How to Entertain Kids at a Pirate Theme Birthday Party

If you have ever attended a child's birthday party, you know first hand how important it is to keep things moving. If your next party has a pirate theme, then you're in luck because it's one of the simplest themes to adapt activities. Even the most basic games seem new when you incorporate pirate lingo into them. Best of all, it's a theme that is appealing to boys and girls of all ages.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Black construction paper
• Glue
• Pirate theme clip art
• Ping pong balls
• Brooms
• Black balloons
• Pirate theme toys and candy
• Stuffed parrot or toy treasure chest
• Sugar cookies
• Icing and sprinkles

1. Set up a table with black construction paper, glue and pieces of pirate clip art like skulls, parrots, hour glasses and skeletons. Then as guests arrive, let them create their own individual pirate flag while they're waiting for the other party guests. As they finish, have them hang their flags on the wall for added decorations.
2. Divide kids into two person teams for a fun relay called "Swab the Deck." Have the teammates stand at the opposite end of the room from each other. One takes a broom and uses it to move five ping pong balls across the room to where their partner is waiting. Then they hand the broom to their partner who "sweeps" the balls back to their original starting position. It's best to have different color ping pong balls for each team to help tell them apart since several kids will be doing this at one time. First team to complete the task wins a prize.
3. Make a treasure map and have the kids follow it to find their first clue. That clue will lead them to another clue and so on. Eventually they will find their pirate booty in a treasure chest filled with pirate theme toys and candies.
4. Insert slips of paper inside black balloons and then inflate them with air. Some of the papers say "Ahoy Matey You're a Winner" and the rest say "Sorry you Scurvy Dog." Throw the balloons on the floor and tell the kids that they're cannonballs and that they have to pop them to find the message inside. Once they find one that says they're a winner, they get a prize.
5. Play a traditional game of Hot Potato by having the kids pass an item around in a circle while music plays. When the music stops whoever is holding the object is eliminated and play resumes. Instead of a potato have them pass a toy crab, treasure chest or a stuffed parrot.
6. Make sugar cookies in the shape of skulls or treasure maps. Put them on a table with different colors of icing and sprinkles and let the kids decorate their own cookies instead of serving birthday cake.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure and plan more activities than you plan to use. They usually don't last as long as you think they will.

Who Can Help:

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