Nostalgic Fun: 8 Traditional Party Games

Remember all those wonderful party games you used to play when you were little, like Pass the Parcel, Musical Chairs or even the popular Piñata? It’s time to bring back some old-fashioned fun and celebrate the traditional way!

The joy of classic party games is they don’t require lots of planning, so you can dedicate your time to bringing the rest of the party together. Here are 10 of our absolute favourites...

1. Pin the tail on the Donkey

Everyone gets a great laugh out of this, especially when blindfolded players struggle to even find the donkey!

This is a classic party game that is great for indoors and can be adapted for any party theme (age 4+). For the original version, you can buy a ready-made kit, or make your own from a picture of a tailless donkey, a blindfold and tails for each player to stick on.

While blindfolded, each player takes it in turns to pin the tail as close as possible to where it should be.

For a sparkly twist, why not spice up your next party with a 2-in-1 game of Pin the Tail on the Unicorn or the Princess, for only £10?

2. The Doughnut Game

Another messy challenge is the doughnut eating game, where players eat a dangling doughnut without using their hands or licking their lips!

Hang a doughnut for each player up by string. Anyone who uses their hands or licks their lips is kicked out of the game.

It's messy but tasty fun and is sure to be a hit with your guests!

This one is a classic for Halloween parties. 

Check out our Halloween collection below or check out our blog on how to decorate your Halloween party on a budget!

3. Piñata

While not a traditional British party game, this Mexican fiesta favourite has become a big hit at children's birthday celebrations in recent years. 

Piñatas come in all shapes and sizes, from traditional stars to unicorns, so all you need to do is choose one that will suit your party theme and hang it somewhere with plenty of room.

Partygoers can take turns to put on a blindfold and have a whack at the piñata.

When it breaks, sweet treats and mini gifts hidden inside will rain down.

Don't forget to your mask and stick kit to go with it!

4. Pass the Parcel

An all-time favourite party game that is suitable for youngsters and grown-ups.

Prepare the parcel beforehand and ensure the present is wrapped in lots of layers, with each one revealing a sweet or treat attached.

Sit all the players in a circle. When the music starts, they pass the parcel around until the song stops. Whoever is holding the parcel at that point gets to tear open a layer and the music begins again.

Continue until the final layer covering the prize is removed by the winner! 

For a wide range of prizes, check out our selection of party favours. An inflatable space sabre, neon star party bubble tubes, a mini pinball game and rainbow pencils would all be excellent choices.

5. Egg 'n' Spoon Race

A sports day favourite that will also work well for children's parties in the great outdoors.

The rules are simple: everyone grabs an egg and spoon and once the starter shouts "Ready, steady, go!" everyone makes a dash for the finish line.

The winner is the person who finishes first with their egg still on their spoon. Speed isn't always of the essence in this game!

Either use real eggs and spoons from home for a cracking time, or treat yourself to our stylish sports day kit which includes an egg and spoon race set, plus equipment for hopscotch, three-legged races, relays and more.

6. Simon Says

A perfect game for younger partygoers.

Firstly, choose a leader (either yourself or another adult) to act as "Simon" to call out a series of commands that the children have to follow. For example: "Simon says put your hands in the air".

The children must do any action that begins with "Simon says".

But the crafty leader will sneak in some trick commands that don't begin with "Simon says". For example, if they say "Wiggle your arms", any children who do that by mistake are kicked out of the game.

Adapt the game according to your party theme by making it "Tinkerbell Says" for a fairy party, "Black Beard Says" for a pirate party, "Peppa Says" for a Peppa Pig party, and so on.

7. Musical Chairs and Statues

For these simple but hugely entertaining games, you just need to fire up some great party tunes and get stuck in.

To play Musical Statues, get the guests to dance about - but when the music stops, they must keep as still as possible. Anyone caught moving when the music stops is out.

Repeat the process until you have a winner.

If you have enough room, Musical Chairs is another fun game in which players have to dance around until the music stops. Then, they all rush to the nearest chair to sit on.

Make sure there is always one less chair than the number of players, so one person is left standing. That person is knocked out of the game.

A chair is removed at the end of each round until there's only one dancer still standing. Incidentally, Elton John's 'I'm Still Standing' is an awesome song to use for this game!

8. Sleeping Lions

After a full-on party, this is a great game for younger players to quieten things down.

Choose a large open room, then get your little guests to lie down and pretend to be sleeping lions. If you are doing a particular theme, get them to pretend to be sleeping fairies, pirates, dinosaurs or whatever fits best.

Explain that whoever moves after the game begins will be out. During this time, you can walk around the room, talking to them and trying to make them laugh.

Each child who is out can help you try to make the others laugh. The last person left sleeping is the winner.

Our extensive range of kids’ party collections includes Peppa Pig, princesses, dinosaurs, pirates and many more: get everything you need for a special celebration.

And make your your own cute stuffed lion toy, from our friends at Teddy Tastic, for only £19.99!

With these firm favourites, your fun-filled party will surely be one to remember!

Don't forget, you can enjoy next-working-day delivery on items ordered before 3pm on Friday. That means you can get the party started in no time!

By Ben Shahrabi

Image credits: Party Pieces, 8photo on Freepik, asierromero on Freepik and Freepik.

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