Party Tips & Ideas

Parents often have trouble finding new and interesting party games for children's and teen parties. We have put this children's party ideas page together to assist parents (and children!) to add a variety of fun games into their children's parties.

If you need to break the ice at a children's party there are lots of party games you can play. This is especially useful if there are children who don't know each other. There are some children's party ice-breakers on this page, but for further ice-breakers, see Ice-breaker party games.

Choose a children's or teen's party game below:

• Mystery party games
• Jigsaw frenzy game
• Alphabet scramble game
• Chinese whispers game
• Pairing off game
• Concentration party game
• Create a scary story
• Burst the balloon.

Aside from parties, we have also collected some interesting children's resources.

Mystery party games

Our mystery kits have been used around the world at hundreds of parties and been enjoyed by thousands of children. Mystery party games are a great party idea because they involve all the children at the party.

"Who Stole The Cookies?" party kit is good for 10 years and upwards. There is also an all girl version of this party kit. "Mystery In The Library" has similar characters but a different plot and more difficult vocabulary. It is for 13 years and upwards. There is also an all girl and an all boy version of this mystery kit. "The Crazy Clown Car Caper" kit set in a circus is also good for 10 years and upwards.

"The Love Letter" party kit is perfect for girls' parties and is suitable for 11 years and upwards. The good, clean fun version of "One Of The Girls" is popular for girls aged 12 years and upwards.

Most of our mystery kits are suitable for teenagers (see Our mysteries) and can be used as teen party games. For example, "Death On The Mound" about baseball is lots of fun and so is "Storm Survivors" – about athletes deserted on an island.

Jigsaw frenzy party game

Here is a jigsaw party game you may like to play at a children's party.

1. Divide the children into two or more groups depending on how many children there are at the party. Have up to six children in each group.
2. Collect a number of simple young children's jigsaw puzzles so there is at least one per group, and place all the jigsaw pieces, all mixed up, on a large table.
3. Each group has to find all the pieces for a puzzle and assemble it. Some groups will attempt to do the same puzzle as another group, and so one group must be willing to change. The first group to finish wins.

Alphabet scramble party game

Here is another little party game you may like to play at a child's party:

1. Divide the party in half.
2. Give each group a large sheet of paper and pens.
3. Using the alphabet each group needs to find something in the room, or on a person, that starts with each letter. It may be something in someone's pocket or silly things like: a for angle, b for breath etc. Encourage the kids to think laterally. Have a time limit and when time is up, have each group read out their list. If a group gets more then one word against a letter it gets more points. The best list wins.

Chinese whispers party game

This children's party game has been around for centuries, but it's still a winner!

Have everyone stand in a circle. The first child whispers a short story (about two sentences long) to the person next to them, who in turn whispers it to the next person and so on around the circle. No-one is allowed to repeat the story if their recipient didn't hear it properly. The last person says what they believe the story is out loud, and the original story teller gives the original rendition.

An adaption of the party game Celebrity Head especially fun as a child's party game. This will also work as a teen party game.

Pin a card on each child's back with the one name of a well-known couple or pair. It might be stars like Superman and Lois, Batman and Robin, chalk and cheese, tea and coffee etc.

Each person must find out who they are by looking at other people's cards and asking appropriate questions but they're not allowed to ask "who am I?". Only yes or no answers are allowed.

Concentration party game

A great party idea for a younger children's party game.

1. Divide the party into groups of four to six people.
2. Give each group a sheet of paper and a pen.
3. Have a tray of at least 12 assorted objects covered with a cloth.
4. When everyone is ready, uncover the tray for about 10 seconds.
5. Each group has to write down as many of the objects as they can remember.
6. Then uncover the tray and see who has the highest number of correct objects.

Create a scary story

1. Have everyone sit in a circle.
2. Dim the lights and have a flashlight in the centre.
3. Someone holds the flashlight so it shines up under their chin and starts a story with "Once upon a time" or "One dark and stormy night" or "There was once a very nasty witch who …".
4. They continue (a sentence or two is usually enough) until the adult or organiser at the party claps their hands and the next person in the circle takes the torch and continues the story. This party game usually creates a lot of laughter because the story can be as silly or as scary as they like.

Extra party tip: Play this great party game at night time or camping!

Burst the balloon

1. Have large packets of green and orange balloons.
2. Divide the group into two equal teams and have them form two lines.
3. Give each person a balloon. Green for one team and orange for the other.
4. At the other end of the room, facing the lines, place two upright unpadded chairs.
5. At a signal the first person in the line blows up their balloon, ties it, (the adults can do this if the children are young) and runs with it to the chair. They place it on the chair and sit on it, bouncing up and down if necessary, until it bursts.
6. They then run back to their team and the next person blows up their balloon and repeats the action. The first runner goes to the back of the line and the team that finishes first wins.

Extra children's resources

Teaching Your Child At Home - A good source of homeschool teaching articles, ideas, resources, and curriculum information. Also tips guides and how-to's to help you successfully teach your child at home.

Our murder mysteries

Merri Mysteries have over 18 murder mystery games ideal for injecting drama, fun and intrigue into your dinner party, birthday or corporate event. Order and download over 18 kits online which include a host guide, guest invitations and clue scripts. For more information have a look at our full range of mystery kits.

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