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Posts Tagged ‘Party Games’
Monday, July 19th, 2010
Have you ever attended a party where the guests, despite the best efforts of the host, just don’t want to participate in organised activities. It just seems like too much hassle. If you want guests to join in the games, make sure they are suitable and something that will be enjoyed. Do not take the attitude of “any party game will do”.
 Party Game Tips What Games to Play
When deciding what games to play you should consider the type of party you are hosting and the personality of the guests. For example if you are hosting a Summer BBQ in a big garden or open space then there is plenty of scope for physical games. There can be plenty of running and jumping. Games involving physical activity are a perfect way of entertaining both children and adults.
On the other hand if your party is to be hosted indoors then the nature of the planned activities will change. Charades or a board game would probably be more appropriate.
No matter where you are holding a party be aware that not all the guests will want to get involved in the games. As the host, it is up to you to guage how receptive the guests will be to different types of games.
When to Play Games
No matter how good a game is, the deciding factor in whether or not it succeeds comes down to timing. Unless you have a series of Ice Breaker games then give your guests time to mingle, socialise and relax. Once all the guests are settled, try introducing the first activity. If nobody seems interested then drop the idea. There will be plenty of time. Always remember party games are not obligitory but having them well planned and prepared is essential.
Prizes
Whether it is a childs birthday party or a poker classic, prizes will have guests jumping into action. They do not have to be lavish or expensive just well presented tokens. Pound shops are perfect for sourcing prizes and party bag presents. Items such as candles, wine , lottery tickets and gourmet coffee are always popular.
The prizes themselves are not important it is the role they play in getting people interested and involved.
Summary
Hosting a party where the guests have a great time takes a lot of effort and planning. Attendtion to detail is essential. All arrangements should be focused on the requirements of the guests. Whether it is the food, decorations or party games there is no point in planning what you think is appropriate if the guests will not enjoy themselves. Think of waht they will enjoy. Party games for a hen celebration will be totally different than those for a first holy communion party
In the next few posts we will include advice on specific party games.
Tags: Party Games
Posted in Adult Party Games, Party Games, Party Planning | 1 Comment »
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
PARTY GAMES
Have a think about the last party you really enjoyed. The one you were talking about weeks after the event. For me it was a 21st birthday party. A fancy dress affair with free beer. It was a complete laugh and I didn’t get home till about 5am the next morning. Woudn’t it be great to host a party that people remembered and talked about
for months.
 Party Games There are many elements that go into creating a memorable party, some of them planned, some of them pure chance, but the one overall factor you should remember when planning your party is the comfort and enjoyment of your guests. Once you get that right the fun is sure to follow.
In this series of posts I will be offereing some tips and advice on the party games you should consider and how to introduce them. This is a huge topic in itself but I will try to cover as much ground as possible. Please feel free to e-mail any suggestions you may have or if you want a specific party game discussed.
Any Excuse
Don’t wait for a special occasion before you throw a party. Make an excuse and send the invitations. In fact the sillier the excuse the better. How about celebrating
national cheese day or captain Kirk’s birthday !
Guests
The most important ingredient for any party is the guest list. Try and mix it up a bit. By that I mean include people who will be a bit different and add to the party atmosphere. Having a guest list solely made up of work colleagues could be a bit stale. Why not include some friends from a sports club or society.
Location
Most parties are hosted in a house but if you are opting for a different location have consideration for your guests. For example if you are organising a hen party don’t assume people will be willing to take trains, planes and automobiles to reach the party venue. There may also be people with mobility constraints so before booking a venue have a think as to whether people will be able to access it easily. You will soon know by the number of people who decline the invitation offering lame excuses but by that time it will be too late.
Food & Drink
There can be a tendancy to skimp a bit when it comes to food and drink. Your guests will notice when you have put effort into the refreshments. Something as simple as using nice serving dishes can make all the difference. At one party I attended the host had hired a cocktail specialist to make a set menu of cocktails for the first hour of the party. It made a huge difference and the cost was limitied by only having him there for a limited time. If you are not interested in food and cannot find your way around the kitchen buy preprepared meals or hire help. There will be enough to organise and your guests will appreciate the thought you put into the preparartions.
Party Games
Even when everyone at the party knows each other there is room for a few games. Whether it is a series of ice breakers or some board games the choice of appropriate games are a super enhancement for any party. For example at an outdoor party such as a BBQ simple games such as an egg and spoon race are enthusiastically welcomed by all. The important point to remember is that your guests should feel confortable with the games. There is no point expecting elderly relatives at a christening party to play truth or dare, be realsitic with the party games!
That sets the scene for the next series of posts about party games. I will be looking at specific games and how they can be used and if necessary adapted.
Tags: Party Games
Posted in Adult Party Games, Party Games | 10 Comments »
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
PARTY GAMES – INDOORS
 Party Games When it comes to organising party games it can help if you plan “backwards” for example what prizes, if any, should you give out. Should all kids get a prize or is it just the winner. Luckily there is a great range of party bag presents available which make things easy when it comes to awarding prizes. You may want to go down the route of a small prize for everyone.
