Classic Kids Games Re-invented!
Popular Party Games Your Kids Love but with a New Surprise
Tried and true birthday party games are fun, but it doesn't mean you can't change things up a bit. At your next party, try these variations of classic kids games.
It is tough sometimes to keep kids entertained at a party. All kids love games, especially ones they are familiar with. They really love it when you change the game up a bit. These are all slightly different twists on classic games that are sure to be a hit at your next birthday party.
Duck, Duck, Goose
Duck, duck, goose is played with the children sitting in a circle and one person goes around the outside of the circle touching each head and saying “duck” and finally selecting one person as “goose”. The child then has to race the “goose” back to his spot. An alternative is to have each child sit on a square of cardboard. On one of the squares, underneath is written the word “winner”. Play several rounds of the game. When done, have everyone turn over the cardboard square that they are sitting on to see if they are the winner of a prize.
Hot Potato
Hot Potato is traditionally played by passing a potato quickly around a circle and whoever is holding it when the music stops is out of the circle. A new twist is to play Hot Potato with a water balloon or an egg (if kids are in their bathing suits). This makes it a little trickier because at any time the balloon or egg can break. If you really want them to squirm have them pass around a non-stick slime or goo product (you can get these at places such as Discover This). For music, play the song Hot Potato by the Wiggles.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey
In this game a blindfolded child must try and pin a tail on a picture of a donkey. Depending on your theme, you could switch the donkey to "pin the crown on the princess", "the eye patch on the pirate", etc. Or you can just put a blindfold on the child and have them try to find the birthday child by feeling the faces of all the kids.
Tag
Tag is normally just one child saying she is “it” and then running around and touching another child declaring he is now “it”. A fun way to update this game is to play it at night or in a dark room. All the kids who are not “it” are wearing a glow in the dark necklace. You can get these at any party supply store like Oriental Trading. The person who is “it” is not wearing one so the other kids can’t really see him coming. If they get tagged, they have to give their necklaces to the person who was “it”. Now you have to use caution if you play this version of tag in a dark room. The room would have to be fairly sparse and somewhat lit (maybe with night lights) not pitch black so that the children are not bumping into furniture or walls. If you do it outside at night, again make sure there is some light so that the kids cannot run into trees or trip and fall.
What Time is it Mr. Wolf
In this game you traditionally have one person be the “wolf” with a group of children standing opposite him asking, “What Time is it Mr. Wolf”. The response is 1 o’clock, 2 o’clock, etc., with the kids taking the appropriate number of steps forward. When the wolf says “Lunch Time” he tries to grab the closest child. An alternative for a really hot summer day is for the wolf to say “Shower time” and turn and spray the kids with a garden hose. Make sure the parents of the children are okay with this first. Alternatively, the "wolf" could spray the kids with silly string (also known as crazy string).
All of these games will bring a new level of excitement to your party or event. For more ideas on games for children's parties, be sure to see my other articles including Outdoor Party Games for Kids.
