Ideas for 8 Year Old's Party for Kids to Entertain Themselves in Between Events

So the party runs from 1 - 4? Sorry kids, we have to do things a little backwards today...we will eat, then have cake, ice cream, & punch, then the tattoo artist will be here to tattoo what ever you want. Have fun!

Problem solved.

Just let them have free playtime. Kids can have fun when left to their own devices. You do not have to "entertain" them.

I never had more than a few organized activities, a game, a craft, a piñata. Kids also want time just to play and socialize, if every moment is structured it doesn't feel like a party it feels like school.
Keep it chill mama!

Free play or game. Could you set up a craft table?

You have a lot planned. Will the magician be on time or at the start? I hope these 2 entertainers are not both at 2:30. I would consider telling the painter to forget coming and save money. I would think the magician could make balloons and charge you extra for it.

I would be upset if I paid for an entertainer to be at a party for a specific time and they change it by 1.5 hours. Them showing up on time is part of the reason they get paid.

I set out coloring activities at my daughter's parties. One year they made book marks. I had stickers and markers set out that matched out theme and the kids colored and decorated while they waited for everyone to join us. Another year they decorated the paper sacks for the pinata.

We have a huge crawfish party every year. My kids are now 6 and 9. I still stock up on bubbles and the kids seem to love it. Some could spend hours blowing bubbles.

Throwing a few balls out will be fun too. They will probably make up some odd game of catch, but they will enjoy it and be busy.

Sidewalk chalk is another one we always put out. Our back yard does not have any concrete, but we let them color on the fence. After a few rains it is all gone anyway.

Why can't they just be kids and play? Don't you have some toys? If they'll be inside they can play with the toys in a family area and NOT in the bedroom where there isn't an adult supervising. If they're outside they can run amok and play tag or red rover or roll around in the grass...

Start the party at 2pm!

Let them play. They're kids. My kids always complained when the parties were packed with games and couldn't hang out and ply with their friends. Let them outside in the back yard to play or have them play with toys in the living room. Kids are capable of entertaining themselves. They don't have to have assigned activities through the whole party.

My son will be 8 next week and wants a home party for the first time ever. We just got a ping pong table in the basement and he wants to play that, xBox, Wii, and outside with his friends. If I can get my husband to be okay with about ten 8 year old at the house, then we'll do that and just let them play. No organized activities here.

I would set out some coloring books/pages, board games, crafts and stuff like that. Most kids will find things to entertain themselves at that age so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

You could also have the piñata game before the tattoo/balloon stuff.

I usually put away the video games and movies for a party (I also put stuff away that my daughter doesn't want anyone else using). I would rather the kids play and be involved with each other.

I'm actually working on planning a picnic networking event with some similar activities. We have a big net bag full of hula hoops, balls, frisbees, paddle balls, and these little plastic scoops that flick a wiffle ball in the air. That bag keeps a big group of multi aged kids amused for hours!

Whenever I have a kid party, I set out two containers of candy. (Hershey kisses, miniatures etc.). I then have the kids guess how many is in the container. They write their name and guess on a piece of paper and who ever gets the closest will win the candy near the end of the party. This gives kids something to do when they come in and breaks the ice as kids are arriving.

ther are already 'events.' there is no need to 'entertain' 8 year olds between them.
just let them play.
khairete
S.

Just an idea, but kids that age would probably love to do their own temporary tattoos and face paint. Could you set up a booth/table where your daughter and her friends get to put temp tattoos and/or face paint on each other? Most temp tattoos are really easy, my 6 year old has no trouble with them.

While the others are waiting, you can fill a big tub of plastic beads (like this: http://tinyurl.com/ogjudzu) and offer up strings of elastic so they can make their own party favor necklace or bracelet.

JMO, but my kids would rather be part of the entertainment anyway. :)

Otherwise I would change the time of the party or find a different balloon person.

Set up a craft station! Spin art, sand art, friendship bracelets.
Also, what about a make your own sundae ice cream station?

My kids liked home parties best, can they go outside? Do you have a back yard? I have set up badmitton, or volleyball, paddle ball, offered croquet but they ran around.
I usually have one simple art activity they can do themselves maybe make jewelry, ie pipe cleaners, and beads, or a giant poster they can color together, decorate the (plain) goody bags for the pinata candy. One scavenger hunt type game. Hide plastic bugs/cheap jewelry, for them to find, or colored pom poms and whoever finds the most wins a prize.
Put out several colors (and charms) of nail polish and have your mom or sister paint nails. or decorate your own cupcake?

Blow up a bunch of balloons and tell them to play keep the balloon off the ground. My kids love this game.

Put some numbers on paper and put them inside balloons. Have all the kids sit on a balloon and pop them. The first kid to pop the balloon takes out their number and it corresponds to a small prize (do this many times...stick the little prizes on a poster board with their numbers next to them.

Print out pages to color and different mazes of different levels and have a table set up for anyone who wants to color or do mazes.

Or do cake and presents first?