I’ve had so much fun when I was a kid when I joined parties and played games with the other kids. Let me share some of the games that I’ve played that you can have your kids play as well. Give out prizes to the winner/s to make it more fun and challenging (which will also encourage participation). Of course, everyone else can play these games as well aside from kids.
Bring Me. This one’s a classic. The host would gather all participants and would instruct the kids to look for a certain object. Of course, look for something that is within reach. If you’re in a birthday party don’t look for a golf ball or a wrench. Have them get a handkerchief or a watch and make sure that you’re actually seeing it in the room or in the area. The first one who brings in the correct item wins a prize. Usually the last item will be difficult to find.
Pass the Cup. We played this one using plastic cups (one for each team) and straws for each participant. This game is composed of 2 teams with at least 4 members (to make it a bit longer and more exciting) on each team. The participants would have to place the straw in their mouths and they have to look up and put the cup on the straw. One by one, they have to walk a distance and come back. The first team wherein all of the members have completed the relay wins. You can have more teams or more members if there are a lot of participants. The same would apply to the next games which will be played by teams. If somebody drops the cup, they’d have to start all over again.
Sack Race. This is a famous game as well and can have many variations (like 2 persons or more in the sack). There are 2 teams with the same number of members on each team. Each has to get into the sack and hop towards a marker and then come back to his/her teammates and then the next one would do the same thing. The first time to have all members complete the relay wins.
Stop Dance. This is such a fun game as well. You can have as many participants as you’d like but you’d have to assign a couple of persons to check if someone is out. The game mechanics are pretty simple. Music will be played and you need to keep on dancing. Any dance would do as long as you’re dancing/moving. The host will then randomly pause the music and the participants should freeze. The first person who obviously moved is out of the game. The game will continue on until one is left and he/she will be declared the winner.
The Boat is Sinking. For this game, this can be composed of as many players as you’d like. For this game, the participants should group themselves according to what the host is asking. If the host says “The boat is sinking. Group yourselves into 5!” The participants should group themselves into 5. As an example, if there are 19 participants, there can only be 3 complete groups of 5 members each therefore the remaining 4 will be out of the game. The host should plan carefully so that at least one person would be out per round. The last 2 persons (or group of persons depending on the host) will win the game.
Pass the Message. This is one of the most interesting games I’ve played. There are 2 teams composed of as many members as possible. The more members per team the better (and funnier!) it could be. The host will talk to the first members of both teams and will give them a sentence (long but reasonable enough to be remembered but may include words that could be confusing) and they have to pass the message one by one until it reaches the last member of both teams. It is better if the members are separated so there will be no cheating and those who are already finished should stay away from the rest of the team. The last member’s responsibility is to write down or say the sentence. The team who relayed the most accurate sentence wins the game. Sometimes the sentence would be a lot different than what it actually is.
Polvoron Eating Contest. It sounds easy right? But there is a catch. Polvoron is a local delicacy which is composed of flour, milk, and sugar (and other ingredients for flavor) which is shaped and packed in plastic or cellophane. You can check out this link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polvoron, for a picture of polvoron. Since it’s made of flour, it’s a bit hard to swallow it down. It is sticky and a bit difficult to do. Another catch is that, the first one who whistles (or talks clearly) will win the game. I’ve tried it and it was hard to whistle unless I swallow most of the polvoron.
Trip to Jerusalem. This is a famous game however I’m not sure what it is called in other countries and why we call it so. For this game, it can have many participants (limited to the number of chairs) and the chairs should be 1 less (or even more) than the number of participants. Music will be played and the participants would have to walk while dancing around the chairs. The chairs are usually arranged in a circle. The host would randomly pause the music and the participants should sit on the chair. The one who is still standing after all the chairs have been seated on will be out of the game. The game will continue until only one is left and he/she will be declared the winner.
The Pinata. As for this one, the variation here in the Philippines is we use a small clay pots which could be hard to break. Candies and coins are placed inside the clay pot and the participants will, one by one, try to hit the clay pot with a stick and break it. The participants would have to be blind folded and he/she could just listen to the instructions of the audience. If the clay pot breaks, the kids can pick up as many candies and coins as they’d like. As for the participant who broke the clay pot, he/she will receive another prize.
The Pabitin. Literally means “hanger”, this is a game wherein goodies are placed on wood or bamboo sticks and is hung up high enough with a rope. The host would lower the goodies to the kids and they would just jump and get as much of the prizes as they’d like. Check it out here for a picture. http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Pabitin
Pop the Balloon. Here’s another famous game. This is composed of 2 teams or more wherein each of the members would have to pop a balloon at the end of a marker a few feet away. They can only pop the balloon by sitting on it. The first team whose members have popped all their balloons will win the game and the prizes. Watch out for some as they’d just pinch the balloon while sitting on it to make it easier to pop.
The Longest Greeting. This happens a lot during birthday parties. You can have as many participants as you’d like but if there are a lot, it could take long. The game is played by saying a word or a phrase as long as possible without breathing in and without pause. For example, the participants have to say Happy Birthday. They should prolong the last syllable as long as they can without stopping or until they’re finally out of breath. It should sound like, “Happy Birthdaaa…..aaay!” The participant who said it the longest with no pauses will win the game.
There you have it. These are just some of the games that I’ve enjoyed playing even recently. They’re fun to play and would definitely make the party a lot livelier. Take care and Happy Holidays!
