Hobbies And Interests
Tossing Games
Whether it's a football through a tire or a baseball through a hula-hoop, tossing, throwing or target games are virtually free to play, with the use of toys and equipment you already have. The basics of the game are that each player gets three throws. Successful throws are counted and the child with the most successful throws wins a prize. You can vary the game by creating teams or adding more difficult or humorous elements like tossing cantaloupes or eggs (outdoors only.)
Relay Race
Relay races can incorporate many everyday items from your home and, again, cost you nothing but a small prize for the winning team. Line teams up in a row, and give each player some task that takes them back and forth from the starting point. For example, children may have to walk an egg on a spoon to a basket 25 feet away and then run back to pass their spoon to the next player, who repeats the action. The first team to finish wins.
Murder Mysteries
Murder-mystery games are typically used for adult parties, but adapted versions can be played at children's parties and cost nothing but time. Players follow a storyline parents can download for free online and solve a crime as laid out with props and costumed players.
"Wink" is a more traditional game that is always a party favorite. Using a deck of cards, count out a number of cards that equals the number of kids playing. Include one jack card. Children then sit in a circle and the person holding the jack is the murderer, which she keeps secret. As the children talk and socialize the murderer winks at different players and after a few seconds they can act out their untimely death. Players who are still "living" can make a guess at who the murderer is, thereby either correctly guessing and winning the game or incorrectly guessing and "dying." This game can be played a number of times and is usually marked with giggles aplenty.
Pin the Tail
Put a new spin on the old pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey game by updating the subject matter to fit your kid's interests. For example, instead of pinning the tail on the donkey, put the "kiss" on the picture of their favorite pop singer, put the dog bone in Rover's mouth or pin the wings on a fairy. All you need for this game is some poster board and some artistic talent to draw the object to be pinned, as well as the pinning object (like the kiss or fairy wings.) Spin the blindfolded child twice and then point him in the direction of the poster and your game is on.