Children's Birthday Hat Games

Pin the Hat

• The traditional Pin the Tail on the Donkey game can be transformed into a modern hat version. Place a huge poster of the birthday child on a wall at the children's eye level. Print several pictures of a party hat and place tape on the back of each. Provide each child with a paper hat and have them form a line in front of the poster. Let the first child take a turn to be blindfolded, spun around three times and then make an attempt to properly place the hat on the birthday child, with each child to follow in like manner. Declare the child who places the hat closest to the top of the birthday child's head the winner.

Pass the Hat

• Engage the children in a group hat game that will allow the birthday child to be the shining star. Tell the children to form a large circle. Place a hat on the birthday child's head. The birthday child must pass the hat to the head of the next child without using his hands. The hat must continue to be passed around the circle by the other children without being touched. If the hat is dropped by a player, he is out of the game. Have the children continue to play until one child is left wearing the hat, and declare him as the winner.

Suit the Hat

• A pretend play hat game will let the children imagine they are someone else. Put an assortment of hats in a large bag. The hats should represent diverse occupations such as firefighters and police officers. Let each child, one by one, take a turn to randomly pick a hat out of the bag. He must act out to suit the occupation of the hat wearer. For instance, if a child draws a baseball helmet, he must pretend he is swinging the bat or catching a ball. Children can use accents and even a made-up name to enhance their acting. Continue playing until each child gets a turn.

Drop in the Hat

• Children will enjoy a hat game that doesn't result in winners or losers. Print several images of the birthday child or a favorite cartoon character. Attach clothespins to each picture. Place a large hat on the floor and a small stool beside it. Provide each child with five pictures with attached clothespins. Line the group up standing in front of the hat. Let one child stand on the stool and attempt to drop her pictures into the hat one by one, with the other children then taking turns. Assist each child as she stands on the stool. Regardless of whether the pictures drop in the hat or not, reward the child with a prize.