Children's Party Games

Blindman's Buff

Like most children's party games, Blindman's Buff is a simple game that does not require too much in the way of equipment, merely a blindfold and an ample playing field.
The basic game of Blindman's Buff requires that a person be blindfolded. He or she is usually referred to as the "blindman". The blindman is spun around three times while the other players find a place to stand in the room. Once positioned, these players are not allowed to move their feet. However, they may contort their bodies to avoid being touched. The blindman moves about until he touches a person.

Having touched a person, the blindman, by feeling his or her features (in a modest way), must then guess who the person is. If the blindman guesses correctly, the tagged player then becomes the blindman.

Duck, Duck, GOOSE!

One of the keys of a good party game for younger children is to combine simplicity with excitement. Duck, Duck, GOOSE fills these both of these requirements.

Have all the children sit in a circle except one who is designated the "fox". The fox walks about the outside of the circle tapping each child on the shoulder or head saying "duck" for each person. At a point of the fox's choosing he shouts "GOOSE" and taps the next child. Then he runs as quickly as he can around the circle. The "goose" then chases the fox in the same direction the fox is running. If the fox reaches the gap left by the goose in the circle and sits down before he is tagged, he is "safe" and the goose becomes the new fox. If the goose tags the fox, the fox must again roam about the circle.

The more children involved in the game, the better. The minimum number of players for an interesting game is 7.

Musical Chairs

Musical Chairs is a popular children's party game. It's popularity stems from the blend of action, music and fun. This game has simple requirements available at most homes, mainly a bunch of chairs and a radio or CD player.

The chairs are set up in two rows back to back. The number of chairs used is one chair less than the number of players. The music is turned on, and the players walk around the chairs. When the music stops the players sit in the chairs. The player left standing is taken out of the game. The players all stand again and a chair is removed. The music is started again. This procedure is continued until only one person remains. This person is the winner.

This is a good game to associate prizes with. Prizes of various values might be awarded based on when players are removed.

Tug-O-War

A team test of strength and cunning, Tug-o-War might be just the right party game for a bunch of rowdy children on the back lawn. But the key to a good game of tug of war is to make certain that the rope used is strong enough to handle the number and size of players. The main safety issue with Tug-o-War is that synthetic fibers can stretch and snap under excessive pressure in the same way a rubber band may. The safest rope to use is a sturdy rope made of natural cotton fibers or hemp.

To play Tug-o-War a field is laid out. Two parallel lines are painted about 20 feet apart on the grass or drawn in the dirt. The rope is laid perpendicular to these lines. A cloth flag is tied to the middle of the rope. Two teams of relatively equal weight are chosen. They should position themselves along the rope on either side of one of the lines leaving the center area, called no man's land, empty. The adult designated as referee holds onto the rope at the point of the flag as the rope is gradually made taut. He or she makes certain that the flag is positioned precisely mid-way between the two lines. On his or her command, the flag is released and they shout Go!.

Both teams then pull on their end of the rope. The object is to pull the flag over your team's goal line.

Simon Says

The game of Simon Says is not only fun, but it is a good exercise in listening. Children are notorious for hearing what they want to hear. This game rewards cardinal virtues of patience and understanding as many other games do not.

To begin the game, indicate a line on the floor or on the grass and have the players line up behind it. Have an adult or older child be "Simon". Simon stands a ways off from the line, at least ten feet. Simon makes commands for the players to move forward a certain distance or to perform some act, for example "hop twice". If the command is preceded by "Simon Says" then the players may do as directed. If the command is not preceded by the statement then anyone obeying it is sent back to the starting line. The first player to reach a line upon which Simon is standing is the winner.

Button, Button

"Button, button, who has the button?" is the proverbial question passed down through generations of children who fondly remember this fun parlor game.

Arrange all the children in a line, either seated or standing. Select one to be the "seamstress" or "tailor". She or he stands before the line of players. A button or a coin is handed to the player at one end of the line. He holds it in hands that are cupped and closed. She holds her hands over the hands of the next player in line whose hands are cupped in a similar fashion. She may drop the button into the next player's hands or she may not. Now the next player goes through the same procedure all the way down the line to the last player. If the button does not get passed on, then the remaining players merely pretend to pass the button. Throughout this procedure the seamstress closely watches the passing. Since the hands are cupped and held together it will be difficult to discern where the button actually stopped.

When the procedure reaches the end of the line. The last player in line asks the seamstress, "Button, Button, who has the button?" The seamstress then guesses. If she guesses correctly, she gets to keep the button. If she guesses incorrectly, she sits at the end of the line and the player at the head of the line becomes the seamstress.

There are many ways to associate this game with prizes. Collected buttons may be traded for a bag or present. Alternatively, the "button" itself might be the prize.

Red Light/Green Light

The perennial classic, Red Light/Green Light, has been thrilling young children for generations. It requires quick reflexes, good timing and a sense of fair play.

Choose a field of play where there is a straight line. Choose one player to be the "traffic light". The players line up behind the line and the traffic light stands some distance away from the line. The traffic light begins by facing the players. At this point the light is considered to be red, the players are not allowed to move forward on a red light. The traffic light now turns away and shouts, "Green Light!" The players all move toward the traffic light. After an arbitrary time period, (no less than 2 seconds and not more than 10) the traffic light shouts "Red Light!" and then turns around.

Any player caught moving after the light turns red is sent back to the start. The first player to tag the traffic light or cross a designated line now becomes the traffic light.

Telephone

The game of "Telephone" is not only a fun parlor game for children, but it is a good sociological demonstration of what happens to information when it is passed by word of mouth.

Very simply, the players are lined up in a row or a circle. The first person is given a sentence or perhaps several sentences written on a piece of paper. An Adult can help by telling the first child what it says. He or she commits the information to memory and then sets the paper aside. He "whispers" the information, as well as he can remember it to the next person in line. This person does the same, passing the information down the line until it reaches the end. The last person reveals what he has been told to all assembled. The first person then reads the paper.

There are typically no prizes or winners associated with this game, but the results are often quite hilarious. It is recommended for more than six players and generally requires children of school age with minimal communication skills.