What are some good table games for kids?

3 Year Old Birthday Party games is this enough to keep them entertained?

• My son is turning 3 in two weeks. He's having a Disney Cars theme for his party as well as having invited about 12 other children his age or a year older to come to the party. It's only going to be 2 hours long from 2-4 because I don't want the hassles of lunch with little ones who can be uber picky. I want to make sure that everyone has a good time and wanted to know if this sounds like a reasonable plan for a 3 year old party done at home : The adult family and any parents of kids who are invited that wish to stay will be outside on our back patio area with cold drinks and simple finger food type snacks. It's warm where we are so the weather has always been good this time of year for doing things outside. My husband's birthday cake (his birthday is the day before my son's party) will also be outside for the adults to cut into and share when we do the cake and ice cream part of the party. Most of the adults in the past that have been at my son's parties usually just enjoy sitting and visiting anyway without any added entertainment. I will probably set up the laptop somewhere outside with a slide show of my son since family members like to see that every year and people that want to watch it can and people that don't just don't have to look and can visit instead. I was also thinking of putting a couple of cars stickers on the bottom of a few plates that the adults will be using and give out some door prizes for the adults at the party (most likely copies of the cars soundtrack on CD or some kind of auto accessory like car air fresheners or no spill mugs for the car) The kids (ages 3-4) will be in our playroom area that will be transformed into Radiator Springs complete with desert look (brown tarp draped over the toy shelves, train table and my piano that are in there) and fake cactus (from green poster board) and the big size cars characters on the wall using a scene setter from a party store. I'm planning on doing some games for the kids that fit the theme of the party - tractor tipping with Tow Mater (bowling with 2 liters that will have labels replaced with tractor cut outs), tire toss with Luigi and Guido ( inflatible swim rings tossed at a target), pass the oil can (with Sarge and the hippie van character) which will be like hot potato but instead of someone being out they get a small treat if they have the oil can, silly string for after the cake and ice cream to go outside with in the back yard to celebrate the "piston cup". I also have a cars theme coloring mat with the crayons and things like that for the kids to do as a floor activity when they first arrive. I'm also doing Piston Cup shaped name tags for the kids that they will get as they become part of the "pit crew" as they arrive. (I'm only doing name tags because my son invited two sets of identical twins to his party and it will be easier on me to look at a name tag than to keep going "who are you" through the party or using the wrong name on the wrong twin. With everyone wearing them and being part of the "crew" it doesn't single anyone out and it makes them all part of the theme and party right away). We also have a cone shaped play tent that is orange that I will have out for kids to play in and that I'll hang a sign over that says "COZY CONE MOTEL" near a wall size picture of Sally from the cars movie. I also have a rug that has roads on it with a bucket of matchbox cars that I'll have out for the kids to play with while we wait for everyone to arrive. Cake and icecream cups will also be part of the party day as well. I just want my son's day to be super special and fun for him and his friends as well as fun for the adults. He has both girls and boys coming to the party and for the girls I found the girl characters from Cars to put in their party bags and to have up as well as the main boy characters from the movie so they can have fun too. All the games are no winners or losers and everyone will get a treat after each just for playing as I want this to be for fun and not about competition of winning and losing for a birthday party setting. My question being: Should this be enough so that everyone has a good time at the party with things themed around what they like to do for the guests of all ages?? I always start worrying going into the week or so before the party that I've forgotten something or that someone is going to not have a good time (which I know I can't control) or that more should have been organized for the kids to do to fill up the time- especially since this is going to be preschoolers who need lots of different things to occupy them for a party since I don't see some of the activities lasting very long..

• Answer:

  Wow, you put a lot of thought into this. As long as you keep in mind 3 year olds don't always do what they are expected, you should be okay. Your games and creativity are really nice and the parents will appreciate the effort; however, kids like simple things and some of it may be a bit overdone and they may loose interest. Sometimes something as simple as a temp. tattoo made with the Cars theme will be easier and the kids will be happier with it. Or maybe a Pinata with the Cars theme. Overall, I think they will have a great time if you keep leading them into the right direction they will play all the games. Personally, I like the idea of having a slideshow. I also like the idea for the name tags. Names can get confusing easily! I don't think you need a doorprize for the adults. They will have enough fun just coming to see the kids play. And the food is perfect. The kids can play and eat easily instead of being expected to sit down for a meal. I would recommend cupcakes instead of a sheet cake for them. Have fun!