- If you are planning an all-girls party for younger school-aged children, consider a dress-up party. Using old clothes from around your house, garage sales or second hand stores, allow each child to choose clothes to put on over her own as soon as she arrives. Divide the girls into two teams for a game. Place two piles of clothes on the floor and choose a theme. Tell the girls to choose one player to dress like a princess with her pile of clothes. The team to dress their model in the least amount of time with the best princess look wins. Continue the game with other themes, allowing all of the girls to model.
- If you are planning an all boys party, plan a safari theme. As the party commences, paint each boy's face to resemble an animal of his choosing. Stage supervised wrestling competitions to see which animal wins. Divide the boys into teams and hold a safari hide-and-go seek game in the house. The last child or partner pair to be found wins the camouflage award. Design a zebra, lion or safari hat cake. Hand out party favors such as a plastic pair of binoculars and animal stickers or tattoos.
- For a co-ed party of school-aged children, instruct each child to come dressed as his favorite movie character. Choose a specific movie, such as "High School Musical" to narrow the theme. Have a karaoke activity, a cake decorated with music notes and a place for kids to play basketball. Consider painting T-shirts for the kids to take home as party favors.
- If you are planning a party for children ranging in age, plan a scavenger hunt through the neighborhood. Ask other parents to help chaperon, split the children into groups of three or four, placing older kids with younger kids. Hand each group a list of items they must collect and provide a time limit. The children will go through the neighborhood knocking on doors and asking if anyone has the items on the list. The first group back with the most items wins a prize.
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