Outdoor Inflatable Games

• If the budget and weather allow, rent inflatable outdoor toys for the children to play on. Use the climbing type inflatables to create an obstacle course where two children at a time race each other to the other side. This type of game allows each child to get her energy out before heading indoors for other game activities.
  
  

Beanbag Toss

• Beanbag toss is a long-standing but always popular game that you can adjust for the ability of any child who is playing. For an added holiday touch, design the beanbags to match the holiday theme. For instance, when planning an Easter party, use felt and glue to create Easter egg-shaped beanbags. Christmas party beanbags might be shaped as ornaments or small trees. A Halloween party theme would use pumpkin-shaped beanbags.
  
  Children can toss beanbags into holes in a board, each of which has an assigned point value, or in buckets. Line buckets up a few inches away from each other, one behind the next, so each bucket adds a challenge to the next toss. Give each child tickets or points based on how many buckets he throws the beanbag into.
  
  

Memory Game

• Place a tray of holiday-related items in front of the children. Give each child a set amount of time to memorize the items on the tray. Remove the tray. Have the child tell you or another adult which things he remembers. The child who remembers the most items wins the game. Let the children each pick items from the tray when the game is over to keep as party favors.
  
  

Pin-the-Tail Alternatives

• Children love to play Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Add a twist to this game by giving each child a different item to pin on a theme-drawn board. Play Pin the Beard on Santa, Pin the Star on the Christmas Tree or Pin the Nose on the Bunny. To make the game less competitive, play with a wider "target," such as pining the ornaments on the tree or pining eggs in the Easter basket.
  
  

Cookie Decorating Contest

• Children love to decorate cookies, and they love to eat them. By providing a cookie-decorating contest, you'll have both a fun game activity and a dessert. Before the party, cut the cookie dough with holiday-theme cookie cutters. Bake the cookies and have them ready to decorate before the planned event. Have the children sit around a table and decorate with icing, sprinkles and candy toppings. Let the children show their cookies to each other, and if possible, let the them vote on their favorites. Finish this game by letting the children eat their creations.