Links Page
This page shares ideas for kids games and activities to help you focus on the “having fun” aspect of birthday parties. There are also ideas passed along to us for “greener” loot bags. This site does not endorse any of the products that may be advertised on the links below. We’re just sharing ideas!
Party games and activities
Here are some party activities that have been passed along or used by kids on the Honour Roll:
- Swimming (ever popular!)
- Ice skating
- Hockey on a homemade outdoor rink (lots of fun!)
- Your basic sliding party. Kids just love sliding; all you need is snow and a good hill!
- Capture the flag. This game is best played in a largish, partly wooded area. It’s good for a big group (a dozen or more kids). I’ve seen it played on cross-country skis, too, on a large open area and the kids loved it.
- Scavenger hunt. This can be done outdoors in a large backyard or playground area. Certain items can also be “planted” by party organizers before kids arrive. A scavenger hunt or treasure hunt can also be played indoors. The “loot” could be, for example, a small Lego toy, that was part of the hunt. A treasure hunt using gold foil-wrapped coins works too.
- Fish pond. Tie a strong magnet to a fishing pole. Attach a paper clip or larger metal document clip to small prizes and scatter on a blanket that is the “pond”. Kids fish from a set location, or over a railing, to retrieve the prizes. The small items can then be the “loot”. A small change purse or reuseable bags can be one of the items to be “fished”.
This link has games for children under 5 years old.
http://www.littlecherry.co.uk/a3/Party-Games-for-Under-5s/article_info.html
This link has games for kids between 5 and 10 years old. There are several games using balloons, which are not ideal from a purely environmental point of view.
http://www.littlecherry.co.uk/a4/Party-Games-for-Over-5s/article_info.html?osCsid=3u21lhrnct2mqbod0gfaagub82
Green loot bag ideas
The “greenest” options for loot bags is to simply not have any! But for those who just don’t want to break with tradition, here are some ideas for more environmentally-friendly “loot bags” that have been passed along or used by kids on the Honour Roll (the assessment of “more environmentally-friendly” is left up to you – some of these items are maybe a little more useful than dollar store plastic toys):- A small potted flower.
- Seeds of any kind for planting in the garden.
- Small notebook with pen, pencil or coloured pencils.
- Hair elastics and headband.
- Flashlight.
- Fox 40 whistle on a string.
- Home-baked goodies.
- Cloth tote bag (may come from a charity that is being supported by the birthday child, eg. SPCA)
Here’s a great page from a mom who put some thought into alternative loot bags. She suggests things like carving a pumpkin and taking it home, making a CD of favourite kids tunes, children’s books from a sale bin, decorating t-shirts among others.
http://motherhoodtheultimatesurvivor.blogspot.com/2007/11/stop-loot-bag-insanity.html
Here is some chat from Mothering magazine website about greener loot bag ideas. There’s a mix of ideas – some greener than others.
https://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=941770
We are not promoting the purchase of the party bags at this site, but there are some good combinations of items in these bag that may give you ideas for your own party.
http://www.funnygreenbag.com/bags.html