21st kids party ideas

March 27, 2006 10:07 PM

Kids themed 21st birthday party: My 21st is in two weeks and I'm having a kids themed party, so it's back to the days of fairy bread and balloons. I need ideas. So far I'm using a projector to set up a big screen game of Super Mario Brothers, I'm having a pin the tail on the donkey game where you win a shot if you get it even remotely right, and I've downloaded a bunch of theme songs from kids shows back then. Any more ideas?

Especially helpful are any suggestions for kids party games that can be set up for people to play as they wish: pin the tail on the donkey, lucky dips, etc. Pass the parcel and so on probably wont work with fifty people.

posted by twirlypen to food & drink (24 comments total)

Everybody Limbo!
posted by acoutu at 10:12 PM on March 27, 2006

musical chairs? duck duck goose? red rover? simon says? jacks? hopscotch? ok I'll stop.
posted by yodelingisfun at 10:16 PM on March 27, 2006

Coed Strip Twister. 'Nuff said.

Wait, with certain spots designated as "Drinking Zones" so if you hit 'em, you drink.

And we demand pictures after the fact!
posted by fenriq at 10:36 PM on March 27, 2006

Chocolate crackles!!
posted by pompomtom at 10:37 PM on March 27, 2006

hopscotch with scotch would be a fun twist ;)
posted by devilsbrigade at 10:37 PM on March 27, 2006

Spanking. Early bed time.
posted by pracowity at 10:39 PM on March 27, 2006

Hula hoops. Cotton candy machine.
posted by BoscosMom at 11:25 PM on March 27, 2006

telephone!
posted by clarahamster at 11:25 PM on March 27, 2006

Those crazy twisty straws in every drink. (got one in a birthday grab bag, boy was it neato!!)

Grab bags!! (shot glass, condom, twisty straw?)

Hot dogs.
posted by skinnydipp at 11:37 PM on March 27, 2006

punch and pie!
posted by mrbill at 11:40 PM on March 27, 2006

Build a fort; get one of those inflatable bouncy things, though that might be pricey it would be awesome; a drunken game of duck duck goose [grey duck] would probably be fun; kiddie pool?
posted by shokod at 11:52 PM on March 27, 2006

Face painting!

Speaking from experience, pass the parcel doesn't work with fifteen rather drunk people let alone fifty. I think your strategy of getting people to play in small groups as and when they want is probably a good one. Also, don't bother with prizes other than the tiniest token (e.g. a piece of candy), as there will be an enormous amount of blatant cheating whatever you do. Have fun!
posted by teleskiving at 12:53 AM on March 28, 2006

Musical islands is a fun and easy alternative to musical chairs: use sheets of newspaper as "islands"; when the music stops everyone has to stand on an island; remove one island; rinse, repeat. Forfeits for not getting an island, for having two people on an island, etc.

Pass the balloon: hold an inflated balloon under your chin; pass to another person - without either person using their hands; forfeits for dropping the balloon, bursting it, using hands, etc. Make this a bit more random by getting the participants to wander around to pass the balloon on - perhaps they can only keep possession for 30 seconds?

Irrespective of the games you play, make sure that you remember to have (alcoholic) jelly and ice cream! Yum! :-)
posted by Chunder at 3:43 AM on March 28, 2006

Pinatas! I've recently started a trend of bringing pinata's to parties (for adults), and it has generally been a big hit.

Tip for you though, condoms make excellent prizes, but little self contained lubes? Not at all, they tend to explode all over everything else, and everyone.
posted by KirTakat at 5:11 AM on March 28, 2006

sardines
posted by andrew cooke at 5:41 AM on March 28, 2006

blanket-forts and pillow-fights...
posted by MonkNoiz at 5:42 AM on March 28, 2006

Goodie bags filled with cigarettes and mini-bar liquors.
posted by ColdChef at 5:54 AM on March 28, 2006

We recently had a party like this at work; one thing we had that no one's mentioned yet is spiked juice boxes.
posted by lampoil at 6:35 AM on March 28, 2006

To expand on the pinata theme, in addition to the condoms, fill it with those airline bottles of booze. Most large grocery stores and/or liquor stores carry 'em.

For the A/V portion, WonderShowzen comes out on DVD today.
posted by Atom12 at 6:37 AM on March 28, 2006

A table with a make your own sundae bar on one side, and a make your own cocktail or alcoholic floats/milkshakes on the other.
posted by Cyrie at 7:05 AM on March 28, 2006

Drunk and go seek. Instead of counting to 10 (or 100, or whatever), take a couple shots.

The ever popular 3 legged race/sack race to an obstacle/drink, then come back.

Beer pong is always popular.
posted by fnord at 9:25 AM on March 28, 2006

Dress up like max from the Where the Wild things are, and say"Let the wild rumpus start!"

Track down some pop rocks. That is all.
posted by I Foody at 9:34 AM on March 28, 2006

My friends and I are renting a bounce house for a similarly themed upcoming party.
posted by like_neon at 9:44 AM on March 28, 2006

Blanket fort for secret make-outs. If you have a bigger budget, Target carries a number of kid's tents, including a super cute Hello Kitty one that's not on the website.
posted by Juliet Banana at 10:24 AM on March 28, 2006