Party games/activities for a 3yr old boy party

sethsgran

My grandson is soon to be 3, wow where did the time go. His mum is planning his party but we want to come up with some activities as 3yrs is young to just play games. We will be using our large church hall with plenty of other rooms available for food etc. So far we have thoughts along the lines of bouncy castle, decorating gingerbread men, craft????? but what, balloon twisting ( a friend will do this) music time as he loves music and singing and we have plenty of childrens instruments and story time I love reading/singing with children and I am used to entertaining children this way due to my job. We will be having parents stay and they are all good friends together so lots of hands on. My daughter has always baked and done craft with children, her job, so controlling a group is not a problem.

If anyone can suggest craft or party ideas that would be so helpful. We won't be doing all the above they are just ideas to give you some thought. There could be 15 children there and before you think we are crazy we are so used to this it's just something different we are searching for.

foxxymynx

I think it sounds wonderful tbh!

sethsgran

Thank you so much she doesn't want the big gimmick party just do some fun things that will make his day special

sethsgran

Mum has now decided along the lines of a pirate party as at the moment he loves them. She is making some fabric bunting which will then go in his room, his name on it. We are also going to try to get hold of some gold coins for the guests to delve into a treasure chest for, don't worry this will be controlled or else my gorgeous boy would want them all. Now need to come up with a craft idea around pirates so....... any suggestions????

phunkles

Treasure hunt? very simple map with a big X marks the spot on?
decorate an eye patch?
paint a parrot?
ermmmm
My 3 year old godtwins both enjoyed pass the parcel at a recent family event and are a bit bonkers normally and dont play even simple board games to the rules but enjoyed that. *they sat with older children to play this and just followed their example BUT if your party is having parents staying get them down with the kids and sit behind them to make sure no one gets too excited and opens the parcel before they should?
Limbo?
a game of skittles?

gold coins - chocolate coins will still be in date then and should be reduced in shops?

Have you seen the pop up pirate treasure chest game?or even original pop up pirate (might be gift ideas - need to check the age though)

rainmac

How about pass the parcel but passing round a pirate hat instead of a parcel and then when music stops, child runs to a tresure chest in the middle of the circle to delve for gift. Quite fun and saves on someone wrapping the parcel

You can make a sort of sword from the long balloons you can model, the children could all get one of these and an eye patch (could make these) when they arrive so they feel like pirates.

For craft, could find free printables on the web and put them on a table with lots of crayons... http://www.printactivities.com/Theme-Printables/Pirate-Printables.html/ http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/pirate_coloring_pages.htm/

You may find some suitable pirate themed ideas here... http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/pirate_party.html
http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday/specialfeature/doca0603_pirates_sf/
http://www.piratebirthdaypartyideas.com/

Have fun, it sounds great

hm71_2

don't know if you have a qs store near you but thay had lots of pirate themed colouring making activities very cheaply, make your own oirate hat etc...

sethsgran

Wow thanks everyone some great ideas there we will be checking them out

GemR_2

How about asking each of the mum's to provide a picture of their child and then each child could decorate a photograph frame with a picture of themselves in it with pirate 'jewels'. You could use a big bag of the cheap flat packed craft jewels, shapes gut from pre-gummed foiled paper, bits and pieces sprayed gold (pasta shells etc). I think it would be a really fun activity for 3 year olds (my son would love it!) plus it would provide a nice take home gift for each child that the mum's will appreciate much more than the normal plastic junk!!!!

sethsgran

Now GemR that is certainly do-able (spel?) as my daughters friend is a photographer and she is coming and is taking photos for us. Thanks for that suggestion I love it and I know his mummy will too.

kb36

Another good one on a fishy theme and suitable for three year olds is this:
Cut out large paper fish shapes, 1 per child and a few spares, from newspaper, punch a hole in the top and tie string to them. The string needs to be long enough to go around the childs waist and for the paper fish to trail on the floor. Alll the children try and stamp on the fish and the last child remaining with their fish in tact is the winner. Always a big success at the parties my kids have been to!