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Games for Children 5 & Older

When planning a get-together or party for children ages 5 and older, be sure to plan a variety of games that are fun for all ages to prevent boredom. Use your imagination to plan exciting games that give new children a chance to make friends. Awarding prizes, such as candy, stickers and toys, will keep the children in line and ready for the next game.

Water Balloon Targets
- Make several water balloons and place them in a large bucket. Find a large area of concrete and draw a target on it using sidewalk chalk. Mark point values on each ring of the target, with smaller point values on the outside rings and higher point values as you go toward the bulls-eye. Mark a standing line about 15 feet away from the target (move the line farther away or closer depending on the ages of the children). Each child tosses a water balloon in the air to try to land on the bulls-eye. When the balloon lands, use a piece of chalk to circle the outline of the water burst to keep track of each child's score. Give each child three tosses and the child with the highest score wins the game.
Sticks and Stones Tag
- Divide children into two equal teams and have them line up facing each other about 3 feet apart. Mark a safe line behind both teams about 25 feet away. Select one team to be the "sticks" and one team to be the "stones." When you yell, "Run," the sticks must try to run to a safe line as fast as they can, while the stones chase them. Any stick caught by a stone must switch places for the next game. Keep playing until all children get the chance to be a stick and a stone.
Prizes in a Hay Stack
- Place a large tarp outside on the ground and unravel about four hay bales on the tarp. Loosen the hay and create a large pile. Place prizes, such as dollar bills rolled in aluminum foil, wrapped candy, plastic toys and small party favors, throughout the hay. Give each child a paper sack. When you say, "Go," the kids must dig through the hay and find as many prizes as they can. The child who finds the most prizes wins a large prize and the other children can take home their prize findings as well.
Wall Ball
- Line up children about 10 feet from a solid, smooth wall. Have them stand about 2 feet apart. Give the first player in line a tennis ball and tell him to toss it at the wall. When the balls come toward the players, they must jump or move out of the way to avoid being hit. If the ball hits a player, he is out of the game. Go in order down the line, so that every child has a turn to toss the ball at the wall. The last player standing wins the game.

Kids Games