Easy Icebreaker and Mixer Games for Any Party

When you throw a party, you will most certainly have people that do not know each other. As a host or hostess, it is your job to make sure everyone feels comfortable and has a good time. Part of that includes offering icebreaker and mixer games so that your guests will have a better time at your party. There is nothing worse than a party where everyone is stiff and not interacting.

If you are at a loss for how to get the party started, here are some easy to prepare and fun icebreaker games that are suitable for a child's birthday party, baby or bridal showers, or any other type of party that you give.

Name Acrostics: As your guest arrive at your party, give each person a pen and a 4 x 6 index card. Instruct the guest to write their full name vertically on the paper on the left hand side. Then, as other people arrive, have them find other people whose last names start with the letters in their own name.

Laughing Songs: To get the party going on a humorous note, pick a song that most every will know. You can pick simple tunes such as "Happy Birthday" or even popular television theme songs. Now have everyone laugh the tune of the song in unison. You can bet that this will leave everyone laughing.

People Scavenger Hunt: You can have everyone mixing and talking to each other with this easy to play game. Before everyone arrives, type out a list of about 20 questions such as: Who wears a size nine show? Who has a birthday in December? Who has a reptile for a pet? Who speaks another language? Who plays a musical instrument?

Make enough copies for each guest and as they arrive, give each person a copy and a pen. Encourage them to walk around the room to find the answers to each question on the list. This will encourage your guest to mingle and spark conversation.

Lucky Handshake: Before most of the guests arrive, secretly hand three or four guests a handful of pennies. As the others arrive, encourage them to shake hands with as many people as they can. As they shake hands, instruct them to give the person a penny. When everyone arrives, see who has the most pennies.

What's in the Bag?: This game works well for children having a slumber party or for a group of women that have purses. Before the party, make a list of things your guest are likely to have in their bags or purse. For overnight guests, items might include: a hairbrush, toothbrush, teddy bear, and socks. For purses, you might want to include: pictures of children, lipstick and tissues. For added interest, include some unusual items such as Band-Aids, crayons, a used tissue or safety pins. Read out the list one item at a time and the person with the most items in on the list is the winner.

Toilet Paper Game: This is a very popular game and people of all ages love it. When the guest arrive, pass around a roll of toilet paper and instruct the guest to "take as much as you think you will need" with no further explanation. When everyone has toilet paper, go around the room and have each person tell something about him or herself for each square of toilet paper they got off the roll.