Baseball Necklace

The games listed below are great for themed birthday parties!

Pinata

The piñata is a brightly-colored paper container filled with sweets and/or toys. It is generally suspended on a rope from a tree branch or ceiling and is used during celebrations. A succession of blindfolded, stick-wielding children try to break the piñata in order to collect the sweets (traditionally sugarcane) and/or toys inside of it. Best of all you can either create or purchase a pinata that matches your theme.

It may be a good idea to pre-make bags of goodies to ensure every child receives a fair share.

Pin the ________ on the __________

(fill in the blanks with anything pertianing to your theme)

Traditionally this game is played by groups of children. A picture of a donkey (or your whatever is most appropriate for your theme) is tacked to a wall within easy reach of the children (usually to a large cork bulletin board). Then each child in turn, one at a time, is blindfolded and handed a paper "tail" with a push pin or thumbtack poked through it. (The picture of the donkey is missing its tail). The blindfolded child is then spun around and around until he or she is probably disoriented (and possibly pleasantly dizzy). Then the child gropes around and tries to pin the tail on the donkey.

The player who managed to get their tail pinned closest to the right spot on the rear end of the donkey (the target) wins. You can also use office tape instead of pins.

Drop the Clothespin Into a Bottle

This is another one that can be turned into a themed activity simply by using a coffee can with a plastic lid on it as the container to catch the clothespins. Cut a hole into the plastic lid appropriate for the age child. Then decorate the can.

Bean Bag Toss

Create your own style of bean bag toss. You can use materials from around your house and match the theme with your party.

Go on a Treasure Hunt

These are some treasure hunt ideas: You can scatter real coins, plastic coins or candy coins in the lawn and let the kids hunt for them, much like an Easter egg hunt.

Scavenger Hunt

Another variation of a treasure hunt is a scavenger hunt. You can break the children into teams and give them a list of objects to search for (these can be random objects or hidden objects). Once they have found all the objects listed, they report back to you or the leader for a prize.

Make a Bracelet/Necklace

Purchase inexpensive beads and some elastic cord from your local fabric store. The children can can work on creating their own jewelry.

Guess The Number

Fill a jar with candy and have children write their name on a small piece of paper and their guess as to how many candies are in the jar. The winner can take the jar home as a prize.

Guess Who?

When the children come through the door tape a farm animal or item/object to their backs. Through the course of the party they may ask each other yes and no questions about what they are.

Players sit in a circle. The first player starts by saying, "At my birthday dinner I like to eat hamburgers". The next player must repeat "At my birthday dinner I like to eat hamburger..." and add another dish. This continues all the way around the circle with each player reciting the Birthday Dinner. She's in the exact order they have been given and then adding a new one. If a player makes a mistake they slide out of the circle and the game continues. The person left who can perfectly recite the birthday dinner menu wins.

Duck, Duck, Goose

Whatever the theme, substitute words from the theme for "duck" and "goose."

Hot Potato

You can use an item that matches your theme instead of the "potato" for this old favorite. For character parties use a stuffed toy of the character.

Charades

Have one child come up to the front of the group and whisper the name of an animal, or something to do with your theme, to them. They then act out what the animal does. The rest of the kids try to guess the name of the animal.

Water Balloon Volleyball

You'll need lots of water balloons stored in a bucket full of water and towels for each pair of children. Divide children into two groups. Pair them off and give each pair a beach towel. One side begins by placing a water balloon in the center of their towel. Each child holds onto one two corners of the towel in their hands. The object is to toss the water balloon over the net with the opposing side catching the balloon in their towel. The volley continues until one side misses and the balloon breaks giving the other team a point. First team to 15 wins.

Wits and Consequences

Blow up balloons with questions, written on strips of paper, inside and place balloons in Bag "A". Let each guest reach in and pull out a balloon on their turn. If they answer correctly they stay in the game for another 'round, if they answer incorrectly they pull a balloon out of Bag "B", pop it and have to do what it says..."Stand on 1 foot for 30 seconds". If they complete their task they can return to the game. If not they can cheer on the remaining players. When all the questions have been answered the games over.

For more great game ideas visit http://www.jollyjumps.net

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