Moving an Outside Birthday Party Inside?

Freeze dance-you play music and everyone stops and holds their pose when the music stops, candy hunt-hide candy in 1 room, hot potato. We had long balloons and round balloons and tried to hit the round ones into a box or laundry basket (like baseball). Have fun.

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Greetings!! I am a preschool teacher and we have lots of class parties. One activity that they love is a "pull pinata" It is just like a regular pinata but instead of hitting it with a bat, it has a bunch of streamers attached to it; only one streamer opens the door and the kids get to take turns pulling streamers until the door opens and the treats fall out. You can get these at Party City stores or other party stores. Also kids that age love to dance around with balloons. Blow up a bunch of balloons and put one some fun music and just let them go! Another fun game with balloons (some of the younger kids might get a little scared by this one though)put a fun little surprise in the balloon, blow it up and then let the kids try to pop the balloon to get the prize out. Hope that helps and have fun!!

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I would put them in pairs an older kid and younger kid and let them do some sort of art project. that will keep them busy and entertained. maybe do some sort of music while they are doing it. are there going to be adults at this party also? you could have someone video tape. my experience is all kids love to do art stuff. get some paper bags with handles on them and let them decorate them and then just pass out the candy. pinatas are highly overrated and someone always gets hurt. My kids always loved doing stuff like gluing beads and macaroni etc. do you have a theme for the party? if so stick with that. I can give you lists of stuff we have done if you want. let me know and i will send it privately.
sherry

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If you have a wall that is not really dark but is okay to draw on, you could still let them use the chalk. When my kids were little and just getting obnoxious, I would let them write on a wall in the basement with chalk, easy to wash off. You could also use a large piece of wood if you have any. For indoor games, you could have them walk with a small or medium size ball between their legs to a finish line running as teams. My 16 month old tries to walk with her ball between her knees. She thinks it is funny when she drops it. For my kids last party, we also did a pop the balloon game where little notes were placed inside the balloons and the kids had to act out whatever it was. We used animals and characters. If you can get the adults to participate, it can really be fun and silly. Even the really shy kids liked this game.
Oh and I almost forgot, I had a package of paper bags-you can get colored ones at Party City or Walmart-that the kids decorated with stick on gems, foam stickers and markers/crayons. No messy glue needed. Just make sure the washer say "washable" so the little ones can be easily cleaned up. These became their goody bags. A pinata can be difficult indoors but you could have 2 adults hold it up and tear it open, letting the candy fall to the floor for the kids.

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Face painting, a scavenger hunt, which you could do by giving each team or child a color or shape. If you do teams, make sure each person on the team finds a clue. Harder for older ones, easier for little ones. Simon Says is always fun, chardes, Twister. Have a jar for Guess how many, I have done, Cherrios, M&M's, pennies, goldfish crackers. Trivia is always fun to do too. I did a trivia game all about my son, everyone had fun with that.

good luck! Hope the weather isn't too bad.

K.

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You could do a project like making a mask with white paper plates and crayons or a puppet with brown paper lunch bags. Depending on the age the project could include gluing/markers/etc.

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Art projects are fun but can be messy and require a lot of adult hands. Plus, a 2 year old will not work at the same speed as an older child.

I would consider simple games like bozo buckets, ring toss, balloon relays, bean bag toss-type games, hot potato, musical chairs, clothespins (the head-kind not the pinching kind) dropped in a milk-jar, even games like freeze tag and simon says.

There is also the "present game" and is played like hot potato. All kids sit in a circle and there is a "huge" wrapped present given to one person, to start to pass. When the music stops, the person holding it, unwraps ONLY one layer (as each little prize is under a different layer of wrapping paper.

Also, utilizing a "cake walk" type game, you can take sheets of paper (or be cute and make the sheets into clouds and call it a "cloud walk"... put a number (one through ten) on each sheet of paper - one paper per player. Papers are placed on the floor, in a circle. Kids each pick a number, when music starts, the children take a walk, on each number, and when the music stops, each child should be on a "cloud". Then you, randomly, pick one of the "cloud" numbers (finding big rolling dice is a cool visual, found at a dollar store - just re-roll if a kid isn't on one of those numbers). When their number pops up - they win a small prize. The kids stay in the game. What I do is, the first time someone's number is called, they get to pick from the "bigger" prize basket, (i.e. hair barretts, little bouncy balls, etc...) after that, if that person gets chosen, again, they pick from the "smaller" prize basket (i.e. dum-dum pops, small tootsie rolls, etc...)

