|
It’s a given that baby showers
are parties for the new baby receives gifts. Many times, the games
are tailored to an all-women’s audience. Below are some party
ideas to make everyone fit in with games that are fun and silly
as well as games that help guests empathize with the mom-to-be.
Let the games begin!
Just for fun
You can kick off the games with a bottle ring toss that’s
similar to horseshoes. First, gather bottle nipples and set them
up in container of water. (A baby tub would be good for this). Have
guests toss plastic rings to the nipples from a distance to see
if they get them around.
Another game is Baby Hot Potato which similar to the classic Hot
Potato; however, instead of using a potato, use a doll or child
toy. Set the timer and pass the toy around. The person holding it
when the timer goes off is “out”. This continues until
all but one guest is left.
While we’re playing classic games, another group favourite
is “Baby Song Musical Chairs”. Make sure you have one
chair less than participants (for example, if you have 10 people,
have 9 chairs). Have guests walk around the chairs while you play
baby music. Stop the music abruptly and have guests scramble for
a chair. The one standing is “out”. Continue until all
but one guest is left.
Continue the guest scrambling by playing the “Balloon Popping
Game”. Start by writing actions on small pieces of paper (such
as eat a jar of baby food, drink soda from a bottle, etc.). Insert
a paper inside each balloon. Now have your guests pop the balloons
by sitting on them. The first to complete the task on paper wins.
You can slow down the pace by playing pin the diaper on the baby.
Use a large poster board and a marker to draw a large picture of
a baby. On separate pieces of paper, draw and cut out a picture
of a diaper, bottle, pacifier, bonnet, or rattle using double sided
tape on the back. Blindfold guests and have them try to stick the
diaper on the baby’s bottom. The person closest to the intended
target (bottle/mouth, rattle/– hand) wins. A variation of
this is pin the diaper on the baby boy where the blindfolded person
is squirted with a water gun to prepare for the “surprises”
of changing a boy.
Creative Games and Activities
Tap into your guests’ creativity with crafts. You can have
them put together a scrapbook, decorate t-shirts and onesies using
puff paint, and carve a baby (or baby items) from a bar of soap.
Guests can also make a “Watermelon Baby” by dressing
up a melon using markers and other materials. You can hold a pageant
to pick the cutest baby.
For sentimental activities, you can also have guests bring one
item from home to add to the baby’s time capsule. Guests may
also help plant a tree that will grow along with the new baby.
As a special treat for mom, allow guests to make a belly cast and
have them decorate it.
A fun game for children guests is the “Teddy Bear Kiss”
where first, a bear is passed around for all to kiss. Then, the
children go up the mom-to-be and kiss her in the same place.
Two other great group games are charades and Pictionary. You can
use baby items or actions (changing baby, first visit to doctor,
etc.). Break off in teams and see which gathers the most points
from guessing correctly.
Take the party outdoors by playing “Don’t Drop the
Baby”. Start by filling up water balloons and have each guest
pick a partner. Give each couple three water balloons have them
take turns tossing the balloons back and forth without dropping
them. The prize goes to the couple who goes the longest without
dropping all their babies. Another game while we’re still
playing with water is called “My Water Broke”. This
is playing by having guests transfer a water balloon to another
guest without using their hands. This can get very creative! You
can also play “Pass the Bottle” using the same motif.
Another addition to the handless games are “Pass the Pacifier”
where guests pass the pacifier to other guests while holding a pen
or pencil in their mouths. By dropping the pacifier, guests are
eliminated until only one guest is left.
More Competition Games
Go diaper- stacking by having guests see who can stack the highest
without having them topple over.
Fill bottles with soda and have a “drinking contest”
where the winner is the first to finish.
Bob for pacifiers and make it more interesting by putting the pacifiers
in pudding or oatmeal.
Hide safety pins in a bowl of dry rice, blindfold guests, and have
them pick out as many pins as possible.
Go bottle bowling by setting up 10 baby bobbled triangularly in
the hallway. Use a tennis ball to knock the bottles over and keep
score like a bowling game.
Empathizing with Mom Physically
You can do this by have your guests be the mom– physically.
First, have your guests stuff their shirts with balloons (not blowing
them up too much so more can fit inside their shirts). After they
feel adequate silly in their new ill-fitting clothing, have a pregnant
belly race around the yard. The one who crosses the finish line
first without letting his or her balloons fall out is the winner.
Empathizing with Mom’s Job
Have a day in the life of mom by challenging guests to complete
chores like change the baby, fold laundry, watch dishes, etc. Have
other guests shout out distractions (“phone’s ringing”,
“dinner’s burning”) Time the guests to see who
completes their challenges the quickest.
Play the hilarious game “Feed the Baby”. Break off
in couples and have one guest feed the other “baby”
a jar of baby food with a small spoon. The group who finishes first,
wins! Bring a camera – this is definitely a Kodak moment.
Mimic mom’s daily rush for errands by having guests pack
their diaper bag the quickest with a specified list of baby items.
Time guests on who can finish diaper changing a doll the quickest
while blindfolded.
Send guests on a scavenger hunt around the house for a list of baby
items while timed.
Have fun with the father-to-be while letting others dress, feed,
and burp him as though he were the baby.
With these game ideas, now your baby shower can be fun for everyone
by allowing a co-ed group to have fun in a comfortable atmosphere.
|
