Games Activities.. for Birthday Party?

What's the theme? I did a fairy party one year, and the boys made holders for bows and arrows-while the girls made wands, and the kids decorated cookies. I bought bulk fairy wings online real cheap, so everyone dressed up and just played. We didn't need to play any games, they were occupied with the crafts and make-believe play.

I highly suggest home parties of this sort. Pick a theme and do some google searches, you should be able to find some great ideas.

I avoid games because someone is the winner and usually the girls fight because someone cheated (or they THINK someone cheated) and really it turns into a big mess.

Crafts are fun! They can decorate a pillow case, a tee shirt, a hat, etc. It's easy to get fabric markers for that.

Making bracelets is fun. Are her friends into Loom Bands? Can you do a Loom Band party?

Also, tea parties and princess parties are fun at that age. They enjoy dancing to music or karaoke as well.

Sometimes the best is just free play. Maybe ask what she wants?

Home parties are great. It can be difficult this time of year because you need to keep everything in doors. Some thoughts..

Do a craft project. What ever the kids make is their "goodie bag".

How many kids? Do you have a big kitchen? They can make their own personal pizzas.

Play some old traditional games... pin the tail on the donkey, simon says, etc.

Is she the girly type? You could enlist the help of a friend and give the girls manicures.

You could do a sleepover with just a few girls. Have the party start later in the evening. Order pizza for dinner. Let them watch a movie. A small group will be able to keep themselves entertained.

we usually do parties at home. We have done a tea party and they all dressed up in either skirts or dresses (whatever they had). I made sandwiches and pink lemonade, fruit cabobs and marshmallows on a stick. Just lunch took about an hour for everyone to eat (they are all slow eaters and liked to talk, lol!) Then we put music on and they all danced. Then we did cake and presents and by the time all that was done, party was over. It was good because it was simple but cute and quick and didn't cost that much. I also made tissue paper pom poms and hung them from the ceiling and bought some paper flowers to stick on the wall. It was all really cute. My daughter is also 8.
Another year we did a movie night. Not a sleep over. We had her friends come over around 6pm and we had pizza and watched a movie. I made popcorn and then we had cake. Kids were picked up at 8pm. Again, easy clean up, cheap, and kids had fun :)

I preferred home parties. I had a backyard pool so the boys would swim, my hubby BBQ hotdogs, the boys slept over and ate pizza and looked at movies, I gave them grab bags when I dropped them back home the next day.

I have found that if I do not plan activities that the kids tend to get restless and horseplay is usually their answer. I would not do a movie for this reason unless there was an activity first and tge movie was later at night.
I have seen local company that will come to you house and throw an improv party. They have a few props-but usually just start a story and let tge kids build on it. I think my 8 year old and her friends would love that. I'm sure you could either lead the kids yourself, or print out a few things for them to get started with. Props could be silly hats, obscure items.

Our sons counselor recently had us play a string game. Each player has a 6 in string and holds one end. They can hand the other end to someone that is not next to them and not holding the string in their other hand. You end up tangled and have to figure out how to untangle without dropping the string. It was so fun we have played it on thanksgiving and when we had another family over for a visit. There are more teamwork games here-http://www.youthwork-practice.com/games/cooperation-games...

Good luck!

A movie.

Dress up.

Paint their finger nails for them.

Get beads & make bracelets.

Have a bunch of beads or jelly beans in a jar & have them guess the
amount. The prize can be a pair of cute fuzzy socks.