If your child’s birthday comes some time in the Fall months take heart because many of the decorations and treats of the season will fit right into your birthday party planning. Fall can be a great time to throw a seasonal birthday party and let your child know how special you think they are. Your biggest obstacle may be how do you keep all those kids safely and happily occupied for a few hours? There are some simple, easy to manage games and activities that will make your party memorable and fun. While these games cover a wide age range, be sure to choose the ones that best fit the ages and temperaments of your party guests.
Thinking Games-
- Guess How Many-This is a simple game just fill a jar with candy corn or miniature marshmallows and have guests guess how many are in the jar. This can be a good game to play at the beginning of the party, as guests filter in.
- Memory Game-Start by putting a few theme-appropriate items (an apple, a piece of candy, a leaf, etc.) on a tray. Show the tray to your guests for a few seconds, then have guests write down (or call out) as many items as they remember.
- How Many Words-Pass out paper and pens and see how many words the party guests can make from HALLOWEEN or SCARECROW.
Physical Fun-
- Popcorn Relay Race-Before the race starts set out bowls full of popcorn at one end of the room, empty bowls at another. Teams must then transport the popcorn from full bowl to empty, using a measuring cup. Keep in mind that this is a messy game and you should plan it for the end of the party! (Note: it is important to understand that popcorn is a choking hazard for children under three).
- Cotton-ball Scoop-Be starting simply fill large mixing bowls with cotton balls and give each guest a spoon. Kids must then scoop out as many cotton balls as possible in one minute-without using fingers!
- Pin The…… This game takes many different versions with …Nose on the Jack-o-Lantern, Stem-on-the-Apple, Hat-on-the-Scarecrow, or whatever variation best suits your party theme.
Arts and Crafts
- Paints: Your guests will love finger or sponge-painting with fall colors, or black and orange. Guests can even make a tablecloth or placemats for the party, or pictures to take home.
- Collages: Guests will love making collages of fall leaves or they can use pictures from magazines that relate to your party theme.
- Picture Frames: Buy clear plastic frames and have guests decorate the frames with paper, paints, cutouts, and other craft items. Take a picture of the guests when they arrive and the photo and frame are a great favor for them to take home.
Menu-Serve a fall themed menu that is centered on fall foods. Pumpkin cookies, hot cocoa or cider and soup and breadsticks are all good choices. Do not forget that birthday cake or cupcakes is important for any time of the year.
More tips for Fall birthday parties-
- Dance-Keep in mind that young children love to dance; so pop in a fast moving tape and let them go!
- Parade-If your guests are coming in costume, have a costume parade throughout the house.
- Ghost Stories-If your guests are older (eight and up) have them create a ghost story. You can dim the lights and sit guests in a circle. The host holds a flashlight and begins the story. At an exciting or pivotal moment in the tale, you can then pass the flashlight to the next person to carry on the story.
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