- While the traditional version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey is more appropriate for older children, this classic party games is easy to adapt to an exciting first birthday party game. Children normally begin walking toward the end of their first year. Parents can hang up a picture of something associated with the party's theme--like a pig if it is a farm party or a clown if it is a circus-themed party. Parents can then put double-sided tape on the object that is going to be "pinned" on (for instance, the pig's tail or the clown's nose) and let children take turns trying to affix it to the right location. The blindfold traditionally used in this party game should be left out to make it more age-appropriate.
- One-year-olds are just beginning to discover their talent for throwing. Use this to your advantage by making a round of bean bag toss the ideal first birthday party game. All parents need to gather for this party game is several large buckets and a few small bean bags. To play, children simply take turns trying to toss their bean bags into the buckets. To make the game more interesting for the children, parents should use brightly-colored buckets and bean bags or items associated with the party's theme.
- This simple first birthday party game is sure to please a crowd of 1-year-olds with its winning combination of water, brightly colored rubber duckies, and instant prizes. To play the Duck Pond game parents should fill a small kiddie pool with water and label the rubber ducks with numbers using a permanent marker. For each numbered duck there should be a corresponding basket with a prize in it for the child that grabs that duck. Children simply take turns grabbing ducks and exchanging them for the prize with the same number. Good prizes for 1-year-olds include bubbles, stickers, and soft balls.
- Getting the kids ready for their post-party naps is easy with games made up of crawling or walking races. To motivate the children to race, parents should place fun prizes like small stuffed animals, blocks, or books at the finish line. All the one-year-olds should be lined up a short distance from the finish line (probably no more than 15 feet) and instructed to crawl or walk to their prize. While some of the children will probably stray off course, or even stick around starting line, these races make entertaining, laughter-filled games for a first birthday party.
