Helpful Hints for
School Party Games 1

1) Keep games short: five minutes long for younger students (grades K-2) and ten minutes long older ones (grades 3-6).

2) Keep all directions simple, because kids are tired of listening all day long. Party time is play time.

3) Be flexible, if a game is not working well, stop playing it and start a different game.

4) Have at least one or two games in reserve in case one is not working well or the games you planned went faster than you thought they would.

5) It is best not to play "elimination" games unless you have something for the children that are eliminated to do. If you have nothing planned, this leads to excess noise, running around and chaos. In this situation, all you need is a simple activity such as guessing how many candy corns are in a jar.

6) Masking tape placed on the floor works well for a starting line. Move it closer for younger grades and farther back for older grades.

7) Remember to keep all games, prizes, etc. safe for children.

8) If you have more than one game going on at the same time have all games equal in time. This will allow all stations to rotate at the same time.

9) Try to have one parent at each game station. Some games where you retrieve balls, bean bags etc. goes smoother and faster if there are two helping parents.

10) If you are using rotating stations have one person tell the class when to rotate. They can do this with turning the class lights on and off.

11) While games are being played have a parent get refreshments ready, if you are eating after the games are over.

12) Items used to play game can also be used as their take home favors. Examples, bean bags, ping pong balls.

13) If you have finished your game and are not ready to rotate to another game, you may read some of the Knowledge Facts, or let the kids lay the game again.