Party and Playgroup Games for Pre-schoolers and Kindergarten Children

Sometimes parents or caregivers are at a loss as to what kind of activities to do with young children. This article focuses on activities for children ages 3 to 6 and are free or inexpensive. These activities are appropriate for birthday parties, play groups, or even just as a family.

One long-time favorite is a bean bag toss. You likely have everything you need for this already in your home- there is no need to buy a commercial bean bag game. Bean bags can be made from scap material or old socks. The filling can be beans, rice, oatmeal (for really soft bean bags), or anything else you can think of. It can be fun to make bean bags from several different substances and see how the different bean bags feel and toss. The bean bags can be sewn after filled or if you don't sew at all the bags can be closed with a stapler or duct tape. A bucket, large mixing bowl, or any type of container can be used to toss the bean bags into. You could also set up empty pop bottles and the object would be to hit and knock over the target bottles.

"Pin the Tail on the Donkey" is another classic. Using posterboard, cardboard, or even regular paper you can draw a donkey. Hang the donkey picture on the wall making it easy for the children to reach it, then make a donkey tail from paper. Stick some tape (rolled so sticky on both sides) on the donkey tail, and after being blindfolded and turned a few times the child is ready to "pin the tail"! This game can be modified so the children can pin the ball on a seals nose, pin the fin on the shark, pin the tail on the cat, or whatever else your imagination allows!

"Red Rover" is fun when there is a fairly large group of kids. Split the group of kids as evenly as you can. One group of children will stand on one side of the yard holding hands in a straight line. The other goup should stand directly opposite the first group, a couple yards away, and also hold hands. You choose which group goes first. That group calls out to the other "Red Rover, Red Rover, send (a child's name here) right over!" The child whose name is called runs toward the other group trying to break through between two children's hands. If she succeeds, she returns to her team. If she doesn't get though, she then joins the opposing team. The game ends when all children excepting one are on the same team. This is not a win/lose game, but a fun cooperative game. This game can also be played with a time limit, which is preferable with very young children. Older children find this game fun as well.

Putting on a skit is seen as great fun by young and older children alike! Choosing something simple such as acting out a nursery rhyme can make this an easy game. Guide the children in finding or making simple costumes. Mom or Dad's clothes are fun to use, and paper bags or paper plates can become wonderful masks. Let them practice a couple times, then encourage them to perform their skit for the adults in attendence. A very shy child who is relunctant may be willing to play the part of a flower, tree, moon, or other stationary object.

Another great activity is a modified "cake walk". Place different colored papers in a large circle, one for each child present. Play fun music, and when you stop the music each child stops on the paper they are on or close to. Pick a color from your basket (not showing the color to the kids, I'll explain why in a moment) and the child or children standing on that color leaves the game and receives a small prize such as a piece of candy or small toy. Once a child has received their prize, they stay out of the game. You can be sure everyone gets a prize by "cheating" and calling out a color different from the one you picked from the basket if no child is on that color. In this way, each child receives one prize and is thus non-competitive.

The games suggested above are designed or modified to be non-conpetitive for the most part because children of this age have more fun when there is no "loser". Each of the above games (other than the skit) can be made competitive or not, depending on the age and temperment of the children playing. All can be used with elementary aged children as well, and elementary aged children often find competitive games enjoyable.