There are a number of games that need very little planning and organisation that can really be great fun for children to play!

Musical Chairs is easy but you do require the same number of chairs minus one as children attending the party, and room to put them in a line. In a very small room this may not be possible without a lot of messing about. However if you can organise this, then musical chairs is a simple game that kids will love playing! It requires music to be played, and this needs to be able to be stopped quickly, either with a pause button or by turning the volume off quickly. The chairs are arranged in a row but alternate facing the chairs so they point in opposite directions alternating up the row. There should be room to move round the chairs without knocking over other things. Play the music and get the children to walk round the chairs - you can get them dancing or hopping or skipping. Pick music they will love so they enjoy the music as much as the game. You might need to discuss what music options you want with the child in advance so they get to pick the things they like best. When the music stops the idea of the game is to sit down on a chair. There should always be one chair less than players so one is left standing. This person is then out. To soften the blow of being out it's best to offer a sweetie prize each time to the person who comes out. Remove a chair and start the music again. The process continues until there is one chair left and two children. The first child to sit down on the last round is the winner! They can then have a bigger prize!

Musical statues is a version that can be done in a smaller room if you don't have lots of chairs. The rules are that when the music stops the children have to stand really still. Those that move are out. You can decide whether to eliminate one child a round or more than one. The last child stood still is the winner.

Pass the parcel takes some forward planning and you make a parcel up. You can use newspaper or even cheap wrapping paper. Wrap a bigger prize in the middle and then in each layer put a sweet or small prize. Children sit in a circle and pass the parcel round - whoever is left holding the parcel when the music stops gets to take off a layer and gets the prize within! The last person opens the bigger prize. With careful stopping of music it's possible to ensure every child gets a small prize during these games.

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Children's parties are loads of fun to plan and hold! They will be some of the most special events in your child's life so it's important to get them right. You can have a great party even on a tiny budget so there's no excuse for not having lots of fun. At it's very simplest a party needs children and a cake! There are lots of fun free things you can do to make the party entertaining and lots of great games you can play that cost nothing to do.

You should move away from the obligatory party bag if you're on a budget. Children shouldn't be trained to expect tons of gifts when it's someone else's birthday party. There's nothing wrong with wrapping a piece of cake up and sending people away with that! There's a massive selection of party bags though if you want to give the party guests treats. They do add to the cost though - and when you have to give each guest the same things it can soon add up!

Small cheap party treats can be sweets, whistles, and small toys like packs of crayons.

Balloons don't have to be shiny sparkly helium balloons either! Normal balloons blown up and grouped together can give the party a really fun feel. Helium balloons are lovely but if you're on a budget stick to one just for the birthday girl or boy!

Having a joint birthday party with another child can be a good way of saving money - if both sets of parents are on similar budgets. It can make hiring a space much more sensible too, and there'll be more parents to help, and more parents to supervise. It also means that the party can be bigger! There's nothing wrong with a small party at home though if that's what you need to do budget wise!