These are games that older and younger kids can all play and you can limit your "game time" to, maybe 1 to 1 1/2 hours, so you, too, can enjoy some adult time! Use your other, outdoor activities for backup, should the weather offer you a break.

Have fun.

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Crafts are always great! Stop by Micheal's and see what you can find. They always have group craft kits that cost between $5-$10. Pick something with a water theme, pirate or mermaid theme or even fish. If you want, go to their web site and search "birthday parties". You'll find lots of suggestions.

Also, sometimes you can find little fishing pole games at the dollar store. Do you have a
little plastic pool? Fill it with the magnetic fish and use the magnetic fishing pole to "catch" the fish. The pool doesn't have to be filled with water. If you want you can even just put the fish on the floor or in a bucket. You could give a prize to who ever gets the most fish in a certain time period or just a prize to any kid who gets one fish. (for the little kids).
Maybe the older kids could play the card game "Go Fish". You could even go to the library and pick up a few fun fish or pirate themed books and read a few or have the 10 year olds read to the little kids. Little ones love story time.

Also, play "hot potato" using a sea shell or little stuffed toy fish.

You can still do chalk inside. Get black pieces of construction paper and have
them draw on that.

Have Fun!!!!

S : )

I would suggest getting some craft projects for the kids to do. The big ones can help the little ones and they can all have fun. You can also do some sort of dress up/guess who I am. Ask the paeople coming tot he party to bring costume stuff, then mix and match. Bake cup cakes and have the kids decorate thier own with frosting sprinkles and whatever else you can find. Buy pony beads and string. They can bead forever. Play a short video. Do shaving creme on a table, great clean fun.

I tend to over plan parties so there is no down time. Keep them busy and it will go really well.
J.

I had that problem at my sons 1 year old party. I made a Blues clues game in the house. I bought little notepads for everyone- made 3 paw prints for the clues. Then we walked around the house with the kids finding the clues then drawing them in their notebooks. It took almost a 1/2 hour to find the clues and draw them. Some of the adults joine din too and it ended up being really fun.
I also went to factory card party outlet and bought foam puppets for the kids to make- they sell all kinds of foam kits and most of them have 10 -20 puppets or other type projects in them. For the really little ones- just bring out some kids toys. If it is not raining - remind parent sto dress their kids warm and you canstill do the sidewalk chalk and pinata and other outdoor games.

they can put on a simple play. That'll amuse the older kids and the little ones can just follow the older ones around. Maybe teach them a little dance and do it with them. There is nothing cuter than 2 year olds dancing.

If you haven't yet set your dessert - for my daughters birthday we did decorate your own cupcakes. Adults loved this too and it took up that time of passing out cake when all the kids are going loopy waiting.

Michaels or some craft store has those pre-made craft kids that reallly range in age and I'm sure they have some summer ones on clearance

Have some games ready for the older kids

AND and and don't be too opposed to the idea of sticking in a movie and having a movie themed party. A good movie/ cartoon will keep everyone's attention for a bit of time. sounds like you have a pirates booty bunch though and not necessarily popcorn because of the younger kids.

good luck - we too are having a birthday party inside this sunday. 5 5 year olds, 1 9 year old, 2 7 year olds and a couple of tiny little babies.

my fingers are crossed for both of us.

I realize you already had your party and glad it was a success for you thats great!! Wondered where your husband got the bouncy from?

Also, another good idea for next year or actually any "get together" you have w/family & friends that involve kids is making cupcakes in ice cream cones. I did this for my daughters recent 4th birthday I just made a bunch of these and you make them just like cupcakes (fill cone 1/2 way and cook for as long as you would a cupcake).
For the decorating I just bought a bag of M&M's, gummies, oreos, and I had a bunch of sprinkles already. With the frosting I took just regular vanilla and put a little bit in a couple of cups and added food coloring to make all the different colors.

The younger ones & older ones sat there for a good hour (it's rather messy but worth the quiet!!!)