by Rebecca Miller Ffrench posted in Life & Home

Do you remember a time when there were no bouncy castles, clowns, or dress-up characters at kids' birthday parties" It was just lots of good ol'-fashioned homespun fun. Sadly, party games are facing extinction.
Before these games completely fade away, it?s time to revive the classics?they promote camaraderie, physical activity, and intellectual stimulation, plus lots of laughs. You?ll be amazed at how little it takes to create some homemade interactive fun. Each game requires only inexpensive or household items. And you can amend them to fit any theme. Below is a refresher of the games we played as kids; they'll evoke a nostalgia that makes you feel five again. And the best part, your kids will carry on birthday traditions so these games aren?t lost in the computer age. 1. Pass the Parcel
What you Have: Gift wrap and music What to Buy: Small prize such as train whistle, bubbles, or book

Rules:
Before the party, parent wraps a small prize as many times as there will be guests. Children sit in a circle. Music plays. When it stops, child holding parcel unwraps a layer. Play continues until all layers are gone. Child to reveal the prize wins (make everyone a winner and include prizes for all in the box!).
2. Clothespin Drop
What you Have: Clothespins, chair, and jar What to Buy: Nothing
Rules:
A large-mouth jar is placed at the base of a stable chair. One by one, children stand or kneel on the chair (facing the back) and tr...