What would a children's party be without kid party games? Here are some tips for choosing the best ones for your children's party.

Age-Appropriateness...

Keep in mind as you are deciding on what games and activites to include in you party that they should be appropriate for the age of your guests.

Preschoolers need games and activites that fit their short attention span. Simplicity is the key to choosing games for younger children. They will likely enjoy games like pin the tail on the donkey, duck, duck goose, musical chairs, simon says, racing games, etc. You will need to choose simple games with easy to understand rules.

School age children will probably enjoy some of the games listed above, but you can add some additional rules or conditions to the games to make them more complex and more appealing. For example, instead of just doing races, you can try relay races, sack races, or obstacle races. In addition, this age group likes to do more social kind of games like Twister, blind man's bluff, or scavenger hunt (monitored for safety of course).

As the age of the children gets older, your activites will tend to mimic adult games. Older kids might like to play Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary, or Charades. If you're having a party with older kids, let your 'big kid' tell you what kind of games they think would be fun.

Rename the Classics...

You can easily add some of the classic games like pin the tail on the donkey to your party by renaming it to fit your theme. A Circus or Clown themed party could call the same game pin the nose on the clown. For Halloween, duck, duck, goose could be called ghost, ghost, goblin. With a little imagination, you can get a lot of mileage out of the same old games and still have a lot of fun.

Game Tips...

Other Party Activities...

Piñatas are always a crowd-pleaser with younger children and even younger school aged children. You can make your own piñata to fit the theme of your party, or you can buy one pre-made and pre-filled with candy and toys fairly inexpensively online. If you're planning a piñata for a preschool party, you may want to purchase one with a pull string to open it up and let the prizes out. Younger children may have difficulty getting it open and get frustrated.

Kid party crafts are a great activity to add into just about any party. They can often serve as a duel purpose -- they are a fun party activity and the kids can take them home as a party favor.

Although a bit on the expensive side, you can always hire an entertainer for you party. A clown, magician, storyteller, or musician will add a lot of pizzaz to any party. You don't necessarily have to hire anyone, you can always entertain the children yourself -- be careful if you decide this is for you... make sure you are really going to be entertaining to the kids (wink).

Depending on the type of party you are having, and the theme, singing and dancing may be just the ticket. Older kids might enjoy karaoke or a sing along, a square dance would be the perfect compliment to a farm theme, singing Christmas carols fits just about any Christmas party, and teenagers may just want to dance.

Don't be afraid to leave some time at the party totally unstructured. Younger children, especially, need a little free play time. They will come up with their own little games and still have fun. If you're worried, set up a corner with some dressup clothes, turn them loose to run in the backyard, or set up some toys in a sandbox. Free play time really works well near the end of the party when you've already had cake and you're waiting for the parents to come.

Final Thoughts...

Don't panic when it comes to games and activities for your children's party. Most kids only need a little guidance to have fun. If they don't like the game you picked, they will either change it themselves so that they like it or they'll tell you outright... then you simply move on.

I didn't include a list of party games here. There are plenty of books you can get that list all kinds of children's party games. Instead, I've included some ideas for games and activities with each theme.

Do you have a great idea for party games? Share it!

Click below to see party game ideas from other visitors to this page...

Kid Trivia Game Called Zonk 
I have a good party game for older children. I've used it vacation care groups and in relief teaching.

Compile trivia questions on topics hottest with ...

Story Time  Not rated yet
Read a storybook to the younger kids and ask them some stories on their leisure times.

Slumber Party Game: Slumber party sleeping bag obstacle course
If you're looking for a fun slumber party game, a sleeping bag obstacle race is right up your ally! It's very easy to set up an obstacle course for your next slumber party. You don't need much, just some pillows or cones to swerve around, a table to crawl under, a long carpeted hallway (playing on slippery floor surfaces may cause injuries), an even number of people, and... you guessed it... sleeping bags.