by Barb Hopkins

Created on: April 21, 2009   Last Updated: August 09, 2009

Fun games for a first birthday party should be easy to play, entertaining for many ages, and theme-related if the party has a special theme. Parents will not want to miss the fun and laughter party games can bring to their child's first birthday party. Planning fun games for a first birthday only requires a little creativity and sense of humor. The type of games played will depend on the ages of the children attending the party.

Games for 1 and 2 year-olds.

* Baby Bottle Bowling

Arrange ten empty plastic baby bottles in a bowling pin triangle, keeping them close together. Help the littlest party people stand at a line about four feet away from the bottles. Use masking tape for the line. Let the bowlers roll a medium sized playground ball towards the bottles. If the birthday boy chooses to knock down the bottles by walking into them, let him and make sure you get it on film.

* Bubble Catching

Great for indoors or out, get several large bubble wands and blow bubbles to the children and encourage them to catch and pop each bubble. Make sure there is plenty of room from running, jumping, and silliness.

* Put the Nose on the Clown

This version of the traditional Pin the Tail on the Donkey can be purchased at a party supply store or made by drawing a large clown face on poster board and making several red clown noses out of cardboard. Tack the clown face to a wall at toddler height level. Have each child take a turn at sticking a red nose on the clown. Use poster tack to attach the noses. Spinning and blindfolding a one or two year-old is not recommended for this game, save that for the older kids. This game can be adapted to match many different party themes: Give the Mouse a Cookie, Put a Tire on the Racecar, Put a Nose on the Teddy Bear, or Give the Princess a Wand.

Games for Preschoolers and older.

* Baby Bottle Bowling, Challenge Version

This versatile game can easily be adapted to challenge and amuse older children and even adults. To play with an older group, fill ten baby bottles two-thirds of the way full with water or rice. Secure the lids. Arrange in a bowling pin triangle leaving about two bottle-widths space in between. This game requires space. Designate a starting line with masking tape about eight feet for preschoolers and twelve feet for older children. Preschoolers and older children can take turns knocking down the bottles with a medium sized playground ball, using two rolls per player. Keep score for older children (ten and up) and award

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