Party GamesFamily get-together plan for all ages
- For
- 10 to 30 people, from five to eighty-five
- Length
- About 90 minutes, easily split before and after a meal
- Games
- 6
When three generations are in one room, the best games are those where age gives no advantage: a child can beat an uncle and a grandmother can beat everyone. Choose seated games and gentle ones, mix the generations in every team, and keep the tone affectionate. The games below need very little equipment and can be played in a living room.
The running order
| Time | Game | Notes for the host |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 10 min | Chidiya Ud | Everyone seated. Let a grandparent be the first leader. |
| 10 to 25 min | Seated Balloon Volleyball | Two rows of chairs, generations mixed. The loudest game of the day. |
| 25 to 40 min | Taste and Tell | Prepare the bowls beforehand. Play in family teams of three. |
| 40 to 60 min | Hum That Tune | Old songs for the young to hum and new ones for the elders. |
| 60 to 75 min | Coin in the Tumbler | Calm and seated; everyone gets five coins. |
| 75 to 90 min | Raja Mantri Chor Sipahi | Several small circles at once. Elders usually know it better than the children. |
Timings are a guide. Stop any game while people still want more, and drop one if you are running late.
What to get ready
- Balloons and a string for the net
- Ten small bowls of foods, spoons, a blindfold
- Song slips marked by era
- A bucket, a steel glass and coins
- Chits and a score sheet
Making it work for everyone
- Mix the teams by age, so that every team has a child, a parent and an elder.
- Chairs with arms for the elders, and nothing on the floor to trip over.
- Short games. Fifteen minutes each; stop while people still want more.
- A master of ceremonies. Choose the family member with the loudest voice and the kindest humour.
- Keep a record. A "family champions" sheet that comes out at every gathering turns one afternoon into a tradition.
Between games
Leave gaps for tea and talk. A family gathering is not a programme to be got through; the games are there to start the laughter, and then get out of the way.
The games in this plan
- Chidiya Ud 5 to 10 min
- Seated Balloon Volleyball 15 min
- Taste and Tell 15 min
- Hum That Tune 20 min
- Coin in the Tumbler 10 min
- Raja Mantri Chor Sipahi 15 to 20 min
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.