No one should go home a loser!
Competitive games are enjoyable only for the people who win. A party should be fun…Avoid tears by selecting games where everyone gets a chance to succeed. For example, if it’s a game like musical chairs, when a player is called “out”, assign that player the task of playing the music.
After one round, that player will rejoin the group. Better yet, plan a few cooperative games, in which the whole gang faces a challenge, such as following a treasure map, then they each receive a prize or split
the treasure evenly.

Catch the Balloon

Indoors Equipment: 3 or 4 balloons Formation: Circle Arrange the players in a circle on the floor and have them number off. Put the highest number in the center to act as ‘it’. “IT” holds a balloon and calls out a number while dropping the balloon to the floor. The holder of that number then tries to catch the balloon before it touches the floor. If the player is successful ‘it’ tries another number. If the balloon touches the floor then that player is “it”.
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Buzz-Bomb Balloon

Indoors Equipment: 1 balloon per player, not inflated Tape or string to make a target Formation: line or circle All players inflate their balloon. Some players may need help When the adult helper says “1,2,3,GO!” The players release their balloons in the direction of the target. If you are having a theme party, use a picture from the theme as the target center. Score 5 points for the closest balloon and 15 points for a direct hit. This game works well with teams – each team gets their own colored balloons; red, blue, green etc. Or, you do not need to keep score at all and just have fun playing the game several times.
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Red Rover

Players are divided into two teams. Line up facing each other, about 25 to 50 feet apart. Each side takes turns calling “Red Rover, Red Rover, send (name) come over.” At that signal, the player called, runs from his line and tries to break through the line of opponents, who have joined hands. If he breaks through, he can take one opponent back with him to his team. If he does not break through, he must join the other team. The team to add the other players on its side first, or which has the most players at the end of a designated time
period, wins.
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Blind man’s Bluff

Indoors Equipment: 1 chair per person; 1 blindfold Formation: Circle ‘It’ is blindfolded and stands in the center of a seated circle while the players change seats. ‘It’ now sits on a player’s lap. No words are spoken. He must guess whose lap he is sitting on. If he’s correct, the two change places. Prizes for game playing should be small toys, stickers or candy. This will make it affordable for each child to get more than one.
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Hot Potato

Players form a circle. A bean bag is passed from player to player while one player sings, whistles or claps. When the music or clapping stops, the player who has the bean bag is out and sits in the center. The last one out wins. Stops should be made frequently so the game moves quickly and players will not be out for a long period.
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Duck, Duck, Goose

All of the children will sit down in a circle facing each other They are now the “Ducks”. Pick one child to be the Fox. The Fox slowly walks around the outside of the circle, gently tapping the other players heads while saying “Duck” each time he/she taps. After a few times around the circle, the Fox selects a “Goose” by tapping a players head and calling “Goose!”. The Goose quickly jumps up and chases the Fox around the circle, trying to tag him before he can get to the spot where the Goose was just sitting. If the Fox succeeds in taking the Goose’s place he is now safe and the Goose becomes the Fox. If however the Fox is tagged while running from the Goose, he must start the game again.
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