Birthday Party Games

Wacky Waiter

What you need: A large plastic dinner plate and a ping-pong ball for each team

To Play: the first runner on each team places the ping pong ball on top of the plastic dinner plate. HOlding the plate waiter style (one hand underneath the try; younger racers can use two hands), the player carries it to the turnaround point and back to tag the next teammate, who does the same. If a player drops the ball, she picks it up, puts it back on the plate, and resumes. The first team to finish wins.

Sneaker Scramble

What you need: a box or laundry basket for each team and a playing area safe fro shoeless running

To Play: The first player on each team runs to his team's box, takes off his shoes, puts them in the box and runs back to tag the next teammage who does the same. When the entire team is shoeless, the players take turns running back to the box, putting their own shoes back on and running back. The first team to finish with all footwear on wins.

Bubble Brigade

What you need: bubble solution and a wand for each player

To Play: Each team lines up shoulder to shoulder. The first person on each team blows a bubble and catches it on her wand. She then passes it to the next player, who passes it to the next and so on. If the bubble pops, the person passing it must blow another bubble and then pass it on. The first team to get a bubble to the end of it's line wins.

Grab Bag:

What you need: two brown paper bags, slips of paper, and a pencil

The Setup: On the slips, write instructions: "Hop to teh tree and back", "Run to teh slide, go down, and run back" "Do 25 jumping jacks" Make two of each instruction so each team has identical sets. Put one in each bag. Each bag should have one slip per player.

To Play: The first player on each team pulls a slip from the bag, performs the action, and tags the next player, who does the same. The first team to finish all the actions wins.

Matchbox indy 500

What you need: A flat service for a small toy car for each team, and a party blower for each player.

To Play: Set each team's car at the starting line. The first player on each team repeatedly blows into his party blower to push the art to a turnaround point and back. He then tags the next player who does the same. The first team to finish wins.

Family Fun September 2011