At partyproductsdirect.co.uk we specialise in prefilled party bags and party bag presents. By bringing you the best from the leading UK party supply companies we make life easier for busy parents. Save time and benefit from the best the web has to offer when it comes to party bags and presents.
Now to the party games. In this post I have focused on indoor party games but don’t forget these can also be played outdoors , wheather and space permitting.
Music Games
All parties should have music and especially childrens parties, so crank up the volume and get the party games started.
Musical Tops : Gather up a batch of tops belonging to your children and just for fun a few larger ones. Place them in the middle of the floor, making sure you have one less than the number of guests. Start the music and get the kids to jump and dance around the tops. Once the music stops the child without one of the tops on is out. Simple game but great fun. You should see the kids rushing to get the tops on.
Musical Newspapers / Cushions : The second variation on this theme is musical cushions. Simply place the cushions in the middle of the floor and start the musical. The child who is not sitting on a cushion when the music stops is out. If you don’t have enough cushions then try using squares of newspapers.
Pass The Parcel
This game is best played after the food has been served. The important thing to remember is to have at least one layer for every child. If the
party is large I would suggest breaking the guests into smaller groups and running one or two pass the parcel games simultaneously. If it is an
all boys / girls party then the presents should be easy to decide on but don’t forget if the party is mixed you will need presents that are suitable
for both boys and girls, such as a bubble set.
Tags: Indoor Party games, Kids Party Games, Party Games
Posted in Childrens Parties, Party Games | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
PARTY GAMES WITH FOOD
As the guests are leaving and the burden is lifted off your shoulders don’t fall at the last hurdle. It is vary easy to go through the motions when organising the party bags. Put a little effort into preparing the party bags, it will be well rewarded.
So what have party bags got to do with games and activities. In this post I will be explaining some games that are based around food. When deciding on the contents of the party bags you should also consider using food. The obvious choice is sweets but you can go one step further and include cupcakes and individual slices of the birthday cake.
Now back to the party games
1. Chocolate Fancy Dress
This game is a real hit with kids. Gather the children around in a circle and in the centre place an unwrapped bar of chocolate on a plate with a knife and fork. Around the plate scatter a scarf, hat, jumper and a dice. The guests roll the dice until someone gets a six at which point they put on all the cloths and and try to eat the bar of chocolate with the knife and fork. The rest of the children continue to roll the dice until a another six is thrown at which point the guests swap clothing and the game continues.
2. Doughnut Chasing
Suspend a doughnut from a piece of string and get the children to try and eat a whole doughnut without licking their lips. It’s a lot harder than it seems.
3. Flour castle
This game can get a bit messy but it is well worth it. Before the party build a castle made of tightly packed flour. I find a small flowerpot good for this. It is a little like building a sandcastle, except with flour. I would also recommend that you build it on a baking tray or something similar as the castle will evetually fall and it helps when the flour dosn’t go everywhere.
Once the castle is built place a biscuit on top. The idea of the game is for each guest to take a slice off the castle until it falls.
The games above are easy to set up and I think the part that appeals most to children is the use of food. If you have any other ideas for party games or would like to know more about party bags and how to organise them please just post a comment.
Tags: Party Food, Party Games
Posted in Childrens Parties, party bags, Party Games | No Comments »
Monday, March 1st, 2010
 Party Games KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY GAMES
Party games make up the bulk of any child’s birthday party. The food and blowing out of the candles takes about 1/2 hour so it leaves a lot of time to be filled. The trick is to be prepared. In yesterday’s post I went through some basic outdoor party games and I will continue on the same topic in this post.
Before I do so I must mention another part of the birthday party that will need to be planned. That is the party bags. At the end of the party children will expect a collection of goodies nicely presented in a party bag.
Instead of just handing them out at the door why not incorporate the party bag into a game. It can be as simple as numbering the bags and asking the child to pick a number as they leave. Or you could fill a bucket with rolled up newspaper and put the gifts in the bucket. The children then have to “fish” around for a party bag.
One version of this I saw at halloween was messy but very good. The host filled a bucket with cold cooked past with “slimy” bits mixed in. The reaction of the children was very funny. Some just didn’t want to know whilst others dove in up to their elbows. Who said giving out party bags is boring?
Back to the main topic and party games. An obstacle course is always popular and can be played as a team relay event or as indivduals (timed). Below are some suggestions as to what can be included in the obstacle course.
1. Throw a ball into a bucket.
2. Score a goal
3. Hop on one leg for 10 metres
4. Long Jump.
5. Run with an egg and spoon.
6. Dribble a football around some cones
7. Throw a ball in the air and catch it 5 times
There is really no limit as to what you can include in the obstacle course, space is usually the limiting factor. During the games I would advise having a ready supply of drinks to hand. Running around is thirsty work and you do not want the kids getting dehydrated.
During or after the games, whatever you decide, you may wish to give out prizes. Some party bag presents are perfect. There is something for all age groups including medals.
The key to hosting successful party games is good planning and some extra adult help. Enjoy!
