Outdoor Party Game Ideas (Kid Friendly) H*E*L*P

Another way to do musical chairs, is to have the person who didn't get a chair be in charge of stopping the music, then they go back in after another round, that way the younger kids don't feel like they are always losing. I think everyone else is right about kids will invent their own games, or just find things to do. Balls, bubbles and hula hoops are always a blast.

K.

Kids love to look for things, so you could break them into teams and give each team a list of things they need to find, (you have hidden the items around already), like a scavenger hunt. The team that finishes first wins. OR just hide a lot of little things around the yard, like bright colored little fake bugs, and pass a bag/ "bug catcher" out to each kid and let them run around and find a bunch. Prizes can go to kids who find the most, OR there can be "specially marked" bugs that earn prizes.

I agree that bubbles, sidewalk chalk and hula hoops keep kids busy for a LONG time. Walmart was selling bubble wands and containers of chalk for $1.00 each not long ago.

And kids of ALL ages (a lot of grown ups too) like water balloon toss games. Fill LOTS of balloons though... they will want more to play with them afterwards!

Have fun.

Have faith that kids are very capable of making their own games and play.
But-
If you need something to get through a dull part of the party
****Duck duck goose
****Simon Says
****Red Light/Green Light
****The Stuff-stacle Course (make an obstacle course use stopwatch or second hand. Be sure to let the big kids help build it)

Games with no winner/loser are a lot more fun for little kids- the bigger kids enjoy competition.

Do you have a small boom box or Karaoke machine?
Play dance freeze
(dance when the music is on - then freeze when it stops)
**dance like your favorite animal
**freeze with your hands in the air
**freeze laying on the ground
**freeze standing on one foot, ect
If it's warm enough have a kiddie pool (supervised) with things to play with.(spoons cups bowls ect)
Also you could buy some cheap uncooked rice to put it in the pool or big bin to play with.(kids love this)
Periodically, put the big kids in charge of little ones- like summer camp!
Pull out a blanket/sheet and some of your kids toys. (To your guests, they are infinitely more interesting/fun than their own.)
You'll do fine!

We had a big party last summer and would you believe the hit of the day was hula hoops?!! From kids to adults they had a blast with them! Talk about cheap entertainment! We also picked up a couple beach balls and a cheap bean bag toss for smaller kids. Bubbles are another great idea. I would skip the inflatable...too expensive!

I work at an elementary school and we just had our annual Peace Celebration. Each year we have to come up with engaging games for the kids, and this year one teacher gave some great ideas. I am including those here...they were great and the little guys (the school is k-8) loved them!

Quick-Change Relay: (2-3 people on a team) Provide each team with a suitcase of old clothes, containing a pair of oversized pants, an oversized shirt, and large shoes. (For more fun, you might include colorful boxer shorts, a hat, or even a belt.) When the relay begins, the first member of each team runs to the chosen spot with suitcase in hand, opens the suitcase, and puts on each of the clothing items over his or her own clothing. When that student is fully dressed, he or she undresses, packs up their suitcase, zippers it closed, and runs back to the team. He or she then hands off the suitcase to the next student and the relay continues… The relay ends when the last student returns to the team with the packed-up suitcase. The team that finishes fastest wins.

Froggy Finds a Pad: Give each student five beanbags; each beanbag represents a frog. Spread over the game area a dozen lily pads. (Upside down Frisbees might represent the lily pads.) How many frogs can each student toss onto a lily pad?

Snow Cone Carry: (3 people on a team) Set up a simple looped course marked with line. Students take a cone, flip it upside down, and place a beach ball or volleyball in the opening. Then they walk/run the course holding onto to the "snow cone." Students have to walk/run the loop without the beach ball falling from the cone and then pass it to their teammate. The first team to complete the loop “wins”.

Three Legged Races: (2 people to a team) Students pair up and stand side by side. The right leg of one student is then tied to the left leg of the other student. When relay begins, students have to run to the chose spot and back, without their legs coming apart. First team back wins.

Toxic Swamp: (5 people on a team) Teams are given 4 “squares” and told that they must get from the start to the finish by stepping on only the “squares” that they have been given. If any of their team is not on a square once they start, they will be eaten by the toxic swamp and the entire team must start over. They must work as a team to figure out how all members will make it to the other side using only the squares they have.
(This one may be a bit much for smaller children).

I agree with you that you need a few games - you can even encourage the 13 year old to run a few relays....

Here are my (simple) game favorites:

Musical chairs
The Limbo - you don't really win but it's fun to watch
Freeze tag
(at night) Ghost in the graveyard - fun little gift is a tiny flashlight.
Hula Hoops
Bozo Buckets
Scavenger hunt
Various relays
Set up an obstacle course
Simon says

Water relay games like "one step back"... kids pair up in two straight lines. both lines facing each other. Each "pair" has one water balloon. You go down the line and each get a simple toss across. Once you go through all the pairs - the leader yells "ONE STEP BACK" which all people step backwards (trying to keep all the same distance between each partner. When the balloon breaks (someone may luckily drop it without breaking and that's okay) that team is done. Gets pretty tense when the last couple pairs are standing because they could be ten feet apart.

