Author Archives: Robert Coats

Planning a Limo Party

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Very often when adults plan birthday parties for their children, and when children make wishes about where they want to go, they seldom think of how to get there. Why not make a limousine ride part, or all of the birthday party? Everybody enjoys riding in limousines, but speaking as a former limousine driver, I know from experience that nobody loves them more than kids. I’ve driven groups of kids from middle to low income families around who feel like they’re millionaires when they ride around. For most kids, this will be their first opportunity to ride in a limo. … Continue reading →

Robbers and Soldiers

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Number of players: 10+ (the more the better) Ages: 8+ Space: A wooded park is best, but a playground could also work. This game is a favorite for boys, who tend to naturally gravitate toward being robbers and soldiers than girls do. It’s a great game for kids who love to get dirty while they play. It originated in Denmark, being played there for many generations. The players are divided between robbers and soldiers. There should be one robber for every five soldiers. The soldiers have a General who directs them, and the robbers have a captain. To begin play, … Continue reading →

Red Lion

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Number of players: 5+ Ages: 5+ Space required: playground or large room This is a pretty involved playground or park game, but once everyone gets a few of the nuances down, it can keep the players busy for a while. It requires a lot of teamwork, and a lot of strategy. To begin mark out a small section of the playing field as a den for the person who is “it” or the Red Lion. The other players gather at another end of the playing field and designate one of their people as a captain who directs the actions of … Continue reading →

Twenty Questions

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I’m sure everyone knows how to play twenty questions, but it’s such a great game to play on a long car ride that I want to bring it everyone’s conscious level. I also have a great variation that can be used as a party game. One person, who is “IT” decides on some famous person or thing anywhere in the world. When she says “ready” the other players try to guess what this is by her answers to their questions, but they can only ask twenty. Any player can ask more than one question, unless there are too many players, … Continue reading →

Trial by Jury

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This is a great party game for a smart group of teenagers, or even at an adult party. Imagine playing the game of Clue, but without the board and the cool pieces. Prepare two letters in advance and seal them in envelopes. One of the envelopes is left completely blank and the other contains a brief, but graphic account of a crime. (usually a murder) Choose a resourceful party guest as the “district attorney” who will then take charge of the proceedings. He chooses two players from the group and gives each a letter. They leave the room to read … Continue reading →

Ma Say

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Kids, don’t try this at home. During the winter of seventh grade, dozens of classmates and I resurrected an old game called “Ma Say.” We’d scarf down our lunches as fast as we could, don our snow gear, and spend the rest of our lunch recess on the snow covered playground that became the playing field. The game itself was simple enough. All the players but one would gather at one end of the playing field, demarcated by a line that ran parallell to the back of the cafeteria. The other end of the field was at the other end … Continue reading →

Party Favors on a String

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Number of Players: number of players at the party Ages: Old enough to walk Materials: Party favors and a LOT of String This is a fun game for kids, or even adult parties where the host is giving out prizes or favors to the guests. Make sure there is at least one favor or prize per guest. You’ll need to get favors that you can easily tie a piece of string to. Tie each favor to the end of a very long string, the longer the string is, the more fun it is to play. Each player gets a free … Continue reading →

Tip, Tap, Toe

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Back in the Middle Ages, lords would divide their lands among lower nobles and peasants. This game is rumored to have originated as a way that the lords would divide their lands. Draw a circle on a large piece of paper, the greater the number of players, the larger the circle. Draw straight lines through the center of the circle so it’s divided into a series of wedge shaped spaces. If you’re playing with a large number of players, it’s best to have more spaces available. Write numbers consecutively in each of the wedges, or use multiples of five for … Continue reading →

Touch Memory

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Number of players: 4+ Ages: 3+ Materials required: Small objects, such as small stuffed animals, bottles, glasses case, pencils, etc. This game can double as a kid’s party game, or a great game for bridal and baby showers. Players should be seated in a circle in a darkened room, or the players should wear blindfolds. Place six to twelve small articles on a tray or in a bin, and pass the tray from player to player. Each player carefully feels the objects in the tray, trying to determine what each object is. The more unusual the objects are, the more … Continue reading →

Lame Goose

This is a great variation on a traditional game of tag. If played with a group willing to make some noise, it can be a lot of fun, especially if the players can perfect their goose honks before play begins. Number of players: 4+ Ages: 4+ Space: Outside or gym. One of the players is chosen as the goose. An adult supervising the game can pick the first player chosen by determining who does the best goose calls. Mark off an area at the end of the playing field that belongs exclusively to the goose. To begin play, the other … Continue reading →