What would be more fun than to have a thematic birthday party centered around fun and well known children’s board games? Not only can you have “ready made” games at your fingertips, but the wide range of concepts and characters included will give you multiple ideas for craft projects, food choices and fun activities!

***Note: this party plan is a bit different from other party plans, as it does require more than one adult for supervision. Hire your favorite babysitters to lend a hand with your party or ask the guests parents if they would like to help with the fun. You will also need to add the maximum number of players for each game and make sure you don’t invite more guests than can play.

Some games that could be included in an all a-board game party are:

• Candy Land by Milton Bradley – A fun game, all-time favorite! Up to 4 players try to travel through Candy Land to save King Candy. Great for teaching colors!
• Chutes and Ladders by Milton Bradley – Roll the dice and hope you land on a ladder instead of a chute! Teaches kids counting up to 100!
• Lucky Ducks by Milton Bradley – Fill up your nest, either blue, green, yellow or red, with ducks that have a matching colored dot on the bottom.
• Connect Four – A game much like Tic-Tac-Toe. Two players place discs in the board and try to get 4 of their colored discs in a row. Great for teaching strategy!
• Memory by Milton Bradley and others – On a table full of cards, each player has to match the two cards that have the same picture on it. This game comes in many themes: Disney Princesses, Disney, Finding Nemo, Dora the Explorer, Bear in the Big Blue House, and more!
• Twister by Milton Bradley – “Put your right hand on the green circle!” Watch as all the guests have fun being twisted amongst their friends! Teaches left-right, colors and hands-feet.
• Clifford or Sesame Street Bingo by RoseArt – Great bingo games that don’t take forever to play. Easy for children and great for teaching the ABCs!
• Wild Woods Game by Discovery Toys – Everyone wins (or loses) together in this fun game to save the woodland animals. Roll the dice and try to get all the animals into the tree before it rains!
• And many, many more!

The last game to end will signal switching stations. Let every guest play all the games at your party, so plan which games/how many games you are going to provide according to how long your guests will be there.

Some fun foods you can serve, besides a “Candy Castle” shaped cake, are peanut brittle and gingerbread men. Give the guests some icing, sprinkles and a plain gingerbread man and have them decorate it for a fun craft and treat combination.

For a fun parting present for all the guests, why not give them one of the character bingo games? You can find them at discounts stores and normally cost about $3! This is less than you’d spend on a goodie bag full of worthless plastic!

Generalized party supplies can be used for an all a-board game party. Fun paper products depicting streamers or balloons are sure to be a hit. Invitations can match your paper goods. (Tip: when ordering online, leave plenty of time for shipping!)