Children love participating so the more they can do for themselves, the fewer problems you will have and the more your party will be a success. It will also tire them out and help to use up all that boundless energy.

Try to alternate busy energetic games with quieter ones so that they don’t get over-tired. Be sure to keep a list of the games to hand and always plan to have more than you think you will need.

When organising them, try not to have too long a gap in between playing each one so that the children don’t get bored, and you don’t lose any momentum. Check that you have appropriate music and something to play it on.

Musical Chairs/Cushions

This game can be played with either chairs or cushions. Set out two rows of either. The total number being one less than the number of children. Then the children all parade in a circle around the rows until the music stops when they each have to sit on a chair. The child left without a seat, is out. Remove one of the chairs and repeat until there is only one left, who is the winner. You may like to have a small consolation prize for each of the losers as they are made out.

Musical Statues

All the children move around the room while the music plays. As soon as it stops, they have to remain perfectly still. Any child caught moving is out. Repeat until there is only one left who becomes the winner.

Pass the Parcel

Wrap up a present with lots of different layers, usually at least as many as the number of children so they all get a chance to have a go.. Then all the children sit around in a circle and pass the parcel to each other while the music plays.
As soon as the music stops, the child holding the parcel unwraps one layer, and then the music starts again. The child who unwraps the last layer gets to keep the present.

Pin The Tale On The Donkey

These are fairly cheap to buy, or if you prefer, you can make one out of some card. Make a tail for each of the children with their name on it. Then, each child is blindfolded in turn and guided by you to the donkey. They then stick the tail in where they think it should be. The winner is the one who sticks it closest to where you marked the tail should be.

Egg & Spoon Race

You will need a garden or park to play this game. Set up a start and finish line. This need only be two pairs of adults holding some string. Then using either some hard boiled eggs or if you prefer, some similarly sized balls, and spoons (potatoes make a good substitute!!). The children have to run the length of the course keeping the egg on the spoon. If it drops off, they have to stop and pick it up before carrying on. The winner is the first one across the line.

Tag

One of the children is chosen as ’it’. He chases the rest and as soon as he touches any of the others, they become ‘it’ as well. It doesn’t usually take long before all the others are caught. The last one to be caught is the winner.

Wheelbarrow Race

Pair the children up; one of them will be the ‘wheelbarrow’, and the other the ‘gardener’. Set out a start and finish line. Don’t make it too long for small children, as they tire fairly quickly. The ‘gardener’ holds the ankles of the ‘wheelbarrow’ and while he walks on his hands towards the finish as fast as possible.