Desperately Need "Game" Ideas for a Kid's B-day Party

Don't do games...not for 1 and 2 year olds. They won't know how to play and it will be really hard to keep them engaged. Seriousy, just have lots of fun toys available for them to play with and have fun!! Good toys are balls and balloons (although be careful they don't pop! major choking hazard!), ride on toys, play kitchen, books, etc. Have some snacks and just let the kids hang out, it will be just fine!

One year old parties are mostly for the moms/parents. Bring out all of the toys or borrow some from the Toy Library. You can put some blankets on the floor with toys, balls, put a kids song video on the tv or hire a clown although at this age they might be scared!

Seriously?? Party games for 1 year olds? Who are we trying to "entertain" or impress here?

Definitely skip games. At my daughters first bday we just had one of those big thing of lego blocks out and the little kids were entertained.

I agree, 1 year olds can't do games. Have something for them to play with instead...a small blow up pool with balls in it or even a big cardboard box to play in. At a large craft store you can even find cardboard play houses that you can put together before the party and the kids can color all over them, but make sure to use washable markers or something that cleans easily. How about a huge bag full of balloons to play with! That's all they need and they'll be in Heaven!

kids that age & younger... do not 'play', they do parallel play.
They don't do 'group' games.
Just hang out.
Maybe for the older kids... treasure hunts, pinata.... rolling a boiled egg to a finish line... etc.
clapping to music with Mommy then stopping when the music stops. That would be more age appropriate...

all the best,
Susan

There is no time or patience to have games at a party..The party itself will be interesting and exciting enough for them but if you want to give it a try by all means go for it.Just keep in mind that they are very young the attention span short & that ther will be so many other things for them to do play along side one another,won;t let go of mommy becasue they are in a new situation..Keep it short simple and sweat.But I wouldn't even attempt you'll just be disappointed..But we warned you
Gator Golf for older kids
Bowling any age its jsut a ball you roll at the pins
Pin the tail on the Donkey
Pinanta
Coloring table with single coloring sheets and crayons out of the box
Craft that is easy for kids

A friend of mine participated in a jumbo 1st bday party for all the moms/kids in her playgroup. I forget all the things she said she did, but one thing that stuck in my mind was that they bought those hand-impression kits for each kid, and each mom/baby made a hand impression to bring home. Not a game, but a nice keepsake, better than a gift bag.

Simon Says, Ring Around the Rosie, Limbo Stick, Hokey Pokey, play sing along songs, balloon tap (they tap the balloon back and forth to each other without it hitting the ground), finger painting (non-toxic, of course lol), mini ball pit or inflatable jumping bouncer, and just plain old toys to play with. Good luck!

Keep it colorful, simple and SHORT! Babies that age will remember nothing of it, and it will all be a pleasure "of the moment." I would suggest a circus theme--it's easy and fun for babies. Buy clown theme paper plates and cups, and , if you bake, make a round cake with cupcakes cut in half for the ears, one half for the nose (red) and a triangle of cake (can buy pound cake to make this piece) for the hat. Decorate each part in different color frosting...white overall, red nose, blue hat, dots of colored frosting for eyes, dots on the hat...(be sure and stick on the half-cupcake ears!). Go to Google for "calliope music CDs" if your local library doesn't have this circus-type music, to play quietly in the background. .Or have a CD with "I Love A Parade" on it, and let the walkers "march" around the room, parade-style, following an adult. Some kind of circus or parade music is essential to the spirit of the party! Have red, blue, green, yellow pointy paper hats for each child. and put same color of crepe paper streamers (twisted) across the ceiling or hanging down over the cake table. Just make it colorful. Helium Balloons--red, green, blue, yellow tied to the table corners (Note: not for kids to take down ...they are dangerous until past age 5, due to possible ingestion if inflating). That's it for decorations and cake (and of course, if you don't want to bake, you can specify to the bakery that you want a "round, clown-face cake in primary colors".
Infants/early toddlers are all over the place, and the Moms will probably be holding them during the party, so you need not worry about "entertaining" them. Greet the little guests and their Moms or caretakers (hopefully everyone comes on time and the greeting will be over soon), hand them a party hat, then, when they are most all there, BRING OUT THE HONOREE, who has been hidden in another room with a helper...She/he will be amazed to walk in and see all the decorations AND all the little friends assembled! Get a photo of that surprised face! The party begins. Sit and chat for 15 minutes, letting the babies get settled, then announce refreshments: (Consult the baby's Mom for appropriate finger-sandwich fillings (plain bread and butter?) or other dry snacks for the babies, and you can serve the adults stuffed croissants, fruit and vegetable salads and rolls, or cheese and crackers and drinks if you want to include food. Depending on the time of day, just cake and drinks will be enough for all, though.. For the babies, you can serve plain spring water in one pitcher and lemonade in another, so they have a choice when having their cake. After refreshments, have a helper quickly pick up cups and paper plates and then announce GIFT-OPENING. Set your baby in the middle of the floor with an adult helper (Mom?) and go to it! You, the hostess, be sure and take photos! And remember, most babies are clueless at this age as to what is actually happening, but they do have fun at these parties!! Give each child a little paper bag containing a couple of treats as they leave--ask baby's Mom what would be appropriate to include (nothing that they could choke on!). Good luck ,and I think you will really enjoy giving your party!

Tough to do games with kids that young.
If you do--keep it REALLY simple--pin the tail on the donkey, piñata (will need help), or LIMBO!

1. Remember you are there for the kids, not for the approval of the other parents standing around. So think about the 1 year olds.

2. Have children's music which you can sing and do hand motions to - familiar ones like Itsy Bitsy Spider, the Hokey Pokey, Going on a Bear Hunt.

3. Make a list of things to do - and have a few extra ideas.

Very hard at this age. Try ring around the rosy and some sort of ball race: walk across room and put ball into large box/basket and then go back for more.