How to entertain a bunch of 6- and 7-year-old boys at park birthday party?

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone.

For the past three years, DH and I have spent way too much money on birthday parties for our oldest DS. I'm thinking of kicking it old school this year and getting a permit at the park around the corner from us (in D.C.), getting some munchies and a cake and calling it a day.

But I've noticed boys at this age aren't too crazy about playground equipment anymore. What do I do with these kids so they're not bored? Any great activities that would appeal to boys in this age group during an outdoor birthday party?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Squirt guns or water balloons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Squirt guns or water balloons.

Agree, maybe get some foam swords and give one to each of them. I've bought them at the dollar store.

[Anonymous]

Water balloons and squirt guns. The squirt guns can be the take home gift.

obstacle course (just use things you have around the house like boxes, play tunnels, etc. Just make sure you have a crawl, jump over, hop between/on and weave back and forth type obstacles.)

piñata (fill with legos and stickers if you have allergy type guests)

Print a few targets on your computer. Pick up a bunch of silly string from the dollar store. Give one to each kid, count down, and let them go at it. The first one to empty his entire can on the target wins.

Get some small balls and stack cups on a box or a picnic table bench. Have the kids take turns trying to knock down the stack. They LOVE throwing and knocking over stuff at that age.

Go to the lego store and get a variety of bricks, enough for all the kids to have equal numbers of the same bricks, plus one extra for you. Build something simple with your set. Set your build behind a folded piece of cardboard so it is hidden from the kids. Give each kid the same set of bricks. The kids must duplicate your build using their bricks. They can run back and forth as many times to look at your build, but they can't pick it up or take it back with them. They have to build by memory. This will take about 10 minutes and the kids will have a blast.

[Anonymous]

A variety of balls: beach, nerf, soccer, bouncy, scatch. Also, bubbles with really cool wands for giant bubbles.

[Anonymous]

The best outdoor party my son went to at that age had inner tubes. They were supposed to do relay races with them, but they battled each other with them instead. He still talks about that day.

[Anonymous]

If you are going old-school keep the games old school....

Red rover, scavenger hunt, egg races, water balloon toss, hide n seek, baby in the air, fox n the hound, etc...

We did jousting one year with pool noodles. Got two square crates and turn them upside down to stand on about 2ft apart. First person that falls off jousting is the loser. Repeat until there is a declared winner. It was a huge hit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Water balloons and squirt guns. The squirt guns can be the take home gift.

obstacle course (just use things you have around the house like boxes, play tunnels, etc. Just make sure you have a crawl, jump over, hop between/on and weave back and forth type obstacles.)

piñata (fill with legos and stickers if you have allergy type guests)

Print a few targets on your computer. Pick up a bunch of silly string from the dollar store. Give one to each kid, count down, and let them go at it. The first one to empty his entire can on the target wins.

Get some small balls and stack cups on a box or a picnic table bench. Have the kids take turns trying to knock down the stack. They LOVE throwing and knocking over stuff at that age.

Go to the lego store and get a variety of bricks, enough for all the kids to have equal numbers of the same bricks, plus one extra for you. Build something simple with your set. Set your build behind a folded piece of cardboard so it is hidden from the kids. Give each kid the same set of bricks. The kids must duplicate your build using their bricks. They can run back and forth as many times to look at your build, but they can't pick it up or take it back with them. They have to build by memory. This will take about 10 minutes and the kids will have a blast.

Silly string at a park?

[Anonymous]

Soccer ball and markers for a goal
Stomp rockets

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind if you do water balloons you may need to pick up all the water balloon parts.

Organize some water games and non-water games, allow some time for free play. If there's a basketball court, bring a few basketballs.

Most boys I know around that age still enjoy playground equipment, so you may be surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Water balloons and squirt guns. The squirt guns can be the take home gift.

obstacle course (just use things you have around the house like boxes, play tunnels, etc. Just make sure you have a crawl, jump over, hop between/on and weave back and forth type obstacles.)

piñata (fill with legos and stickers if you have allergy type guests)

Print a few targets on your computer. Pick up a bunch of silly string from the dollar store. Give one to each kid, count down, and let them go at it. The first one to empty his entire can on the target wins.

Get some small balls and stack cups on a box or a picnic table bench. Have the kids take turns trying to knock down the stack. They LOVE throwing and knocking over stuff at that age.

Go to the lego store and get a variety of bricks, enough for all the kids to have equal numbers of the same bricks, plus one extra for you. Build something simple with your set. Set your build behind a folded piece of cardboard so it is hidden from the kids. Give each kid the same set of bricks. The kids must duplicate your build using their bricks. They can run back and forth as many times to look at your build, but they can't pick it up or take it back with them. They have to build by memory. This will take about 10 minutes and the kids will have a blast.

Silly string at a park?

Yes.

Cleans up very easily. If they shoot it at a target then it will mostly end up in one place stuck to a single thing.

[Anonymous]

a good playset/playground area should do the trick

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to say that it sounds like it could be a blast! A few other things to do:

Frisbees
Depending on how many kids, an arts and crafts, such as decorating your own wooden sword.
Temporary tattoos station
Face painting station (it doesn't need to be fancy)
Tug of war
Flag tag (fun!) they play tag with each child having a belt with 2-3 ribbons. One person is chosen to be it. When a person gets all flags removed from the it person, that person becomes it too. The last player with a flag left, wins.

[Anonymous]

Water guns that then turn into your party favors!

[Anonymous]

Hire a stripper.