A spy party for kids sounds fun. Right? Well it is. (You secretly wished I would say no.) And it is a lot more fun planning and executing and watching the little ones scampering all over the place.
It will be just a couple more years when they will find our setups, cliche and would want to go for outings on birthdays, with their friends. So, savour these days mummas. And get set to plan a fantabulous party for your mini version.
So, I happened to watch a movie where they played a mystery game on someone’s birthday, and it all went haywire. So I started pinteresting about kid’s mystery parties. It turned out to be two main categories –
- Escape Room – Been there. Done that. And was fun.
- Spy Game – Something new to try.
Give a story to the whole event.
Like ‘The case of the missing bags‘ or ‘The mission to save the cake‘ or ‘The race to save the birthday‘. I, personally, like the first one where the kids will search for their goodie bags.
The whole birthday event is divided in 5 parts.
1. Invite
2. Arrival
3. Adventure
4. Dinner
5. The grand finale
Step 1
So, the invite must be all spy themed. One option can be to write the message in mirror image. This trick is easily available on MS Word software. So, to read the invite, kids have to hold the paper to a mirror.
A moustache can be sent along with the invite, made of black felt paper. Girls can be given black sunglasses.
Alternatively, one can add a cipher wheel in the invite, so that kids have to decode the date and time of the party.
Step 2
When they arrive, they get a fake passport each, plus an ID card. This is similar to what I made for Junior Scientist party. Keep funny and interesting first names and last names in two different jars. Now they have to choose their spy name from these jars and enter that name in the passport. Also, put their secret thumbprint. (A big no-no if the kids are young and are likely to put their hands in mouth)
The passport contains a list of tasks which they have to complete. These will be stamped by the host as they complete it.
Step 3
The adventure begins.
In the first task kids are told to study the room (which may include detailed spy themed posters, materials, crime scene details etc) so that they may notice the changes which may occur later. Also, they are given drinks and some snacks as we wait for all guests to arrive. (Give cute spy names to the snacks – Fingerprint Fries, Catch the Cutlets, Jumbled Juice)
The second task is to write a hidden message for a friend.
Each pair of team had to decipher what the other person has written using invisible ink. Science and investigation go hand in hand.
Third task was a puzzle made from a large poster which each team had to assemble in a time frame. First one to complete wins.
Back to task one. Work in teams and find out the 5 changes made.
(you may want to switch team mates after every task. This gives them a chance to gel with everybody.)
Fourth Task – a treasure hunt for secret stash of guns. This task may ransack your home but the kids just love it. Give them simple clues to run around and look for the guns. Just a simple scavenger hunt. This is not the end point.
Fifth Task – now that they have the guns (slime ones or nerf shooters) they have to target practice on a huge target made on cardboard. Or just simply hang plastic cups from the ceiling with points marked on them. Whichever cup they shoot, points add up.
Sixth Task – Laser Maze. Use crepe paper to let them pass through to the dinner table. Make sure the tape is low enough for them not to slide through below.
Step 4
Now that they have reached the dinner table they are quite hungry. Let them gorge on Pirate Pizza and Spy Spaghetti before cutting the cake. This way you can prevent a bunch of hungry agents smashing the party.
Step 5
The grand finale for the party favors. Time to solve ‘The case of the missing (goodie) bags”. They are sent to a room full of black balloons (bombs). They have to detonate the bombs, some of which contain secret clues to a suitcase full of party favors. The clues may include cipher codes, math or alphabet puzzles. You may want to look at my escape room plan for more puzzle ideas. Now the final code will open the 4 digit lock and surprise surprise..
They get their party loot full of spy gear like magnifying glass, some puzzles, spy glasses, invisible ink pen and some chocolates.
Now is the time to say bye; but what a party. You may want to crash in the bed but the kids will be up all night with sweet and exciting memories.
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