Preschool birthday parties typically involve a mix of games and activities.
Children can handle more involved games by the time they reach age three, which allows more variety for your next children's party. Using an outdoor space allows you to plan active games that involve lots of running and movement. To avoid hurt feelings, choose games that focus more on the entertainment value and getting everyone involved rather than winning and losing.
Picture Treasure Hunt
A treasure hunt can make children feel like pirates as they use clues to find prizes. Since most three-year-olds cannot read, picture clues work well for the treasure hunt. Using picture cards allows the children to complete the treasure hunt on their own. Take photographs or draw pictures of each spot where the next clue is located, ending with the final location of the treasure. The kids start with the first picture clue, identifying it and running to the location to find the next clue.
Balloon Pop
Balloons are a staple for party decorations, but they also work well for a simple party game suggested by Today's Parent. Place a small piece of candy, miniature plastic animal or other small prize inside each balloon before inflating it. Pass out the balloons so that each child has one. For more entertainment, inflate several balloons for each child. The children pop the balloons to reveal the prizes inside. They might stomp, sit on or squeeze the balloons to reveal the hidden prize.
Category Ball Toss
You only need a playground-style ball to play this simple party game described on the Disney Family website. Have the children stand in a circle on a flat area of grass. Call out a category with lots of options that fit in it, such as animals, food, colors or toys. Toss the ball to a child in the circle. She must say a word that fits the category. For example, she might say "walrus" if the category was animals. She then tosses the ball to another child in the circle who also names something that fits the category. Play continues until a child cannot think of a word, hesitates too long or repeats a word already named. Start over with a new category to keep the game going.
Relays
Relay races work well for children of preschool age and older. Divide the youngsters into two separate teams for the race. Use a cone or chair to mark the other end of the relay course. The players take turns running across the yard to the marked end and back to the starting line. Add more difficulty to the game by having them perform another task as they walk. This might include bouncing a ball, wearing a costume or skipping.
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