindfold (optional)
• How to Play: Fill the piñata with your chosen selection of candy, treats and favors. Suspend the piñata from the ceiling or a tree using rope. The ideal height is just above head height of those playing. Each contestant takes turns to "bash" the piñata using the piñata buster until the piñata eventually breaks and releases its "treats". Blindfolds are optional and generally best used for older children. In the interest of safety, make sure that players form an orderly queue at a safe distance to avoid being hit by the siwnging pinata buster.

• Age: 3+
• What you will need is: A small present wrapped in several layers of gift wrap. You can even have a small gift or prize in each layer (so nobody is left out), with the main prize in the center.
• How to play: Sit the children in a circle and give the parcel to one child to start the game off. As the music plays, the parcel is passed around the circle and when the music stops, the child holding the parcel unwraps a single layer of the paper. When the music re-starts, the parcel is passed around the circle again. The child who unwraps the final layer wins the prize.

• Age: 3+
• What you will need is: Cushions for Musical Cushions and chairs for Musical Chairs
• How to play: The basic rules for each of these four games are the same. All the children move around the space to music and when you stop the music, the children:
• Musical Bumps: sit down on the floor as quickly as possible. The last person to sit down is out. The music re-starts and the next round is played. The final player remaining wins the game
• Musical Statues: stand a still as possible - just like a statue. The first person to move (including those who giggle) before the music starts again are out. The music re-starts and the next round is played. The last player remaining wins the game.
• Musical Cushions: sit down on one of the cushions (which are already scattered around on the floor) When the game starts, there should be a cushion available for each child. After each round, remove a cushion so that when the music stops again, one child remains without a cushion, and is therefore out. The last player remaining wins the game.
• Musical Chairs: When the game starts, the children should all be sat on a chair. Start the music and the children walk around the chairs. When the music stops they have to sit on the nearest chair to them. After each round, remove a chair so that when the music stops one child remains without a chair and is therefore out. When there are only 2 players left, have them walk in a large circle away from the chair and when the music stops, see who can get to the chair first. The last player remaining wins the game. Musical Chairs is not recommended for the under fives.

• Age: 3+
• What you will need is: Nothing! This is all about listening and reaction!
• How to play: The children stand in front of you and have to follow your instructions. Every time you say "Simon says…" the children have to do what you tell them. For example, if you say "Simon says pat your tummy" all the children pat their tummies. If however you don't say "Simon says…" before an instruction, the children must not do the action. Anyone who does the action without you saying "Simon says" first, is out. Actions could include: Pat your head, Hop on one leg, Jump up and down, Wave your arms in the air, Sit down etc…

• Age: 4+
• What you will need is: A large picture of a donkey with no tail, a tail for each child with his name written on it, a scarf to use as a blindfold.
• How to play: Put up the picture of the donkey at a height that the children can easily reach and mark the place where the tail should be pinned. Call each child to take a turn. When it's their go, cover the child's eyes with the blindfold and turn them around 2-3 times leaving them facing the picture. Give them a tail with their name on it and lead them to the picture. Its then time for the child to stick the tail where they think it should go! Once every child has had their turn, whoever pinned nearest to the correct spot is the winner. Variation of this game could include:
• Pin the Cutie on the Pony (My Little Pony theme)
• Pin the football in the goal (Soccer theme)
• Pin the eye patch on the Pirate and so on

• Age: 3+
• What you will need is: Nothing! It's all about keeping still and very quiet.
• How to play: All of the children lie down on the floor and pretend to be lions that have fallen asleep. Tell the children that they must not move at all and if anyone so much as smiles they'll have to wake up and be out of the game. Any children who are out can sit down next to you and try to stir the other children into moving. The last child to move is the winner.

• Age: 2-5
• What you will need is: Small gifts to use as treasure i.e.: coloured balls/coloured pegs or gifts...
• How to play: Before any of the children arrive to your party, bury and hide your 'treasure' around the home or garden.
• There are two variations of Treasure Hunt, the first is where only one prize is to be found and the child who finds the treasure is the winner. Or a more popular choice is where you bury lots of treasures so that more than one player has the chance to win a prize.

• Age: 3+
• What you will need is: Round party balloons, pens, stickers, coloured feathers
• How to play: Give each child a balloon, felt-tipped pen and some stickers. Then ask them to draw a funny face on their balloon and add the stickers. They can take their balloon home at the end of the party.

• Age: 4+
• What you will need is: Balloons
• How to play: Line the children up in two teams. The first child passes the balloon over their head to the child behind, who in turn passes the balloon over their head to the child behind. Keep passing the balloon down the line and when the child at the end of the line gets the balloon, they run to the front. First team to pass the balloon down the line and have all the players back in the original starting order, is the winning team.

• Age: 4+
• What you will need is: soft bean bag or soft ball
• How to play: This is best played outside as you need a little space. Each child takes turns in throwing the bag/ball over their shoulders. Make sure all the children are standing in front of the child's whose turn it is. This way, no child will get hit when the bag/ball is thrown over the shoulder! The one who throws the farthest is the winner.

• Age: 18mths+
• What you will need is: Balloons
• How to play: If you already have balloons at your party, why not try this game out. Perfect for the little ones. See who can keep the balloon in the air the longest without dropping it. For the older children, they have to keep the balloon in the air by using their heads only!

• Age: 4+
• How to play: Divide your guests into two teams. Each contestant has to run to a marker then run around this 3 times holding onto a pole with their head bent. When they try to run back they'll be very wobbly, having just run around in circles!! First team with everyone back are the winners!

• Age 4+
• What you will need is: Round balloons and long balloons
• How to play: Give each child a round balloon and a long balloon. The round balloons should be different colours so they do not get mixed up. Each player uses the long balloon to bat the round balloon into the goal (use a cardboard box) a few metres away. The first to score a goal is the winner of that heat. Repeat until you finally have a winner!