Good preparation is the key to any successful party. Be prepared for the unexpected. An outdoor party should always have alternative indoor arrangements in case it rains.

You should ensure that you have enough new games throughout the party so that you don’t have to repeat yourself with the same game. Remember, children love to be kept busy at a party. This means taking some time to arrange all the Party Game Cards prior to the party and being completely familiar with the rules to explain to players.

It also means ensuring a good mix of active and passive party games. This means taking the time to consider what types of party games your guests might enjoy. Quigley’s active party games are known as Chase Party games. Quigley’s more passive party games include the Word Party games and Picture Party games range. We recommend a minimum of 3No. active and 3No. passive party games.

It is always a good idea to organise the more active party games before the food whilst your guests still have the energy to join the chase.

Quigley’s party games require answers to be written on sheets so make sure you have enough pens and pencils for all your guests.

Quigley’s party games use Party Game Cards which are simply cards which provide clues, problems or pictures to solve.

For passive party games, the Party Game Cards are given to each player and passed around until each player has seen every card.

For active party games, the Party Game Cards are distributed about the house or garden by pinning them to walls, trees, etc or leaving them on tables, chairs and the like for players to easily find. The games master should tell the players roughly where the Party Game Cards are located and which areas are out of bounds.

When played outside the Party Game Cards should not be placed too far apart that players have to spend too long hunting and travelling between clues.

To spice up the fun some of the Party Game Cards can be located in none conventional places (e.g. down in the basement, up a ladder in the garage or beneath a table). If you have a large number of younger players at your party the Party Game Cards can be placed in more inaccessible positions to add to the enjoyment.

Theme parties are becoming increasingly popular with both children and adults.

Hat parties are great for adults as they don’t require much preparation. A safety helmet from a building site or a crocodile Dundee hat from that holiday in Australia can easily be put to good use. For children there are endless possibilities including Barbie, pirate treasure hunt, the Lord of the Rings, etc. Just take a look around at the latest children’s fashion fad for inspiration for planning you kid’s party theme.

Alternatively, your choice of venue could become part of the party theme e.g. a party by the side of a pool could take on a nemo theme.

Quigley’s party games are designed to cater for the family and hence vary from easy to more difficult. That will mean for less easy party games some ages will need more assistance and encouragement than others. At Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year and birthday parties where there is a large mix of ages, pair children with adults. Alternatively, give subtle hints and tips to those in need of a little help.

Always keep small youngsters involved. Say, “OK, I need helpers”, and your little assistants should come running for distributing pens and paper, collecting score cards and the like.

Competitiveness and interaction are key features of Quigley’s party games. Everybody likes to be a winner so try to make sure everybody goes home with a party prize. That means rewarding success in all shapes and forms with party prizes (1st, 2nd, last, quickest, slowest and liveliest, etc). It may mean bending or changing the rules to assist certain players.

For children, we suggest making a lucky dip from a decorated box filled with sweets or other inexpensive gifts and souvenirs. The lid to the box should have a hand hole cut out for the winner to pick his lucky party prize. For theme parties the prize could relate to the theme and there should of course be a prize for the best costume, theme or hat.

Quigley’s…yesteryears fun… today’s party