Party Games for 8 to 10 year olds
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Birthdays are always such a special occasion, especially when you're knee-high to a grasshopper! I still treasure the memories of me and my pint-sized pals popping 'round to each others’ houses for epic birthday bashes, giggles, and rollicking party games. But now, with a little lady of my own, I've donned my party hat and brewed up a nifty list of exciting party games so that I’m prepared for when her birthdays come around! When it comes to 8 to 10-year-old whirlwinds (around the ages of my nephews), the name of the game is 'engaging, thrilling, and just the right pinch of age-appropriate fun!' Let's dive in and sprinkle some birthday sparkle!
The Chocolate Game: Kids sit round in a circle and take turns to roll a dice. In the centre is a bar of chocolate and a knife and fork. When a kid rolls a 6, he or she puts on a hat, scarf and gloves and then has to use the knife and fork to cut up the chocolate and eat it, a piece at a time. As soon as another child rolls a 6, the gloves etc must be passed on to that child who then tries to eat the chocolate wearing the winter clothing.
The game works best if you use chocolate that is scored into blocks
Treasure Hunt: Create a treasure map and hide clues or small treasures around your home or yard. Kids can work together to solve the clues and find the hidden treasures.
You could end the treasure hunt with a box of ‘treasure’ such as chocolate coins
Balloon Pop: Write fun challenges or dares on pieces of paper and put them inside balloons before inflating. Kids pop the balloons and must complete the challenge inside.
Scavenger Hunt: Organise a scavenger hunt where kids search for specific items or objects in your garden or home.
Musical Chairs: Set up chairs in a circle, play music, and have the kids walk around the chairs. When the music stops, they must quickly find a chair to sit in. Remove one chair after each round until there's only one child left standing.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey: A classic game where kids are blindfolded and try to pin a "tail" on a picture of a donkey while being spun around. You can always make your own or buy a ready made Pin the Tail on the Donkey kit.
Duck, Duck, Goose: Kids sit in a circle, and one child walks around the outside, tapping the others' heads while saying "duck, duck, goose." When they say "goose," the tapped child must chase the first child around the circle.
Limbo: Use a long stick or a broom as the "limbo bar." Have kids take turns bending backward and trying to go under the bar without touching it or falling.
Sack Race: Provide large sacks or pillowcases and have kids hop to the finish line for a sack race.
Egg and Spoon Race: Give each child a spoon and a hard-boiled egg or a small ball. They must balance the egg on the spoon while racing to the finish line.
Simon Says: Play a game of Simon Says, where you give commands, but the kids should only follow them if you say, "Simon says" first. If you don't say "Simon says" and they follow the command, they're out.
Bean Bag Toss: Set up a bean bag toss game with different point values for the targets. Kids take turns tossing bean bags to score points.
Obstacle Course: Create an obstacle course in your back garden with activities like crawling under tables, jumping over obstacles, and balancing on a beam. Time the kids to see who completes it the fastest.
Bingo: Play a game of bingo with small prizes for the winners.
Pictionary or Charades: Organise a game of Pictionary or charades, where kids can act out or draw words and phrases for their teammates to guess.
A craft station could include crayons, coloured paper, googley eyes, kid-friendly glue and pipe cleaners.
Craft Station: Set up a craft station where kids can get creative with art supplies and make their own party favours or decorations.
Indoor Bowling: Use empty plastic bottles as pins and a soft ball as the bowling ball for an indoor bowling game.
Movie Time: Set up an outdoor or indoor movie screening with kid-friendly films and popcorn.
DIY Mini Olympics: Plan a mini Olympics with various athletic and fun games like relay races, hula hoop contests, and three-legged races.
Science Experiments: Engage kids in simple, hands-on science experiments that are both educational and entertaining.
Mystery Dinner Party: Host a mystery dinner party where kids can play detective roles and solve a mystery together.
Don't forget to give all of these games a good ol' snazzy makeover, perfectly fitting the space and stash of goodies you've got on hand! Safety goggles and the 'guardian of giggles' (that's you!) should always be on standby. And hey, make sure the activities are catered to the quirks and preferences of our party rockstars to make it a personalised, tailor-made tornado of fun!