Here is a list of children’s party games that you’ve no doubt heard of but may have forgotten about:

Pin the tail on the donkey: pin a “tail” on any suitable picture - also try tails on rabbits (easter), handbags on princesses, wings on a fairy, horn/eye on the monster, patch on the pirate (try painting a really gruesome eye underneath - little boys love that sort of thing)

Apple Bobbing: Traditionally for halloween - either fill a bucket with water and pop apples in the top or tie the apples to string and hang them. Each guest has to try to eat the apples without hands. When combining with face painting, we recommend the hanging version!

Pass the parcel: Wrap a gift in multiple layers and pass around to music - when the music stops, remove a layer. Some layers may include a special tiny gift or packet of sweeties or try adding a forfeit. One hen party we organised had funny rhymes for the guests to read out (we decided girls aren’t good at forfeits because they tend to let each other off!)

Musical chairs: Run around the chairs until the music stops then grab a chair. Ensure one fewer chairs than players. Anyone who doesn’t get a chair is out. Each round remove a chair.

Musical statues: Dance madly to the music but when it stops, freeze in any position. Anyone who moves is out. You can speed this game up by allowing more than one ”loser” per round. Minimise tears by giving a sweetie to each child when withdrawn from the game.

Sleeping Dogs/Dead Lions: If they’re getting a bit noisy try this one… Get them all to play dead - anyone who moves or giggles is out. Try matching this to the party theme - call it Extinct dinosaurs… Sleeping beauty…

Blind man’s buff: Use a blindfold on one player who has to identify the other players by touch alone - everyone should stay quiet but hints may be given if it’s deemed necessary.

Spin the bottle: For young teens/older children. Sitting in a ring, the girls and boys each spin a bottle positioned in the centre to determine who they kiss. Sure to raise shrieks and giggles. Parents are not allowed to watch (at least don’t let them see you watching!!)

Wink murder: The detective leaves the room and a murderer is selected. When winked at by the murderer each player must fall to the floor (the louder/more dramatic the theatrics the better). The detective has to determine who the murderer is before everyone else is dead!

Sardines: Hide and seek but begins with one hider while everyone else tries to find them. Once they discover the hiding place, each seeker gets in too until only one seeker is left - it does get a bit squashed hence the name.

Gloves & chocolate: a pile of silly gloves, scarves, hats is positioned in the centre of the room next to a large bar of chocolate and a knife and fork. When someone “throws a 6″ they get to leap up, put on the hats, gloves and scarves and attempt to break of a chunk of chocolate using the knife and fork before the next 6 is thrown. If you haven’t got your chocolate before the next person comes up, you don’t get any. Can be themed depending on your party or simply use Dad’s old stuff - especially with gloves, they’re supposed to be too big!