Games and Activities

There are so many ideas for games and activities that one could devote an entire book to them (and indeed, some authors have!). I thought that I would attempt to give you a sampling of ideas, most of which are pretty standard, but that can be adapted to many themes, occasions and age groups. With some of them, you might think, "Oh yah, I remember playing that as a kid", but as I personally noticed, hadn't thought about them since that time. They are tried and true and always entertaining. I will also try to provide you with several more contemporary ideas that were among my favorites. Since I believe that most of these can be played and enjoyed by a variety of ages, I have decided not to divide them into age groups. I hope they will be a springboard to your own imaginative skills. I will make additions to the list regularly, so be sure to check back here occasionally. Also take a look at games for some really fun ideas that your kids will love! Or go shopping for whatever you need!

Everyone's a Winner Musical Chairs - Have the same number of chairs as participants, with one chair being the "Throne", elaborately decorated. When the music stops, the one sitting in the Throne gets a small prize until everyone has received one. If you don't want to use chairs, this can be played as a "pass the _______ " game, perhaps giving each guest a balloon, and the one holding the odd colored or decorated (say with stickers) balloon is the prize winner.
Hot Potato - Easily adapted to many themes. Use a baby doll at a baby shower, stuffed animal at a circus party, hard boiled "dinosaur" egg at a prehistoric party, coconut at a luau, etc.
Clothespin Drop - Do the good old fashioned clothespin in a milk bottle or adapt it to your own theme. For a Winnie the Pooh party, drop the honey dipper into the honey pot. Drop the diaper pin into the baby bottle for a baby shower. Or watch your adult friends attempt to drop the chopstick into a sake bottle (make sure they've imbibed a little first). Having an Italian party, try dropping the fettuccine (uncooked) into the olive oil bottle (empty). The possibilities are endless.
Penny Drop - Set up a large jar or bowl of water with a shot glass at the bottom. Object - try to get a penny to land inside the shot glass.
Win a Gold Fish - Just like the carnival game, set up a number of small fish bowls, some containing a gold fish. Participants try to toss the ping pong ball into the bowl. Great for a luau or beach themed party.
You Name It Bingo - Adaptable to just about any party, but lots of fun. Prepare a simple "Bingo" card for each guest with about 25 squares. No need to put a word across the top. Before the party, you or a helper will prepare slips of paper, each containing a word relating to your theme, e.g. Sports - names of NFL teams, Bug Party - different types of bugs, Bridal Shower - kitchen appliances. Give guests a certain amount of time, say ten minutes, to write as many themed items as they can think of in the squares. When finished, the host begins pulling the slips of paper out and calling out each item. First one with five down, across or diagonally is the winner.
Pass the Pretzel - Divide guests into two teams. Give each guest a cotton swab and ask them to put one end in their mouth and their hands behind their back. On the count of three, place a pretzel on the first player in each team's swab. First team to pass it to the end wins.
Toilet Paper Relay - A challenge for just about any age, played in teams, the leader holds a pencil placed through a roll of toilet paper while the first team member takes the end of the toilet paper and runs through a simple obstacle course while trying to keep from breaking the ream of toilet paper. The obstacle course could consist of walking over a chair, crawling through a cardboard box or kitchen table, winding it around a tree trunk, etc., then returning to the starting point. If the paper breaks, that team starts over with the next player. First one to make it back with the paper in one continuous piece wins.
Memory Mix - Again, adaptable to lots of ages and types of parties, place a number of object on a tray (amount depends on age group). Pass the tray around the room for a short time, then remove it. If the guests are old enough to write, have them list as many objects as they can remember. The younger ones can call them out. Whoever remembers the most is the winner. A variation of this is to do it in rounds, removing one object before the tray is passed again and the first one to guess which item has been removed in each round wins a prize.
Human Scrabble - This is a good ice breaker activity and best with a large group. Prepare lots of 4" X 6" cards, at least two per player, with a word (or letter) written on each one. Players each get a card and mingle, trying to get together to form sentences (or words). Small prizes or candy bars can be awarded to team members as they form sentences (or words), then they can be given another card to try again. The trick is, sentences must be at least five words long (or words five letters long). When preparing the cards, be sure to include linking words such as a, of, the, but and or. You can also put a word on the both sides of the card for faster action.
Who Am I? - Another fun ice breaker, the names of famous people or characters, depending upon age group and party theme, are written on 3" X 5" index cards or sticky labels and attached to the back of each guest. The object of the game is to guess who you are by asking other guests yes or no questions, such as "Am I male?", "Am I a singer?", "Am I real or fictional?". The first person to guess who they are wins a prize.
Charades - Just about everyone gets enthusiastically involved in this old time favorite. Played in teams, use your theme as a guide to the characters, books, movies, etc. to be guessed. This is a great game for a teen party, using pop stars, records, movies and actors that appeal to that age group.
Theme Trivia - Display trivia or theme questions and/or photos around the event site. Provide a quiz form and writing instrument to each guest, asking them to complete their forms by answering the questions and identifying the photos. Toward the end of the party, announce the answers and award a prize to the player with the most correct answers.
Limbo - You know the drill. Hysterical to watch and video tape.