Children's Outside Party Games for 8-Year-Old Girls

Giggly eight-year-old girls. How are you going to keep these girls entertained with age-appropriate outdoor party games? Fortunately, it's simple. Whether you are looking for competitive games or games that build teamwork, there are a plethora of ideas out there. And, with the pure enjoyment of just being together, even if a game flops, the girls will probably be giggling from start to end regardless.

Hula Hoop

Girls can play with hula hoops in traditional ways, having contests of who can hula hoop the longest on their waists, arms, necks and legs. Not all girls can hula hoop, though, so play a group game that doesn't involve spinning a hula hoop. Instead, have girls stand in a circle holding hands. Slip one hoop on one girl's arm. The object of this game is for the girls to figure out how to get the hula hoop all the way around the circle while holding hands. No letting go. This game encourages teamwork.

Treasure Hunt

Give girls a clue, such as "Under the teetering board, you'll find your next clue." Girls then run to the seesaw to find their next clue, which will lead them to a different place. The last clue will take them to their treasure. Or, buy yarn in several colors and wind it all around your outside area, such as around trees, through the swing set and under a chair. Each color of yarn should take a different path, but the paths can cross. Divide girls in teams of two or three so there is one team for each color of yarn. Teams then roll up the yarn as they follow its path. At the end of the yarn, they'll find a treasure.

Mannequin Dress-Up

Gather dress-up clothes, such as shoes, dresses, gloves and hats. Split the girls into two teams. Separate the clothes into two piles, each with the same number of items, with approximately the same types of clothes. One girl for each team is assigned to be the mannequin. She stands near her team's pile of clothes. From a starting line, on "go," one girl from each team runs to the mannequin and puts one article of clothing on her. When finished, she runs back to tag another player who then runs to the mannequin to put on another item. Play continues until the first team finishes dressing its mannequin.

Ball Game

Girls stand in a circle holding hands with their arms stretched out. Then they let their hands go. They are now standing in a large circle. In a bucket, have several pre-written topics -- categories such as "Pizza Toppings," "Board Games," or "Cartoon Characters" -- for the ball game. One child picks a topic out of the bucket and reads it out loud. Next, the girls toss a ball to each other, going around in a circle. Each time a child catches a ball, she names an item that fits the topic or category. For example, if the topic is "Pizza Toppings," then each girl names a pizza topping when she catches the ball. If a child doesn't say one as she catches the ball or repeats one that has been said, she's out. For a harder version of the game, girls toss the ball to anyone in the circle, so that turns come at random times.