It is tough sometimes to keep kids entertained at a party. All kids love games, especially ones they are familiar with. Here are some slightly different twists on classic kids party games that are sure to be a hit.
Duck, Duck, Goose Kids Game
Duck, duck, goose is a classic kids party game 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.
Twist: 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.
Twist: 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 (available at places such as Discover This). For music, play the song Hot Potato by the Wiggles.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey
In this classic kids party 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.
Twist: The blindfolded child must try to find the birthday child by feeling the faces of all the kids and sticking a "Birthday Kid" sticker on the one they think it is.
Tag Kids Game
Tag is normally just one child saying she is “it” and then running around and touching another child declaring he is now “it”.
Twist: A fun way to update this classic kids party 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, walls or each other. 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 kids party 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.
Twist: 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 fun kids party games will bring a new level of excitement to your next birthday party or event.
More Party Ideas:Outdoor Party Games for Kids
Gail Oliver - Gail is an author, writer and researcher. She has been quoted in magazines as diverse as Cosmopolitan and Maclean's. Gail writes on a ...
