Cheap birthday party activities?

[la79al]

We are having a birthday party this next weekend for DD1 and DSD. Originally it was just going to be our girls and my nephew. Now DH is inviting more and more of his family members that we haven't seen in a long time and several are bringing their families. I know this includes at least one more preschooler and maybe a few 8-11 year olds. I thought my girls could just play with their cousin in the backyard and be fine but now that there are more kids, I feel like I should at least have more stuff to play with. I don't necessarily want to go with organized games but feel like I need something. It's supposed to be around 70 degrees here, mostly sunny and the plan is to have it at our house so we have a fenced back yard.

 

[wishesuponastar]

a couple balls
hula hoops
sidewalk chalk
jump ropes

 

[Just*the*ten*of*us]

I know you said no organized games, but their are tons of cheap relay type games they could do that would really require little effort on your part. We have done the wet t shirt relay where the kids each have a large tshirt on, starting in one spot have to run to the other side of the yard to a bucket of water, take the shirt off, soak it, put it back on, race back, take it off and wring it out in another bucket and see who can reach the designated line first. Another one is similar if the weather doesnt permit, where they have to carry pebbles in their toes across the yard and put them in a mason jar; whoever gets the most in a certain amount of time wins. Their are tons out there....google cheap party games. If not utilize what you have, do toy stations, where they move from one set up of toys to another after a certain amount of time, so theyre not getting bored. You could do the same type of circuit style play with cheap stuff from the dollar store, chalk, bubbles, even balloons. Theirs like a million and five things you can do with balloons. If theyre all girls, do mani/pedi, hair and makeup stations. again, dollar store stuff, kids love that junk. It doesnt take much to impress a little kid, trust me! Just get creative and keep em busy and theyll think they had the time of their lives. Check pinterest too, great ideas there....we had a cinco de mayo party that was pretty awesome yesterday, decorations, pinata and 2 different crafts, all for $15.90.

 

[clh2]

a couple balls
hula hoops
sidewalk chalk
jump ropes

I totally agree -

And to add to this - bubbles, chinese jump ropes, and Cats in the cradles.

If you want to have any games - a hula hoop contest might be fun for that age group!

 

[shoney]

We've also set up a play-doh station outdoors (on a little tikes picnic table). The little kids love it!