Summer Games & Activities
This is the perfect time to engage kids with classic summer games and activities like horseshoes, volleyball, bocce ball, limbo, tug of war, a piñata, jump rope, or a good ole’ water balloon or squirt gun fight. These fun activities continue to be popular with kids of all ages!
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Traditional games can easily be tailored to fit in with a summer party theme. For instance, lead younger guests in a game of Hula Girl Says (Simon Says), or let older guests play Capture the Beach Ball (Capture the Flag). You can also trade chairs for beach balls in a game of Musical Beach Balls; just buy 1 inflatable beach ball per guest attending the party, and pull a ball out after each round. Let your guests take the balls home as favors.
Other games that are sure to delight your guests include:
Hula Hoop Contest - Time each guest spinning a hula hoop around his/her hips, and award a prize to the child with the longest time.
Hula Hoop Pass - Divide the children into equal teams, and have them line up, holding hands. Hand a hula hoop to the child at the end of each line. When you say "Go!" the first child on each team must put the hula hoop over his/her head and shoulders, step through it, and pass it to the next child... all while continuing to hold the next child's hand! The team that gets its hula hoop to the end of the line fastest without breaking the chain wins.
Limbo - Kids of all ages will love this game! Just have two adults hold a limbo stick at a set height, and let the kids take turns moving under it without touching the ground with anything but their feet. Lower the stick slightly after each round. The last child to successfully make it under the stick wins.
Softball Pass - Divide the children into two equal teams, and have the teams form two lines. Hand a softball to the child at the front of each line. When you say "Go!" the first child puts the softball under his/her chin, and passes it to the next child in line, who then takes the ball beneath his/her chin, turns, and passes it to the next child in line. Play continues in this fashion until one team is first to get its softball to the back of the line and wins the game.
Water Balloon Toss - Divide the children into pairs, and have the pairs form two facing lines with 3' in between them. Give a water balloon to each child on one side. Tell the children to toss their balloons to their partners, who must then take a step backwards before tossing the balloons back. Play continues in this fashion until only one pair is left with an intact water balloon and wins the game.
Luau Relay - Collect Hawaiian shirts, leis, flip flops, hats, grass skirts, and sunglasses before the party (at least two sets). At the party, divide the kids into two or three equal teams, split the teams in half, and have the groups line up approximately 20' apart. Give a set of luau attire to the first player on each team. When you say "Go!" the first player on each team must put on the luau attire, run to the line of team members on the other side, take off the attire, hand it to the next player, and sit down. The first team to have all players sitting wins.
Seashell Hunt - Younger guests will love this simple sandbox activity. Just hide seashells in a sandbox before the party, and let your guests take turns digging them up. Give each guest a pail, a shovel, and two minutes to dig, and then let the children keep their seashells or trade them in for prizes.
Water Relay - Divide your guests into two teams, and have them form two lines approximately 10' away from two empty glasses. Hand the first player on each team a spoon, and set a bucket of water between the two lines. When you say "Go!" the children must take turns carrying spoonfuls of water to their glasses. The first team to fill its glass wins.
Squirt Gun Paintball - Divide your guests into two equal teams, and give each guest a plain, white T-shirt to wear. Give each player on one team a water gun filled with red food coloring-tinted water; give guns with blue-tinted water to the other team's members. Have the teams line up approximately 50' apart. Place a flag behind each line of players. When you say "Go!" the teams must compete to be the first to grab the opposing team's flag and bring it back to their home base. Players who get hit with tinted water have to sit out until the end of the game. Play multiple rounds, if desired.
500 - Give a water balloon to one of the kids, have him/her throw the balloon in the air and call out a number, like "100!" If one of the other children successfully catches the water balloon without breaking it, he/she is awarded the points called. If the balloon breaks, any child who touched the balloon loses the points called. The first child to earn 500 points gets to switch places with the thrower.
About the Author:
This article was contributed by our partner Birthday in a Box. Visit their website at Birthdayinabox.com to choose from more than 100 party themes, thousands of party items like decorations and favors, personalized merchandise, and more... all delivered to your door! Just shop, click, and party!
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