Games For 3 Year Olds
Fun Games For Kids

Photo courtesy of: Tony Crider

Below you will find some easy party games for 3 year olds:

BALL TOSS - Get 3 different sized baskets that a plastic baseball sized ball will easily fit into. Staple or tie them to a board and hang board at age-appropriate height. Kids then take turns trying to throw 3-6 balls into the baskets. Give various points for the different sized baskets.

BOWLING - 3 year olds love to play with balls and enjoy seeing their designated targets fall down. Either use a plastic bowling ball and pins or set-up empty plastic bottles and use a plastic ball.

BUBBLES

Toddlers loves bubbles and no party would be complete wihout some bubble games for 3 year olds. Listed below are a couple of ideas:

BUBBLE BLOWING - Have the adults blow the bubbles while the toddlers chase after them, trying to catch or pop them. Also, be sure to give the toddlers opportunities to blow the bubbles too.

BUBBLE ENCASEMENT - Assuming weather permits, fill a wading pool with a bubble solution. Place a hula-hoop in the pool and have the toddlers take turns getting into the center of the pool, while an adult slowly lifts the hoop up to encase the toddler in a great big bubble.

MISCELLANEOUS GAMES

DIGGING FOR BURIED TREASURE - Bury small toys in a large sandbox or fill a wading pool with sand and give each child a plastic shovel and bucket and let them dig out the treasures which they get to keep.

FREEZE - Music plays and everyone moves, jumps, runs, dances, etc. When music stops, everyone freezes in whatever position they are in. If you catch someone moving, that child is out. Play continues until there is only 1 child who remains.

HOT POTATO - Have everyone sit in a circle, play music, and have them pass the potato to the child on their right. When the music stops, whoever is holding the potato sits in the middle of the circle. Play continues until 1 child remains outside of the center, who is then the winner.

MUSICAL CHAIRS - Set chairs in 2 rows, back to back using 1 less chair than the number of players. Turn music on and have everyone walk around the chairs. When music stops, everyone sits down. The child left standing is out of the game. Repeat until only 1 child remains and they are the winner.

NURSERY RHYMES

Toddlers love to sing nursery rhymes and perform actions to coincide with the rhyme. A couple of games for 3 year olds to fit this bill are noted below:

LONDON BRIDGE - Have 2 guests clasp hands and raise their arms to create an arch. The other guests all go under the arch while singing:

London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady.

When they say, "my fair lady," the arch comes down and captures someone. With hands still clasped, they use their arms to "toss" their captured one back and forth while singing:

Take a key and lock her up, lock her up, lock her up. Take a key and lock her up, my fair lady.

The captured child then replaces one of the children who are part of the tower. The play continues until everyone has been a tower, captured, and/or gets tired of playing.

HAND-EYE COORDINATION

A couple of games for 3 year olds that require hand-eye coordination are listed below:

PASS THE PARCEL - Wrap up several presents in numerous layers of gift wrap. Play starts with children sitting in a circle, turn the music on, and have kids pass the first present while the music plays. When the music stops, whoever is holding the present must try to unwrap it. Once the music stops, the unwrapping must stop. Play resumes until the present is unwrapped in its entirety and whoever accomplishes this keeps the present. Play may continue until everyone receives a present, or if your little ones are ready for new activities, just give them each a present.

PASS THE SLIPPER - Take an old high heel and create a royal slipper. Spray paint it silver or gold. Add glitter, sequins, jewels, etc. Have toddlers sit in a circle, play music, and have them pass the slipper to the child on their right. When the music stops, whoever is holding the slipper is out. Play continues until 1 child remains who is the winner.

Alternative: Play game as above except whoever is left holding the slipper when the music stops receives a prize and the play continues until everyone receives a prize.

PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY - Hang a picture of a donkey on the wall. Make enough tails out of construction paper as there are players. Blindfold each child (if they are comfortable in so doing), spin them around, and have them try to pin the tail on the donkey. Use double stick tape. The child who gets the tail closest to the tail on the poster wins.

SEA LIFE MURAL - Games for 3 year olds can certainly include a little artistic flair. Tape butcher paper on a wall at the toddlers' eye level and have them create a mural of sea life activity with markers, paints, glitter pens, etc. To provide visual ideas, have posters and pictures of various fish, sharks, dolphins, sea otters, and other sea animals for ideas.

Alternative: Select a different theme like a farm mural. Be sure to post pictures of farm animals, barns, fences, etc. for ideas.

SIMON SAYS... - Among the favorite games for 3 year olds is the old standby--Simon Says... The game starts with the birthday child starts the play as Simon and everyone must do what Simon tells them to do when asked with a phrase beginning with "Simon says." If "Simon says skip", the players must skip; if they don't they are out. If Simon just says "skip" without saying "Simon says", the players should not skip; those who do are out. It is Simon's goal to get everyone out as fast as possible. It is the players' goal to stay in as long as possible.

WIN A FISH - Place a piece of plywood on top of a card table. Fill it with small glass fish bowls that you can get at the dollar store. Fill each bowl with water and color it red, blue, green, or yellow with food coloring. Add 1 goldfish to each bowl. Give kids ping-pong balls and let them toss them into the bowls to win a goldfish.


Here's a fantabulous assortment of printable birthday party games that you might want to consider adding to your child's party. Below the printable games are an assortment of fun age-appropriate games for 3 year olds.

Games for 3 year olds are a perfect way to create a great party. Just remember to have enough adults or teens to help. Plan your time accordingly and implement a good mix of fun games for kids, and the result will be a well-rounded and memorable birthday party!

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