Mom & Me or Dad & Me Toddler Birthday Games

Mom & Me or Dad & Me toddler birthday games provide opportunities to toddlers and adults play together. That way, each toddler gets individual attention and reassurance from someone special in his life, at the same time getting a taste of group play and excitement at the party. Here are some short, first-rate toddler birthday games for parent and child.

Super-simple Toddler Crowns

Use pre-made scalloped cardboard borders to make instant toddler crowns. The children will scribble and decorate and, just when their attention span is coming to an end, an instant crown appears on their heads.

Material needed

Butcher paper

Pack of precut cardboard scalloped borders

Invisible tape

Crayons and nontoxic markers

Color dot stickers

Instruction

Cover your entire kitchen table with the butcher paper and secure with tape to hold it down. Place a length of scalloped border on the table for each child, and use invisible tape to secure it to the butcher paper. Note that since the entire table will be scribbled on, the butcher paper becomes a lovely creative by product from this craft.

The children decorate their crowns using crayons, markers, and stickers, help is needed from you. When the decorating is done or the child's good humor begins to disappear, the parents peel off the tape to remove the border from the table, cut the scalloped border to crown length, and tape the two ends together.

Note: The first time around, the toddlers probably won't understand what they are decorating. When they see one of the parents crown that can actually be worn, the level of excitement will rise. For this reason, it's a good idea to have enough material for each child to make two crowns: one for Mom or Dad and one for herself!

Treasure Boxes

This is one of fun toddler birthday games with a take home prize for each child.

Material Needed

Construction paper

Color dot stickers

Nontoxic glue sticks

Crayons and nontoxic markers

Scissors and tape (for adult use only)

Instruction

Have the children scribble on or decorate their construction paper; when they are finished, the adults tape the pieces to the inside and outside of the shoe box lid. Cut additional drawings to decorate the sides of the box. When the decorating is over, this becomes a terrific take-home party prize.

Hidden Starts

The moon and start are magical, faraway wonders to a child. With a tiny bit of nudging from Mom or Dad, each child can find the hidden stars and pack them away inside their very own party favor bags. This is one of creative toddler birthday games.

Material Needed

Pencil and scissors (for adults only)

Colorful gift bag with handles for each child

Optional: glitter glue, sticker, markers.

Instruction

Before the party, cut out one large, 6-to-8 inch cardboard stars. Use it as pattern to trace more stars onto the poster board. Cut out enough stars so that there are four to eight for each child. Set aside one star per child. Write each child's name on the outside of the bag. Hide most of the other stars all over the lawn (or throughout the house). With at least part of each star in plain sight. Keep a bag of extra stars that can be quickly hidden while the hunt is wrapping up, so that if some children have had less success in their searches, you can nudge them and their parents toward these remaining stars.

Give each child his star-collecting bag. Each child's parent acts as the guide through the "finding" process. Since this game is not a competition-every child should find roughly the same number of stars--be prepared to give parents a few "hints" about where to look next or when their child is getting hot or cold.

Party play Dough

The tactile quality of this play will keep the children absorbed and content for a while. With parents in the wings to help mop up the mess, it's an easy favorite for birthday parties.

Material Needed

Container of play dough

Tiny rolling pin

Toddler-safe play dough tools

colored gift bag(with handles) for each child.

Old tablecloth or large sheets of butcher paper and tape.

Instruction

Prior to the party, put one can of play dough and set of play dough tools in each gift bag, making sure the contents of each match exactly. Write each child's name on the outside of their bag. Completely cover your table with butcher paper and secure with tape. Give each child a gift bag and a space at the table, and set them on the road to spontaneous play.

Note: This game is best suitable to children who no longer put things in their mouths.

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