Birthday Party Games
Games, a time of fun for our children
Musical Chairs with a difference.
Musical Chairs can be a very upsetting game for children usually leaving at least one in tears. This is no fun, especially at a birthday party. But no more! This cooperative version will have the children shouting for more and everyone is included, even the very small and least able.
Here's how it's played:
Let's assume there are six children playing, so put 6 chairs in a circle. Then the music is played while the children circle the chairs. When the music stops all the children get on a chair as quickly as possible, just the same as the conventional version.
Now, here is the special part. One chair is taken away and the music resumes. When the music stops this time, ALL the children have to get on the remaining chairs. That is, six children have to get onto five chairs. So there will be two children on one of the chairs. This repeats with one chair being taken away each time until all the children have to get onto ONE chair. This involves cooperation as the game isn't finished until the last child is off the ground.
The fun the children have in finding ways to get all of them onto one chair is a delight to watch. In this version, even the smallest child can play and the older or larger ones will help to get the last child off the ground and onto the chair, or at least onto the the pile of children, or the game isn't finished. Needless to say, the last chair in the game needs to be very strong!
Metal Bowl and Wooden Spoon
To play this game you need a large metal bowl, a wooden spoon and some small treats. The treats can be a small toy or some gummy worms wrapped in a small package.
The bowl is placed upside down on the floor, in the centre of the room, with one of the treats underneath it. The children all sit in a circle and the one whose turn it is, stands and is given the wooden spoon. She is then blindfolded and tuned slowly round in a circle while everyone chants "round and round Becky (the name of the child) goes and where she stops nobody knows." The child then goes down onto the floor and, on her hands and knees, tries to find the bowl by hitting out with the wooden spoon until she hits it. She then gets the treat under the bowl. Each child takes their turn untill everyone has had a go.
