Entertaining children at birthday parties can be challenging sometimes when you have to cater to different ages. It's good to have a mix of activities and games that are appropriate for boys and girls with creative things that everyone can have fun participating in. Obviously there may be some ideas here that are specific to girls and other ideas that perhaps will mainly be enjoyed by the boys. There is a big age range between 5 and 10 year old's so you may have to get creative to entertain this group of kids. These ideas will be pretty generic but you can change them to suit any birthday party theme you might be having.
1. Pass the Mystery Package
package of M & M's, Smarties or other treats
craft paper (20 sheets) or a sturdy wrapping paper will work
music to play
Have children sit in a large circle and begin by playing some cool music, as the music plays have the children pass the mystery package to the person next to them, as it makes its way around the circle stop the music and allow the child holding it to remove one layer of wrapping. Then begin to have them pass it around again. Repeat this randomly stopping the music and having one layer of the package removed until finally the last layer is removed and the mystery package is revealed. It's good to have a shareable item for this. Perhaps a bag of M & M's or Smarties that the kids can share.
2. Build a Tower
mini marshmallows (a few bags depending how many kids you have playing)
toothpicks
This activity works good in teams so you'll want to divide kids into groups of 2 or 3 depending how many kids you have. Give each team a bowl full of mini marshmallows and plenty of toothpicks and instruct them to build a tall tower. Set a time limit. Offer small prizes for the tallest tower, the prettiest tower and maybe the funniest one.
3. Spoon and Golf Ball Relay
teaspoons
golf balls
empty ice cream buckets
This game can be done inside or outside. Have children divided up into equal teams. Have teams line up. The first child takes the spoon balancing a golf ball on it and walks as quickly as they can while trying not to lose the golf ball and dropping it into a bucket at the finish line. Then runs back to his or her team and gives the spoon to the next child. This continues until each child has taken a turn and the team has successfully delivered all of the golf balls into the bucket and all members of the team are sitting down. Offer a prize to the winning team.
4. Sack Race
potato sacks
This game can be done inside if you have a large recreation room or other wise outside may be best. Have kids divided into teams, have half the team at one end of the yard or room and half at the other lined up behind each other. Give a potato sack to the first two children of the teams at the starting line and when you say Go' have them get in the sack and jump their way to their team mate on the other side. Once they get there they hand the sack to the next child and he jumps back to the other end. This continues until the entire team has finished. Kids love this game and it can sometimes get rowdy. Have prizes for the winning team.
5. Let's Play Pictionary
drawing paper and easel
or a chalkboard on an easel also works great
colored markers
or chalk and chalk eraser
Pictionary Game - can be bought at most Toy Stores. This is a fun drawing game that is great for girls and boys and great to get the parents involved too.