Are you planning a get-together and want all your guests, not just an adventurous few to have a good time? Whether you’re planning a kid’s party, or fun evening for adults, there are a few basic steps to take in the planning process that can have a big impact on the health of a party.
First, consider the audience. Is it mothers and fathers getting a long deserved break from the kids? Is it newly married twenty-something’s, or mom and dad and the kids and their visiting cousins from points unknown? The mix at a party can be as random as a bottle of mixed nuts, and you’ll need a game that everyone can have fun with.
Many people limit their party play to board games. There are some great games that involve groups, but in general, board games can only be played by a limited group of people at a time, and often limit peoples’ ability to mingle. Particularly mentally taxing games can take away from the light spirit of a party.
The best plan for party fun for a group that doesn’t specialize in any one game is to have everybody at the party participating on an equal footing. Nothing kills the fun in a game worse than a hotshot who pulverizes the competition. Games like Pin the Tail on the Donkey have endured over so many years because everyone has to put on a blindfold and become disoriented by spinning around in circles before getting to the task at hand. Unless two randomly grouped people are especially adept at walking funny, a three-legged race puts most players on an equal footing, no pun intended.
Many party games depend on the location and season. The environment the game is played in can contribute a great deal to its success. Being indoors doesn’t mean your group can’t do something active. There are plenty of activities that don’t require a lot of space, or where the fun can come from NOT having a lot of space.