How The Games Work
Many times people know the names of the games, but are unsure how they are played, here is a list of the games that we often play with the kids and adults to keep them entertained.
Games Listed Alphabetically
Coke/Pepsi: This is a popular game because everyone old and young can play. Form two lines across the opposite sides of the dance floor, 1 Coke and 1 Pepsi. When one name is called that side runs to the other side and sits on the knee of their partner. Last ones there are out. You can mix this game up by using other names and other things to do, i.e. call out Seven-Up and both lines run to the middle and high 5 their partner, say Star Trek and everyone raises their right hand up and yells "BEAM ME UP SCOTTY", or you can call out the name of the guest of honor and everyone points at them and yells out "YOU ARE THE GREATEST!"
Dancing Contest: Marathon, Shout, The Twist, or Hokey Pokey, Jitterbug.
Complete The Lyrics: The kids split up into many groups of various sizes. The DJ select two staring groups, then plays a song that is popular, when the music stops. The first group that the DJ select have to sing the next five words of the song correctly, if they do, that group stays in. This continues by the DJ's selection of additional groups until you have only one group left. That remaining group are the winners.
Freeze Contest: When the music stops the kids freeze, anyone still moving, is out, last person "frozen", wins.
Guessing Game: A jar full of jelly beans is shown to everyone, everyone writes down their guess as to how many jelly beans are in the jar, this is a great game for dinner time.
Guest Of Honor Knowledge: Come up with a handful of questions about the guest of honor. Favorite movie, favorite hobby, favorite snack..anything that most would know. Prizes are given out to those who have the right answer. This is a great way to showcase your child. We can play this game entirely or ask a few questions every hour. Immediate family should not play since it would be an unfair advantage.
Huggy Bear: Play modern music for the kids. Have them dance and sing along with the song. Call out a low number (2, 3 or 4) and make the kids get into smaller groups of that amount. All the "leftover" kids or the last to get into a group are "out".
Hula Hoops: The kids are spaced out on the dance floor, music is played, the last person with the hula hoop still spinning wins.
Hora Dance: Everyone joins in for the guest of honor for the traditional dance.
Limbo Contest: Kids limbo under the limbo bar and the last one (or two, or three) standing win the prize.
Mummy Wrap: Divide the kids into teams of two and give each pair a roll of white crepe paper. Instruct one member of each team to race to wrap his partner, mummy-style, at the sound of the music, kids must use up the whole roll, avoiding the head and wrapping arms separately from the torso. Once wrapped, the mummy hops to a finish line, holding his arms to his sides and trying not to break any of the wrapping. Award the winning team, reverse partners' roles and then start again with fresh rolls of crepe paper.
Musical Chairs: The is usually split between 3 groups, very young kids, older kids, adults. Everyone walks around the circle of chairs minus 1 of the total people are playing, while the music is playing, when the music stops, everyone grabs a chair as fast as they can, one person to a single chair, the one person left standing, is out. One chair is taken away, the remaining people continue until one person remains.
Name That Tune: A small section of a song is played and needs to be identified by who sings the song and what song it is, this is best played in groups. It is ok for kids to ask adults for some help!
Pass the Object: Any given object can be used like a inflatable guitar/ball/anything, when the music stops, whoever has the inflatable is out. Any object can be used and any music, so make it fun.
Specialty Line/Activity Dances: , Cha Cha Slide, Boot Scootin' Boogie, Conga, YMCA, Bunny Hop, Macarena, Hokey Pokey, Chicken Dance, Cotton-Eye Joe, Electric Slide, Boot Scootin' Boogie any many others.