Planning party games for 3-year-olds requires you to balance the kids' developmental level and their level of excitement. Small parties lasting a couple hours, at most, are best, suggests the National Network for Child Care. Three-year-olds are just starting to share and have some cooperative play skills, but attention spans are still short and temper tantrums still common. They are not always gracious losers, so cooperative activities where everyone wins or makes a "prize" are your best bet.
Crafts
Crafts are a big hit with this age group. Set up a table with crayons, glue and decorations that are not too small---for instance foam or paper cut-outs, large buttons, or feathers. With these, the kids can create their own birthday loot bags. You can also let them make sweet treat cereal necklaces from Froot Loops, Apple Jacks or other similar cereal.
Bubbles
Give each child a bottle of bubbles. Outside, have them try to blow the biggest bubble they can or wave the wand around to make as many bubbles as they can. Purchase kits with oversized bubble wands and saucers for bubble solution, and let them try to make huge bubbles. Playing with bubbles is a good way to keep the kids entertained while waiting for everyone to show up for the party.
Balloons
Balloons can be a fun alternative to a piñata, if the kids don't mind popping them. Fit a piece of wrapped candy into the balloons before you inflate them with air. A roll of Smarties would be a good choice of candy, as well as pixie sticks, or small lollipops. Let the kids bat the balloons around for a while, then have them "stop and pop." Let them win another piece of candy for gathering up the popped balloons and throwing them away. The candy can go into the loot bag they decorated earlier.
Duck, Duck, Goose
Let the kids work off their energy outside with games that include "Duck, Duck, Goose." The kids sit in a circle while the birthday child walks around the back of the circle touching each of them on the head, naming them "duck, duck, duck...goose." The "goose" gives chase as the birthday child runs around the circle and tries to sit in the space vacated by the goose before being caught. Then, it's the goose's turn to tap the kids on the head and name a goose.
Make Your Own Snack
Three-year-olds like to accomplish things on their own, so let them make their own snack. For birthday sundaes, set out ice cream, sprinkles, miniature marshmallow, chocolate syrup or whatever the kids like. You can scoop their choice of ice cream into a paper bowl and let them spoon on all the fixings. You can also let the kids decorate their own cupcakes. Alternatively, have a pizza party. Use English muffins or bagels, and let the kids spoon on pizza sauce, pepperoni and cheese. You get to do the baking, of course.
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