Kids’ parties can be tricky to organise, and that’s just the venue and catering that we’re talking about! When it comes to entertainment, if you’re looking to keep costs down then try to offer some free or cheap games for the children to enjoy. Check out some ideas below to keep little ones occupied.
Hide and seek
Great for almost all ages, this classic game can be played indoors or outdoors with 2+ players. It’s a great way to practise counting too.
Musical chairs
A great choice if you’re in a venue with multiple chairs, this traditional game just needs some music and enough chairs bar one to equal the number of players.
Keep the balloon up
This game makes use of the popular party decoration – balloons. If you have oxygen-filled balloons, simply get the children to play with them by tapping them up into the air and not allowing them to touch the floor. Make it harder by only allowing one hand and one tap at a time!
Sleeping lions
A great one if you’re yearning for a little peace and quiet! This game gets the children acting like sleeping lions on the floor – they cannot move or make a sound or they’re out!
Tug of war
All you need is a long thick piece of rope for this game. Divide the party into two teams against each other in a test of strength. The teams pull on opposite ends of the rope, with the goal to bring it a certain distance in one direction against the opposing team.
Egg and spoon race
Another cheap and cheerful classic, the egg and spoon race only needs spoons and some eggs (make sure they’re hardboiled, unless you don’t mind an inevitable spillage!).
Musical statues
This simple game requires some music that can be stopped and started. Players must dance while the music plays then stop and be as still as a statue when it stops. It gets trickier the longer you play this game!
Pass the parcel
A good way to use up old wrapping paper, all you need is a small prize like a bag of sweets or something along those lines. Wrap the gift multiple times and get the children to pass it round in a circle while some music plays. When the music stops, whoever is holding the parcel has to unwrap one layer.
Toilet paper mummy
This funny game requires several rolls of toilet paper and groups of 3+. One member of each team plays an Egyptian mummy and the rest of the team have to wrap them in toilet paper as fast as possible. The mummy who looks the best will be part of the winning team.
Although these games are designed for kids, there are no rules to say that the adults can’t join in too. Film director Shawn Levy @ShawnLevyDirect once said: “Even when I was a kid, I had a good thing with kids. To this day, if I go to a birthday party with one of my kids, I swear to you, I am so much happier hanging out with my kids and their friends than talking to the grown-ups.”