The trick to deciding what activities to do at your party is knowing your guests, then identifying what kind of party environment you want to create for them. Once known, you can select the party elements that achieve that type of environment.

For example, if you were hosting a small neighborhood meet-and-greet event and your goal is to allow the neighbors to engage and get to know one another, you should not select loud music or a time consuming entertainer. Instead, some soft music, icebreaker games, and opportunity to mingle would probably get you to your desired party environment.

Conversely, if you are entertaining eight seven-year-old girls at a birthday party, selecting engaging party activities or hiring a vendor such as a magician would probably achieve great party energy for your group of younger guests.

Some celebrations need very few activities on the agenda, while others need more activities to get things going. So much of that is going to be a judgment you make ahead of time as you know your guests.

Outside Vendor Ideas: Artist, Clowns, Magicians, Petting Zoo, Craft Leader, Dance or Tumbling Instructor, Special Character Guests (Darth Vader or Disney Princess), Mobile Video Game, or Laser Tag Company.

Hiring an experienced vendor allows for some structure during the party where guests are entertained by or interacting with the vendor, allowing the party host to focus on other aspects of the event. The main downside to hiring vendors is that they can be expensive. For that reason, I often attempt to create my own, less costly party games or activities. For example, my daughter insisted on a Hula lesson at her Luau party. We found a kids hula video on Amazon and brought a large tv to the party space to teach the lesson. It worked wonderfully and entertained our sweet group of grass skirt clad 8-year-old girls for over a half hour. A different time, my daughter was interested in doing an escape room party. I found a

DIY Party Activities:

Here’s what we’ve learned about activities and kids from throwing our own parties….

First, sometimes less is more. Activities are a help to get the party started or give opportunity to transition, but for the most part, having a few things planned and the

Tailor party agendas to the age of the child. For toddlers, leave things very unstructured. It is a challenge to get them to all sit down for an activity. Instead, create a designated play space with some balloons or enticing toys. Then as the kids become pre-school aged finding very simple games or crafts for guests. The early grade schoolers seem to love classic party games or more complex art projects and as they get older we have worked toward one big project or activity. Now that we are throwing parties for pre-teens, it is harder to get them all to want to play games, instead they are just content with time to socialize outside of school. 

• Tween/Teen Party Tip to Consider: collect phones in a basket by your front door. Kids are allowed to use them if needed but have to do so in the area by the basket. Let parents know at drop off that this is the plan. It helps keep everyone engaged in the activity and lets everyone relax and enjoy the party without the concern that something leaks to social media.

Some events seem to need a few games or activities, especially ones where the guest do not already know one another, like a baby or bridal shower. Besides being traditional, these games help get the event going, allow everyone to get to causally know one another and often allow opportunity for discussion, most importantly, laughter!

Bridal Shower Games/Activities:

• Bride Trivia

• Make a Cake Without a Recipe

• Guessing Games - Spices, Items in Jar

• Marriage Advice or Date Night Jar

• Purse Hunt

• Recipe Collection - Have everyone bring a favorite recipe and build a recipe book for the bride to be.

Check out all of the fun printable game options from Hello Rose Paperie, or if you are looking for humorous games, check out this list from Brides.com.

Baby Shower Games:

• Baby Photo Games

• Signed book for baby in lieu of cards

• Baby Sock Hunt

• Guess the Birthdate

• Dirty Diaper Game

• Guests Decorate Onesies

Check out this fun list of baby shower games from Meraki Lane or this set of hilarious printable baby shower games from these from Mimi’s Printables.

First Birthday Activities:

• Write messages to the child for a memory book

• Time Capsule to open when they turn 18

• Letters To the Child -Check out this fun Mad Lib style letter to make it fun for guests to share some special thoughts and memories with the child.

• Cake Smash - If the baby is into it, this can be so much fun for guests to watch.

If you are planning a first birthday celebration, check out this funny article from Pint-Sized Treasurers entitled, “ How to Throw the Worst “First” Birthday Party - EVER”. Embedded in the humor are some great party planning tips!

Adult Birthday Parties:

• Karaoke

• Minute to Win it Games

• Beer Pong

• Photo Scavenger Hunt

• Themed Trivia Games

• Escape Room Style Game

• Murder Mystery Kit

• Outdoor Party - Yard Games like Cornhole (& Cornhole Lights for night use), Ladder Golf, and Kubbe are typically an effective way to encourage people to interact and have a great time. If you entertain outdoors a lot and have the space, the Giant Connect Four Game is a statement piece that would be very entertaining.

• Simple Craft or Painting activities

• Wine Tasting - Blind bag tasting and ranking can be a lot of fun!

With groups of friends that know one another well and come together to celebrate, often an agenda or activity is not needed. On two separate occasions, my girlfriends and I had celebrations with the intent to watch the movie Wine Country. Both times we never even got to starting the movie. We just got caught up chatting and drinking wine that the hours rolled by quickly. We all had a lovely time and didn't need any structured activities. Many parties (often with adults… and wine) can be just as successful just making the central focus visiting with friends and that is perfectly WONDERFUL!

Here are some examples of homemade party activities that have been a hit with our guests:

Some ideas we’ve tried with through the various kids parties we’ve thrown:

• Pin the _______ on the ________ A classic game modified to whatever theme you are planning like the Bubble on Violet from Willy Wonka.

• Ollivander’s Wand Selection - Harry Potter Party

• Car Racing

• Spa treatments

• Shave Ice Stand

• Guess How Many - modified to our party theme using fishing corkies

• Tossing Game - Modified for the theme of Augustus Gloop from Willy Wonka

• Flashlight Scavenger Hunt

• Snowball Unwrapping

• Freeze Dancing

• FFA Inspired Milk Tasting (Napoleon Dynamite Party)

• Build a Snowman Marshmallow Shooter & Target Practice

• Recycle Games: Trash Pick Up, Cans knock over and Stacking Boxes Game

• Hula Lesson - Here is the Hula Lessons video we used

• Gingerbread House Making

• Halloween Hall

• Spooking Feeling Game - Be brave and reach inside the box and feel the item

• Car & Garage Pretend Play

• Pinata

• Trampoline - Fizzy Lifting Drink

• Punch for a prize - Made using solo cups and tissue paper and can be made for many themes

• Slip & Slide

• Watch a Movie

• Candy Craft - Decorated a picture frame with Candy

• Cupcake Decorating

• Dance Party

• Escape Room Game

• Water Gun Fight

• Backyard Bounce House

• Valentine Necklace Making

• Slime Lab