Carrie Sever - The Everything Big Book of Party Games: Over 300 Creative and Fun Games for All Ages!

Avon, Massachusetts

1. Everyone needs a break from the daily grind, and games are the perfect escape!
2. Games teach you to control your emotions, both when you are winning and losing.
3. They can help increase self-confidence.
4. Games help burn off some excess energy.
5. A game is a great way to get creative.
6. Everyone involved in playing will get better acquainted and connected.
7. Games encourage active participation.
8. For children, games reinforce the importance of following rules.
9. They help you brush up on your solving skills and methodical thinking.
10. A little competition never hurt anyone!

WHO DOESNT ENJOY PLAYING games? Whether its a full-blown party or a casual gathering, games can become the main source of entertainment in no time flat. While many people tend to associate games with kids birthday parties, there are so many other events and gatherings where games can be utilized to keep the attendees having fun. This book contains more than 300 fun-filled games for just about every situation, age, and purpose.

That being said, how do you choose the right game for the right situation? Aside from the classics like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Charades, and board games, most people find themselves at a loss for new game ideas. Game selection should never be an intimidating or discouraging task. It should be fun! Being overwhelmed early in your planning can put a dent in your enthusiasm. That is why in this book you will find a large assortment of games categorized so that there is no difficulty or confusion involved.

When choosing a game, there are several things to think about. First consider the situation. Is this a childs party, and if so, how old are the children? Not all games can be comprehended or enjoyed by children of varied ages. Maybe its an office party, and you need icebreaker games or group games based on size. Perhaps it is just a night at home with the family, and you want to keep everyone entertained. No matter the situation, this book has you covered.

The next thing to think about would be where and when the occasion will take place. Will it be outside or inside, at work or at home, at night or during the day, summer or winter? These elements are incredibly important to take into consideration. You wouldnt want to plan a game that could possibly get messy if the party is taking place in your living room, right?

When planning a gathering, there are a series of things you should do in order to pull it off without a hitch, but stressing about the party isnt one of them. The goal shouldnt be to break the bank to try to make it the most amazing party ever. The goals should be for you to not worry, to spend only what youve budgeted for the party, and to help your guests enjoy themselves. And hey, if people are talking about it for the next week, then that is a great bonus.

Before you start your exciting journey through this big book of games, just remember games are meant to be fun. They are never supposed to be overwhelming or too complicated. If they were, they wouldnt be games at all. So sit back, plan your games, and help create the moments that everyone will remember forever!

Incorporating games into any social situation not only helps ease the tension of meeting people for the first time and prevents the formation of cliques, it also allows everyone to get to know one another and have a blast at the same time. Likewise, with family time, sometimes kids arent very happy to have to stop their lives and play a boring game. But adults and children both learn through play. The following games are far from boring and will bring any group together in laughter and learning.

With the hustle and bustle of todays society, getting together as a family can be hard. But playing a simple game can help to reconnect everyone after a long day or week. The games dont always require a ton of preparation or supplies. In actuality, the simpler the family game, the better. The following games are fun, entertaining, and above all, simple.

3 or more players

• Sack of flour
• Butter knife or plastic knife
• Medium bowl
• Plate (with a circumference bigger than that of the bowl)
• Piece of candy

This game uses household items and takes some patience, but it is very fun. To start, pack the flour inside the bowl as tight as you can. Place the plate on top of the bowl, and turn it over. This will create a flour mound. Gently place the piece of candy on top of the flour mound. Each player then takes turns using the knife to slice off sections of flour without caving in the mound and losing the candy inside of it. The one who causes the mound to cave in must pick the candy out with his or her teeth. This game is indeed simple, but it can become competitive, and you will find your group wanting to play for more than just one round!

3 or more players

• Small pieces of paper
• Pencils
• Bowl or container

This game gets everyone involved, even the smaller children who watch cartoons. Have everyone write down two to three popular movie or show titles on the pieces of paper (a parent can write down some ideas for the young ones). Fold them up and place the papers into a bowl or container. After mixing them up, have everyone take turns pulling a title and then acting it out. The first to successfully guess the correct movie or show title gets to go next. If no one can guess the title then the player has to go again. You can break into teams if youd like and, when acting out, can even use a timer set at two minutes. The team that the actor is on has to guess within the time limit to earn a point. The team with the most points at the end wins.

4 or more players

• Personal items of each player

A game like this will help the family to learn a little about one another. Have players gather at least three to four items that mean something to them. Have the family get in a circle and place their items in front of them.

Starting with one item, the first player is to hold up the item and say something about it, perhaps a memory or its special meaning. He or she is to do this for each item, and once completed, place the items out of everyones sight. The next person is to do the same. Once everyone has had a turn, place the items out of sight in a pile together.