Backyard party games are a great way to upscale the fun at any party. They let the kids (and kids of all ages) spend their energy, minimize the mess in the house, and give opportunity for adults to have fun and participate if they want.

Bean Bag Toss Game

You can use toss banner with 3 open holes to hang up in your backyard or box with 3 holes. Each player stands some distance in front of the hanging game banner (or box) and with bean bags in hand. The task is to toss the bean bags through the open holes in the banner or box. Usually each player gets four or five chances. 5 points are awarded for the top hole, 4 points for the second hole, 1 point for the lowest hole. Player with most points wins and get a small price. This game is good for any party playing outdoor or indoor. You can make your own banner at home with some cardboard decorative paper and tape or decorate big box for that purpose. For bean bags you can use small fabric bags from dollar store (or small socks) and fill them up with about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of dry beans and tie the top with a ribbon.

Egg and Spoon Race

Each player must balance the egg on the spoon, while running or walking to the finish line. If the egg is dropped, the player must go back to the start line and re-start. If you want this game more challenging (or if you have older kids), you can ask players to hold the spoon with mouth. Plastic eggs or chocolate eggs can be used. The winner should get small price.

Balloon Stomp Game

Define the field of play. Tie two balloons string, rope, or ribbon to each child, one around each ankle. Leave about a foot of string between the ankle and the balloon. The object of this game is for the children to stomp and pop as many of their friends balloons as they can without getting theirs popped. Kids are not allowed to touch any balloons (including their own) with their hands. On the start of the game kids should start to run around trying to step on everybody's balloons while preventing theirs from being popped. The team or child with the last balloon intact wins! This is great outdoor party game and kids love it. It is good idea to have enough balloons to play a couple of rounds if you can.

Burlap Sack Game

This old-fashioned game is great for some jumping around fun for kids (or adults). It will burn a lot of energy and get lots of laughs along the way. You can decorate plain burlap sacks with felt cutouts or with other decorations to suit the party theme. Give each kid (or adult) a burlap sack and line them up in a grassy area in your backyard. At the starting signal, have contestants hop down a marked path (include a few curves to add a challenge) to the finish line. Provide some price for the winner. To get rid of the burlap smell, spray each bag with some fabric refresher and let it air out.

Popcorn Race Game

This relay race game is great for any party. For this game you will need to make two pairs of special shoe cups, preferably in different color for each team. Make two holes in the bottom of plastic cups; push a wide rubber band through the holes to create a strap. Decorate two medium size cardboard or plastic boxes with colorful tape, paper, or paint. Make or buy 2 to 4 big bags of popcorn (depends on number of players). Split the birthday party guests into two teams. Place the boxes for each team on the other end of the lawn. On the signal, the first player for each team straps cups on her/his shoes and fills them with a popped popcorn from a bag at the starting line. Then player hustles to a team box on the other end of the lawn. After player dumps out her or his popcorn in the box and races back, the next player follows suit. The race is over when one of the bags of popcorn is empty. Measure the popcorn in the baskets to see which team got the most in. This game can work for a party of any size, but most fun is with four to ten players.

Other Great Games:

• Scavenger Hunt - Before party hide small toys and objects for kids to find. Arm each child with a plastic pail or basket and let them start searching. Great game for outdoors and indoors.
• Ring Tossing Game - This cute game offers great fun and sports skills. Kids aim and throw rings from a distance on the target base. Each player can play for her/his scores or kids can play in teams. The best team or best shooter win. This game is good for playing outdoor or indoor.
• Marshmallow Skyscrapers Game - Set a table with bag of mini marshmallows and toothpicks for each kid. On the signal players start to construct tower. After 15 to 20 minutes stop the game. Winner is the kid who constructed the tallest marshmallow tower.
• Jumbo Tic-Tac-Toe - Just follow the rules of tic-tac-toe on supersized tic-tac-toe board. Make it a tossing game for added fun. You can use tarp or shower curtain liner and duck tape to mark squares. Use flying discs in two different colors to divide teams. If the disk lands off the board (or in an occupied square), the player can throw again.
• Water Balloon Games - From water balloon toss, water balloon race, water balloon squat relay, water balloon hot potato, to leaky water balloon relay, any game you choose with water balloons is fun and kids love it.

If you are on a budget and don't want to spend a fortune on games, you can make your own games or rent games for your birthday party at your local toy library. Check your local yellow pages for toy library in your area. Some toy libraries have membership cost and many have options to rent toys for non-members (usually for a small fee). Just call and find out.