In a few weeks i have my first birthday party to perform at. The birthday child is going to be three years old. I'm hoping that you guys can throw me a few inexpensive ideas that i could use. I cant do a whole lot, i can juggle and tie a few simple balloons and im working on some magic tricks...but what is best for the younger crowd? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Just make sure you have everything very organized and be ready to go on to the next activity quickly, maybe a rubbermade tub with items for each activity separated inside. Three year olds attention span is so short. You'ld be surprised at the difference even compared to a four year old. Hopefully there will be mixed ages there so that helps. If you have the room you can play the tail grabbing game I've posted before and just use paper streamers for the tail. Tuck them in the back of kid's waist bands and everyone chases everyone else to try and pull out their tail. Only rule is you must give the tail back when you pull it out. Just a simple tag game with the tail twist added in. If you have a hoola hoop you can put a piece of colored tape in one spot on the hoop. Have all the kids sit around the hoop and hold on. The hoop gets circle around the group with everyone holding on and passing it through their fingers while you sing. When the song is over who ever has the tape mark in their hand gets a treat such as a sticker or what ever. Or that person stands up and gets to dance or what ever you want to make of that. The hoop helps keep them confined to your area and the anticipation is the fun part. You can do the same thing with a long piece of elastic knotted together. The elastic gives the added advantage that it will stretch to accommodate more children and it is fun to twang. Dog and bone is a great game to play with little ones. Here's a link of popular children's games I posted before but it is still good. Kids Games (http://www.gameskidsplay.net/)
Sara K.

Definitely think simple games, ones that you know well would be best. Were you a girl scout? Games that you played in gym class in elementary school? I like to play simple little music games and stuff that is fun for most kids 10 and under... to be quite honest, my main goal on top of being fun and silly is to wear the kids out so much that once I'm done, they go home and sleep ;) We jump, we dance, send them running around to pick up all the balls as they keep falling off the parachute...

Have a dance contest with music.

Get a broom stick and play the limbo game. Instead of having the kids bend backwards as they walk under the stick, let them do what ever fits them the best.

these are sounding great, thanks guys..and gals!

Have a dance contest with music.

Get a broom stick and play the limbo game. Instead of having the kids bend backwards as they walk under the stick, let them do what ever fits them the best.
Use a blown up 260 balloon for a limbo stick.
Sara K.

I'm happy for you ashton! I'm sure you'll do a fantastic job! Keep up the good work and take in what these guys have said. 3 year olds usually really like that magic coloring book pretty well. I've found younger kids really like that one a lot because they can relate to it. :)
Good luck!
:)

If you are going to purchase a few magic tricks, make sure you order an "Appearing Flower." You can have the kids sprinkle some invisible magic seeds in the flower pot, as well as invisible dirt, water, etc. and then magically produce the flower. It's simple, cheap, and pretty cool for a three-year-old (I even think it's cool!).

Amazon.com: Appearing Flower Magic Trick: Sports & Outdoors (http://www.amazon.com/Loftus-Appearing-Flower-Magic-Trick/dp/B0006GKATO)

Have the kids take off their shoes and lie in a circle. Toss a couple of balloons into the circle and have them keep the balloons up in the air using only their feet. NO LAUGHING OR GIGGLING ALLOWED!!!

If you are going to do some dancing, "The Chicken Dance" and "Tony Chestnut" are always fun.

You can have the kids sprinkle some invisible magic seeds in the flower pot, as well as invisible dirt, water, etc. and then magically produce the flower.

I feel that I, as a former FFA Chapter President, must correct you.. dirt is what you sweep up off the floor.. You plant things in SOIL. :D

By the way Knute...thanks a million for the cool stuff you sent me!!! And what is the story that goes with that coloring book? surely there is a story?

um I just talk about how much i like to color and ask them if they do too and then I have them grab the color out of their shirts throw it up in the air and i catch it with the book. i then flip thru and show the color. then i fan the book back and tell them to catch their color as it comes by so their mom's dont get mad for taking some of the color out of their shirt. i flip thru and its blank, i always pick on a mom wearing a black shirt (there's almost always one) and say ma'am i'm sorry but i think you took too much black away. then flip thru and its back to normal. I'm sure there are other stories that could go with it. and some people use other magic props to work together with them.

oh and your welcome! :)

I feel that I, as a former FFA Chapter President, must correct you.. dirt is what you sweep up off the floor.. You plant things in SOIL. :D

This can work for pretty much any trick! And its fun to do!

I use magical dust..... what do they call it again?? Woofle dust..no, no, no...its just some dust that was swept into the corner over there!

I never pass up a chance to slip in a cheap joke!

Bump a nose! I hope your first gig goes well Ashton!

Knute, so do you wear the blue corduroy FFA jacket? Awesome -- that really makes a fashion statement.

Christopher, I use magic pickle dust. I poked holes in a pickle squeaking toy and filled it with face-painting glitter. One squeeze and magic pickle dust floats into the air. It's a beautiful site.

Knute, so do you wear the blue corduroy FFA jacket? Awesome -- that really makes a fashion statement.

Christopher, I use magic pickle dust. I poked holes in a pickle squeaking toy and filled it with face-painting glitter. One squeeze and magic pickle dust floats into the air. It's a beautiful site.

FORMER FFA President. :) i'm an old fart now.. i haven't worn the blue corduroy for a couple years now.. oh how time flies :(

WE always start our parties by letting the children know just how silly we are. We announce that it someones special day and get the kids to tell us who. Then we get the child up and tell them that since they are so special they should be on the red carpet. We then get them to stand on a small square of red carpet ( obtained from a sample of carpet from store) We then ask why it is their special day and when they announce it is their birthday we get all excited and shout Yippee! Bath day and get our shower caps, back scrubbers, large sponges and soap on a rope. We scurry about pretending to have a bath and then after a few moments stop and become confused as to why they are having aparty to celebrate having a bath. Is this only their 3rd,4th,5th etc ever bath. All the kids usually shout NO It's their Birthday. Thats when we get it and use the dove pan to produce the foam birthday cake with the birthday child being the chef. We dress birthday child up as chef and get them to put a flower not flour in the pan and other items and produce the cake.

It's a good idea to have a little prize/party favour to give each helper as it helps to have them go back and sit down with something.

Tickles, that is so funny! I kinda want you to clown at my next birthday party.

Have a dance contest with music.

Get a broom stick and play the limbo game. Instead of having the kids bend backwards as they walk under the stick, let them do what ever fits them the best.

Another way to make a cheap limbo stick is to spray paint a long piece of PVC pipe and put the multi-colored circle stickers (like you would use to price things at a yard sale) on the pipe. I had one that I left white & put primary colored stickers on, and I also had one that I painted black and put neon colored stickers on.

Then I will usually find an older child or teen who doesn't want to actually participate in limbo to help hold the other end of the stick. This way 1) I don't have to worry about making or hauling a stand for it and 2) it involves the older kids to help keep them busy and out of trouble.

The appearing wand also makes a good limbo stick..start your music..appear your wand and then wallah...a limbo stick..and a magic trick all in one and it takes very little room.

I would humbly suggest also add in a few clean jokes the adults supervising the kids will understand. Three years old the kids have very short attention spans and get less involved in parties and such as would a six or seven year old as example. The kids and adults will be entertained and likely re-hire yourself.