Here is a selection of kids birthday party ideas - this is by no means a definitive list. If an idea or theme has been a success for your kids party please send details so we can share and pass on information.
CHINESE WHISPERS: Sit everyone in a circle. Whisper a long phrase to one person. They, in turn, whisper what they heard to the next person, and so on. The last person announces what they heard.
PASS THE PARCEL: Sit everyone in a circle and play a short snippet of music. Pass round a teddy. When the music stops, the person holding ted is given the parcel and removes ONE layer! Add a forfeit or a sweet in every layer if you wish.
NB. Children tend to get bored if there are too many in the circle, so allow for either two circles or two parcels going around the circle in different directions.
THE CHOCOLATE OR JELLY GAME: Sit everyone in a circle and place a tray in the middle with a hat, scarf, gloves, knife and fork, die and a wrapped bar of chocolate. In turn, players throw the dice. If they throw a 6, they must put on the hat, scarf and gloves before they start to unwrap the chocolate with the knife and fork, and then start to eat it. To speed up the game add a second dice and require a double 6. The jelly variation is to turn out a set jelly onto a plate and eat it with the knife and fork.
MEMORY GAME: On a tray, place about 10 to 15 small items (e.g. pencil, watch, comb, shoe lace, spoon, toy car, etc.) and cover with a cloth. Sit everyone in a circle. Place the tray in the middle of the circle and remove the cloth for 60 seconds. Everyone has to remember the objects. When the time is up, replace the cloth. In turn, each person has to name an object on the tray. The first person to fail to name an object, repeat an object or name something not on the tray is out. The tray is then removed and some or all of the objects replaced, and the game re-started with the person following the one who is out. If the game is too easy for the group, add more objects or reduce the time.
IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY: Place shapes of teddy bears cut out of paper on the floor in a circle. Children walk around circle while listening to music. If the music is loud the children move fast. If the music is quiet the children move slowly. If the music stops, the children stop on the closest shape. Young children like to play it this way. To make it more challenging for older children have one less shape than the number of children. Continue remove shapes as the children are 'out'.