10 classic party games for kids with a twist

The most exciting part of a children’s party is the party games, so why not start with the classics? We’ve all played musical chairs, pin-the-tail, and limbo. But have you played them like this? Learn how to give each classic kids party game idea its own unique twist to fit your party theme.

BEAN BAG TOSS/FEED THE MONSTER

Draw a monster’s face on a piece of cardstock or thick cardboard and cut a hole in the box where its mouth would be, big enough for the bean bags to drop out easily. Lean the monster’s face against a chair and place it 6 to 8 feet away (depending on the abilities of the guests).

Everyone takes turns tossing three “food” items (use bean bags, cloth balls, rolled up socks, or other small objects, like squeaky dog ​​toys) into the character’s mouth. after each child
turn around, retrieve the “food” and hand it to the next child. Each time a child successfully “feeds” the monster, he gets a small prize, such as a sticker or wrapped candy.

Twist: Use a character that ties into your party theme instead of a monster: T-Rex for the dinosaur party; Clown for a Circus party; Gorilla for a jungle party

DUCK DUCK GOOSE

Gather your guests to sit in a circle and let the child of the party start as the “Goose.” Walk around the circle tapping each child’s head, saying “Duck” with each tap. At any time, the child in the party can choose the next person to be the Goose, saying “Goose” by tapping that person on the head. That kid gets up and chases the birthday boy around the circle.

If the new Goose doesn’t tag the birthday boy before he goes all the way around the circle and sits in the open spot, then the new Goose becomes “it.” If the new Goose tags the birthday boy, then the birthday boy remains “it” for the next round and the game continues.

Twist: Buzz, Buzz, Sting for a bug party; Tick, tick, tock to a pirate party

GUESS HOW MANY?

Before the party, fill a jar with candy or small toys. Count them before putting them in the jar. As your guests arrive, have each one guess how many toys or candy they think are in the jar. Write each person’s guess. At the end of the party, the person who guesses the closest number is the winner and takes the jar home.

Twist: small plastic insects for a Bug Party, black and orange jelly beans for a Halloween party; small plastic dinosaurs for a dinosaur party

HOT POTATO

It plays like the classic Hot Potato game. Children sit in a circle and pass out an item while an adult leader plays music. The child holding the item when the music stops is out. The last player left without the item is the winner.

Twist: Pass around a large furry toy spider for a Halloween party; rubber snake for a western party; teddy bear for a teddy bear party

Another Twist: Cold Potato – Kids toss a water balloon across the circle. The player holding it when it breaks is eliminated. The last player left dry is the winner.

LIMBO

Two adults hold a stick, mop, or broom at the height of the child. Start the music (Caribbean is the best). Children must walk under the pole without touching it. After each round, the adults lower the pole an inch or two. When the pole is too low, children can bend backwards and slide under it, or even crawl. If a player touches the post, they are out.

Twist: Pirate Limbo – adults hold a play sword; Halloween limbo: adults hold a witch’s broom; Fairy party – adults hold a magic wand

Another twist: the limbo of water: ask an adult to point out a stream of water for the children to go under the limbo. Great for a pool party!

MEMORY

Place about 10-15 small items or toys such as a pencil, watch, comb, spoon, toy car, etc. on a tray and cover with a cloth. Ask guests to sit in a circle with the tray in the middle. Remove the cloth for 60 seconds while guests try to remember as many objects as possible. When the time is up, replace the cloth.

Now each person has to name an object on the tray. The first person to fail to name an object, repeat an object, or name something not on the tray is out. The tray is then removed and some or all of the objects are replaced, and the game restarts with the person following the one out. If the game is too easy for the group, add more objects or reduce the time.

Twist: Use any item related to your party theme: construction trucks for a construction party; makeup items for a costume party

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Place one chair less than the number of guests at your party. Play the music and have the children walk in a circle around the chairs until the music stops. When the music stops, everyone tries to sit in an empty chair. (Only one person per chair) The person who cannot find a chair is out. One chair is removed and the game continues until only one person (the winner) remains. This game can also be played with pillows or cardboard drawings placed on the floor for children to jump on.

Twist: Musical anthills for a bug party; Musical Islands for a Pirate Party; Musical webs for a Spider-Man party

PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY

When it’s time to play, stick your poster on the wall and place a piece of masking tape on the back of each object that the children will place on the poster. Blindfold each child, turn them around, and point them toward the poster. The child who fixes their object closest to the designated spot is the winner!

Twist: Put the nose on the clown; Pin the tooth on the T-Rex; Attach the spider to the web for a bug party; Set the X on the treasure map for a Pirate Party

SIMON SAYS

The children stand in a group in front of the leader. The leader says, “Simon says, ‘Do this,'” while he touches his head, claps his hands, turns around, etc. The boys should follow the leader’s actions, but only if she starts with “Simon says…” If the leader simply says “Do this,” the boys should do nothing. If a kid makes a mistake, she’s out. The last child “in” is the winner.

Swap: Swap “Simon Says” for a character related to your party theme: “Blackbeard Says” for a pirate party; “Spider-Man Says” for a Spider-Man party; “Cinderella says” for a princess party.

SPIN THE BOTTLE (to open presents)

Ask the guests to sit in a circle holding the gift they brought. The birthday boy spins a soda bottle and opens the gift of the party guest to whom the bottle is pointing when it stops. If he stops at a person who has already given a gift, he simply goes left until he finds someone who hasn’t opened the gift they brought. A calm and quiet way to open presents without all the pushing and shoving.

Twist – spin the spyglass for a pirate party; Spin the ruler for a construction party; Spin the Barbie for a Barbie or Princess party

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