Also... another water relay is, dividing the kids up in two team lines. The front of the line (for each team) has an empty clear container (same size container for both teams)' the back of the line has a full bucket of water. Each child is holding a 6 - 8 oz dixie cup. The object is to have the last person fill their cup with water and "pass the water" by pouring it into the person's cup in front of them (they can't touch the person in any way - they can just pour the water in their cup) and this is done until the first in line pours that water into the container (sometimes by the time the water reaches the front of the line, you're left with dribbles. Time limit game - maybe 2 - 3 minutes. Measure the water with a measuring cup and winning team gets a small prize.

It's fun for the kids to play one to one 1/2 hours of games - then, they can entertain themselves.

Have fun.

I was to a party recently where they set up a "mini" golf course. The party "Prizes" for the children were a golf club set from the dollar store.....it worked very well. The adults as well as the kids could play.

Check out FAMILY FUN magazine's party ideas....they are on-line...or look for back issues at the local library. It is a really cool magazine with plenty of ideas for kids (parties, crafts, food, travel ideas, etc) published by the Disney corp. I have been getting it for nearly 20 years (since the very beginning) and can't imagine what I would have done without some its creative ways to keep kids busy.

Check out our website for some great theme parties for this age range (www.creative-celebrations.net). We have a number of different themes from dancing parties to ones that include various relays and obstacle courses.

Thank you

I had an outside party last year for my sons 1st b-day. All I did was freak out about the kids being bored but boy was I wrong!! They had so much fun! I put up 2 plastic pools--1 I filled with water, the other one with those plastic ball (like a ball pit). I put out bubbles, a few big balls, badmitton net, sand box, and the hit of the day was I have a water table, instead of filling it with water I fillled it with uncooked rice. I put cups and spoons in it and they just played with it all day! My husband also lit a fire in the fire pit and the older kids loved roasting marshmallows and making smores for the adults. The kids will entertain themselves and you will have nothing to worry about! Have a great time!

Elayne,

I am a children's entertainer & have been singing with kids & families all over the Chicago area for the last 20 yrs. You don't have that big of a crowd so I don't think you'd want to go to the expense of hiring me.....but.. please check out my web site & maybe you can bring your kids to one of my Big Shows this summer!!!!!
www.jigglejamproductions.com
To answer you question Bubbles are always fun!!! I just bought one of those mass bubble blowers at Target on sale for $10. Good luck
J. Koplin

Is this an adult party or a childs? The age spread is too far apart with the children. 2 year olds belong home with their parents and if it's an adult party. There shouldn't be children at all if drinking is going on. If it's a family get together that's a different story.

This may sound a little strange but my friend suggested it and we used it for my son's 8th birthday and the kids had a blast! They played "dodge ball" with rolls of toilet paper. We just placed a piece of tape so the roll wouldn't unravel and have TP everywhere. So even if the older kids did hit a younger child it wouldn't hurt. Although we did give pretty strict instructions for the older kids to not hit the younger children there were a couple of "accidents" but no injuries or tears shed!

My friend also let us borrow a (new!) toilet seat that was mounted with wooden legs on each side and a base. Kind of a "u" shape that was 4-5 ft tall. Very simple construction that anyone could make with some wood and nails. The kids made a game out of throwing rolls of Toilet Paper through the opening of the toilet seat. Of course a few strange looks from neighbors and passerbys but the kids had so much fun and it was very inexpensive.

Elayne -

I think that it is great that you are having a party for whole families. People are so busy these days that it is nice to have something that everyone can enjoy. Kudos!

Since you have a nice size yard, you can set up a volleyball net on one end. Adults of many skill levels can have fun playing. When they are all too sore to continue (ha ha), the kids can have their own game. You could even use a light weight ball for the younger kids.

Have fun. Hope for sunshine!

Diane B is on the money with hula hoops. Not only in the traditional way but we played musical hula hoops instead of chairs at my niece's birthday party, big hit. We also had potato sack races another winner. the kids and adults loved them both.

I have found kids entertain themselves...they will come up with games and pretending situations. Maybe provide a few balls?

Claydo will work for about any age, try to set up a separate activity table. Pick up sticks will work for median ages. Two year olds love water play. You could use a dish tub and floating animals (from the dollar store.) Any small ride on for toddlers, borrow if you don't have enough. Water balloons are fun for any age, you can even ask some of the older kids to fill 'em, they enjoy that, After they're all used up, ask the children (over 6)to pick up the peices, the child with biggest or most balloon peices wins a prize or treat. Volleyball works for any age.
Large playball, too. Try to get a kickball game going. Adults and kids.

I know it sounds crazy but plain old balloons are the best form of entertainment. You blow up a bunch of balloons and tell them to keep them off the ground and it's amazing how long they will keep at it! Also, I was in Target just the other day and they have tons of outdoor 'stuff' in their special seasonal section - lots of easy games for kids. Don't know how sturdy they are but there were tons of options that were reasonably priced. Have fun!!!

Our badminton set is the most used game we have. It was pretty cheap and fun to play. I think it would be for first grade and up. Adults love it too.