Tags: Kids Birthday Parties, Party Games
Posted in Childrens Parties, party bags, Party Games, Party Planning | No Comments »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
 Outdoor Games and Party Bags CHILDRENS OUTDOOR PARTY GAMES
When it comes to pulling together a party there are many things to consider including the venue, guest list and party food. However there is one element that is unique to childrens parties and that is the going home present or party bag. When it comes to assembling party bags there are many and varied options. Most parents assemble the party bags from scratch but recently the choice of pre filled party bags has increase quite dramatically.
The whole subject of party bags is covered in other sections of the blog and in this post I will focus on outdoor games for childrens parties.
Most party games are just variations of a central theme
1. Egg and Spoon Race : This needs no introduction. Using patatoes instead of eggs is highly recommended
2. Sack race. Children step into a sack. Pull it up around themselves and hop to the finish line on the command of the starter.
3. Three legged Race. be careful with this one. There can be injuries. In this race children are paired off with someone roughly the same height. There two inside legs are tied together and wrapping there arms around each other for support, they run towards the finish line.
4. Wheelbarrow race. In this race the children also compete in pairs. One child bends over with hands on the ground, the other child picks up their legs, and they proceed to run on their hands.
5. Balloon Race. Two teams line up and pass a balloon to each other between their knees.
The games above are very easy to organise and I am sure you have come across them before, or at least some version of them.
The games above would be suitable for children between the ages of 5 and 8. For that age group, when it comes to deciding on the party bags try matching the presents to the theme as the children are now old enough to notice and attention to detail. At one party my child made toffe apples and he was presented with it beautifully wrapped in a cellophane party bag when going home. It was a super success and one idea that I will use myself.
Tags: Childrens Party Games, Party Games
Posted in Childrens Parties, Party Games, Party Planning | No Comments »
Saturday, February 27th, 2010
 ST PATRICK’s DAY FUN
With St Patrick’s Day fast approaching I thought it would be a good idea to outline a few party games and party bag ideas. It goes without saying that any St Patrick’s Day celebration should be very green and very Irish. All the games I suggest are just variations on tradditional games that you will be familiar with.
PIN THE GREEN TAIL ON THE LEPRECHAUN
Get a big picture of a Leprechaun. It should be easy enough to download from the internet or you could cut one from a magazine. Place the picture on a wall. Blindfold each guest in turn and get them to stick a tail or a shamrock on the leprechaun. Whoever gets closest to the designated spot wins. You can have all sorts of variations on this game.
POT OF GOLD THROW.
Leprechauns are famous for hording a pot of gold so why not incoproate the pot of gold into a party game. Make a pot by covering a plant holder or other such object with foil or whatever takes your fancy. Then get the guests to line up and toss a bean bag or “money bag” into the pot. Give the guests three turns and whoever get his / her bag into the pot the most number of times wins. Simple yet effective.
Of course don’t forget the party bags. Make sure they are green. If you are having difficulty getting green bags then cellopane bags tied at the top with a green ribbon and balloon are just as effective.
Tags: Childrens Parties, Party Games, St Patrick's Day
Posted in Childrens Parties, Party Games, St Patrick's Day | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
ADULT PARTY GAMES
Although traditionally associated with childrens birthday parties, party games for adults are gaining in popularity all the time. Whether it is a hen party an 18th birthday party or a retirement party hosts are becoming increasinly inventive when it comes to party entertainment.
For younger adults no party is complete without a series of drinking games but for the more mature party goer the range of party games has really improved.
But before you launch yourself into organising a party don’t go overboard on the party games. Give careful consideration to the games you are expecting your guests to play.
In the paragraphs below I outline some broad tips that I hope will help when planning your party games.
House Size : The space you have will play a large part in the games you finally select. But don’t worry there is a game for every venue.
Time Available: As we all get older family commitments take over leaving us less time to burn the candle at both ends. If you and your guests are in that phase of life, adapt the time scale of the games accordingly. Dont play complicated games that take hours to play. Your guests wont thank you.
Attitude of Guests : When it comes to party games there are some occassions that are more appropriate than others. Don’t assume just because they are at your party the guests will want to play party games and participate in the activities you have planned. Be sensitive to the mood of your guests and don’t feel that the games have to be played.
Age profile of the Attentees: This will determineon the type of games that you can use. A group of energetic 20 years olds will like different games to a family gathering aged 0 to 80.
Props: Make sure you have all the material and props you require to play the games.
Timing: Plan the introduction of party games for the appropriate time. There is no point in having ice-breaker games as people are planning to leave.
Remember the aim of the party in general and the games in particular is to ensure the guests have an pleasant and relaxing time. That is up to you the host. By creating the right atmosphere, guests will relax and start to enjoy themselves. Don’t spoil it by trying to force them to play party games.
Of course if you are looking for party supplies don’t forget partyproductsdirect .co.uk can point you in the right direction.
Tags: Adult Party Games, Party Games, Party Games for Adults, Party Supplies
Posted in Adult Parties, Adult Party Games | 2 Comments »
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