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Kids indoor & outdoor party games

 
All kids love playing party games! So here are some tips and suggestions on fun-packed indoor and outdoor games which are sure to be a big hit.
All kids love party games!

Here are some fun-packed ideas for kids indoor and outdoor party games which are sure to be a big hit at your kids next birthday party.

Adapt the games to suit the age of the kids at the party.
 

Kids party game tips

 

1. Make a list


Before you get too carried away, perhaps ask the birthday boy or girl what party games they would like to play so you at least have a starting point.

Perhaps games they've enjoyed playing at their friends' parties.
 

2. Adapt games to your party theme


You can purchase pre-prepared party games or try some of our suggestions below, perhaps adapting them to work in with your theme. 

For example 'Duck, Duck, Goose' can be changed to 'Princess, Princess, Frog' or 'Spiderman, Spiderman, Green Goblin'.

With the use of some computer or artistic skills, markers and poster board, Pin the Tail on the Donkey can be turned into Pin the Crown on the Princess or Pin the Wheel on Thomas The Tank Engine etc.


3. Decide where to play the party games


Next, you need to consider your party space and whether the games will be played inside or outside (weather permitting).

Also have a few extra games planned in case there is a change in the weather or if you sense that a game is not going well.
 

4. Don't forget the prizes! 


Make sure you are prepared with all the game equipment and prizes ready to go.

Every child likes to be a winner, so play games that allow this to happen such as pass the parcel where each child gets a small prize when the music stops.

 

Kids indoor party games


Here are 8 popular indoor party games you might like to play.
 

1. Duck, Duck, Goose

 
  • A group of players sits in a circle facing inward, while another player, the 'picker' (aka the 'fox'), walks around tapping or pointing to each player in turn, calling them a 'duck' until finally picking one person to be a 'goose'.
 
  • The 'goose' then stands up, chases the 'picker' and tries to tag them. Meanwhile the 'picker' tries to run and sit where the 'goose' had been sitting.
 
  • If the 'picker' succeeds, the 'goose' is now the new picker and the process begins again. If the 'goose' succeeds in tagging the 'picker', the 'goose' may return to sit in the previous spot and the 'picker' resumes the process.
 
  • This can also be played outside.
 

2. Sardines

 
  • Kids count to twenty together except one who goes into hiding. When they reach twenty the kids must hunt for the missing child.
 
  • When each child finds the one that is hiding, they join them in the same hiding space. The game continues until the last child discovers the hiding place.
 
  • The game can then be played again with the child who found the hiding place first taking a turn as the next hider.
 

3. Blind man’s Bluff

 
  • Blindfold one child and spin them around three times. The other players must move around making a noise whilst the blindfolded player tries to catch them.
 
  • When the blindfolded player catches a child, they must guess who it is. If they guess correctly, the caught child takes over as the blind man.


4. Musical Chairs

 
  • Make two lines with chairs placed back to back. There should be one less chair than the number of children. When the music starts, children march around the chairs.
  
  • When the music stops everyone sits down. The person without a chair is out of the game.
 
  • Remove a chair and start the music again. The game continues until only two players are left competing for the last chair. The last person sitting on the chair is the winner.
 

5. Musical Statues

 
  • The kids dance about as the music plays. When it stops, all players must freeze like statues. Anyone who twitches or moves in any way is out. The game goes on until only the winner is left.
 

6. Mismatches

 
  • Divide the kids into two teams. One team leaves the room while the other makes ‘mismatches’ by altering things in the room.
 
  • They might change the position of an object such as turning a vase upside down or changing something about a person, such as putting a coat on inside out.
 
  • At the end of a time limit the other team returns and tries to spot the mismatches. Any mismatches that have not been noticed within a designated time limit score one point to the team that made them. The team then change roles.
 
  • The team with the most points wins.
 

7. Squeak Piggy Squeak

 
  • Kids sit on chairs around the room. Blindfold one child, turn them around a few times and give them a cushion.
 
  • While the kids sit as silently as possible, the ‘blind’ player must find a child, sit on their lap with the cushion and call out ‘Squeak Piggy Squeak!’ The child makes a piggy noise.
 
  • If the blind player correctly guesses whose lap they are sitting on, they change places with them.
 
  • Kids should rearrange themselves and their chairs before starting again.
 

8. Musical Bumps

 
  • The kids dance about as the music plays. When it stops, all players must sit down immediately. The last one to sit down is out. The game goes on until only the winner is left.
 

Kids outdoor party games


These party games are fun to play outside if the weather's good.
 

1. Back to Back Race

 
  • Divide the kids into pairs and have them stand back-to-back, locking their arms at the elbows.
 
  • The pair must run as best they can from the start line to another line some distance away, face the other way and run back again. The first pair who gets back to the starting line wins.
 

2. Drop the Handkerchief

 
  • Have the kids form a well-spaced circle facing inwards. Whoever opts to be ‘it’ runs around outside the circle with a handkerchief.
 
  • At any stage they can drop the handkerchief behind one of the players in the circle. As soon as the player discovers the handkerchief they must pick it up and chase the ‘it’ person around the circle.
 
  • If the person who's ‘it’ beats the child back to the empty space, they can join the circle. The child outside the circle takes a turn dropping the handkerchief.
 

3. Freeze Tag

 
  • The birthday child can be selected to be 'it' (the person who has to tag other people) first. The tagger tries to tag all the other children. If a player is tagged, he or she must stand still and 'freeze'.
 
  • Players who are not frozen can 'unfreeze' frozen players by touching them. The first player to be frozen three times becomes 'it' next.
 

More kids party articles to enjoy:


Source: This article was kindly written for us by Build a Birthday - creating parties kids love!
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