As children’s birthday parties are becoming more and more competitive in terms of location and cost, it is sometimes nice and refreshing to bring things back into the home. One great theme is a tea party, which is easy to change around as you need to. There are many tea party games which can be played for girls and boys, so you don’t have to worry about gender issues if you invite both to your tea party.
Tea Party Game One: Pin – or Tape – the Crown on the Princess
Have each child make a paper crown with crayons, glitter glue and gems. Hang a poster of your favorite princess or prince on the wall or door. Blindfold each child in turn and have them try to get the crown in the correct place. The child who places his or her crown closest to its correct spot is the winner. (Obviously, this tea party game could just as easily be made into a “prince” game as well.)
Tea Party Game Two: The Shoe Hunt or The Glass Slipper Game
Have each child place one of her shoes onto a blanket on the floor. After all shoes have been placed, have an adult blindfold each child and mix up the shoes. Each child must take a turn trying to find her shoe just by the way it feels. Every child who is able to identify her shoe gets a prize.
Tea Party Game Three: Dress Up Dash
Place two piles of complete dress up outfits at one end of a long room and two cones at the other end of the room. Place obstacles such as hoola-hoops, boxes, balls, etc. between the piles and cones. Separate the children into two groups, lining them up evenly behind the clothing piles. Have the children race by getting completely dressed in the dress up clothes, running through the obstacles, around the cone, back to their group and then completely undressing. The next child can only start getting dressed when the person before her has finished. The winning team will be the first to have all its members complete the race.
Make two or three layers of a cake. Find charms that represent personalities, such as a sunshine, star, anchor, etc. Thread a ribbon through each charm. Place the charms on an iced layer with the ribbons hanging over, then stack and decorate the cakes as normal. Have each child pull one ribbon out of the cake in turn. Then, explain the meaning of the charm each as selected. For example, the sun could mean the child has a sunny disposition. The star could mean that the child is destined to be famous. An anchor could mean that the child is strong. There are many charms available, so you could pick appropriate charms for the ages and interests of your guests.
Tea Party Game Five: Jewelry Hunt
Fill a large box or bowl with faux pearls purchased at a craft shop. Then, hide various rings, earrings, and necklaces within the pearls. Have the blindfolded guests take turns trying to find a piece of jewelry. This game could be expanded to a search for a “special” piece of jewelry that would mean a bigger prize.
Tea party games are great because they can be adapted for any situation. Play tea party games at your next bridal shower or slumber party, too!
