Games and Activities
When the party guests arrive, provide them with small jars of red Play-Doh® so that they can sculpt their own mini Elmo characters. These can be taken home as a party favor.
Fill a clear glass cookie jar with small bags of cookies, and have each party guest guess the number of cookies. The one with the closest guess wins a prize and each guest receives a bag of cookies.
The Letter Game. Split the children into two teams with one adult supervisor per team. Explain that each team has five minutes to come up with as many words as they can think of that begin with the same letter as the birthday child's first name.
Oscar the Grouch Garbage Toss. Have the party guests toss balls of junk mail into Oscar's garbage can, an empty trashcan. To add structure to this game, try having each child toss junk from several set distances starting with right next to the garbage can, and ending eight feet away.
Pin the Nose on Elmo (also can be purchased as an existing party game).You will need: Elmo poster or construction paper cutout, orange construction paper, scissors, tape or spray glue, and a blindfold. Cut the construction paper into round nose shapes and add the initials of each party guest. Place tape, or spray glue on the noses so they stick. (If using spray glue, let them dry sticky side up).
Fill Dorothy's New Goldfish Bowl (best played outdoors).Fill a bucket or tub with water. Form two teams (Team A and Team B). Line up Team A between the water-filled bucket/tub and the empty goldfish bowl. Have team members fill up small paper cups of water, pass them down the line, and dump them into the goldfish bowl. Time how long it takes to fill the bowl. Repeat the activity with Team B. Then mix up the team members to create new teams and play.
Ha, Ha, Ha! Have all party guests form a circle. Explain that the object of the game is to keep a straight face while others try to make you laugh. One guest begins by saying, “Ha.” The next guest says, “Ha, Ha,” followed by the next guest who says, “Ha, Ha, Ha,” and so on around the circle with each guest adding a “Ha” to the string. Each guest must pronounce the “Ha's” as seriously as they can and avoid laughter as long as possible. Any guest who makes a mistake or laughs must drop out of the circle. However, he or she then gets to try to make the remaining guests laugh in any way (except by touching them or talking). The most serious guest (the one who keeps a straight face the longest) wins the game.
Abby, Abby, Elmo! This game is based on the traditional “Duck, Duck, Goose!” game, but instead of a goose chasing a duck, Elmo chases Abby Cadabby.
Name that Smell. Place smelly items, like cinnamon and garlic, into paper bags. Tie the bags shut with curling ribbon and poke a small hole in the top of each bag. Have the children sit in a circle and pass the bags around to sniff and guess the contents. After everyone has had a chance to sniff each bag, untie the ribbons, and open them to reveal the contents.
Follow Elmo. Before the party, get some music ready (any children's music will work, but Sesame Street music is best). Start with the birthday child and have all the other party guests line up behind him/her. The leader makes all sorts of funcreative moves, and the rest of the line follows. If the leader needs some help, you can suggest hopping, jumping, twirling, and rolling on the ground. Pick a new leader every few minutes. Play until everyone has had a turn.
