Birthday party plan for ages 4 to 6

For: 8 to 15 children, with a few parents helping
Length: About 90 minutes of games, with cake in the middle
Games: 6

Four to six-year-olds have short attention, big feelings and no patience for rules. A good party for them is a string of short games, none longer than ten minutes, with singing, moving and something to hold. Avoid games that send children "out" for long; a five-year-old who is out is a five-year-old in tears. This plan keeps everyone playing almost all the time.

The running order

Time	Game	Notes for the host
0 to 10 min	Chidiya Ud	Start seated while late guests arrive. No losers: just laugh at mistakes.
10 to 20 min	Poshampa	Everyone knows the rhyme, and being "caught" is fun, not failure. Skip the tug of war.
20 to 30 min	Musical Hats	Make paper hats beforehand. A child who goes out becomes the hat collector.
30 to 45 min	Break or activity	Cake, candles and a snack. Sit them on a mat; do not try a game with food in hands.
45 to 55 min	Stick the Bindi	Use a big picture of a clown or an elephant. No blindfold for this age: eyes closed is enough.
55 to 65 min	Kokla Chhapaki	Walking pace. An adult joins the circle to keep it moving.
65 to 75 min	Fire in the Mountain	Call only small numbers, two and three. Finish with everyone in one big group hug for the photo.
75 to 85 min	Break or activity	Return gifts and a quiet rhyme or story while parents collect.

Timings are a guide. Stop any game while people still want more, and drop one if you are running late.

What to get ready

Paper hats, one fewer than the number of children
A large picture and round stickers
A soft cloth for Kokla Chhapaki
A small sticker or toffee for every child after each game, so that nobody "loses"
A mat or sheet for sitting

What works at this age

Everyone gets something. Small identical rewards for all are better than one big prize.
Adults in the game. Two or three parents playing alongside keep the games moving and calm the shy ones.
Have one more game than you need and be ready to drop any game that is not working after two minutes.
Quiet after loud. Follow a running game with a sitting one.

What to avoid

Balloons that burst near small children, long queues for a turn, any game with elimination that lasts more than a few minutes, and anything that needs reading. Keep small objects such as beads, coins and burst balloon pieces away from under-fives.

The games in this plan

On the day

Keep the party timer and the scoreboard open on your phone, and prepare chits with the chit maker. First time as host? Read how to host party games. See all party plans.