Pirate Games and Activities:

Treasure Hunt 1. Make up a simple map of your surroundings to lead the kids to the treasure. A prize for the pirate who finds the treasure chest.

Treasure Hunt 2. If you have a sandbox, hide gems, rings, coins, small trinkets, coloured shells. Give each child a sifter or scoop. Let them dig and fill their loot bags with treasures.

Walk the Plank Pirate Game: Divide guests into 2 teams. Blind fold each guest in turn and challenge them to walk the length of the “plank” without falling off. The object is for the team to score the most points. The more challenging the task, the more points awarded. The team with the most points gets the prize. Prizes could be candy, gold coins, or any small trinkets.

• To make the plank: nail down 4 pieces of wood to the bottom of the plank to elevate it a little, say 2 cms off the floor. On a clean concrete area mark off a blue sea area and a brown ship area - you can use coloured chalks for marking. Lay the plank between the two areas. You can also add some plastic fish to the sea.
• Awarding Points: 1 point – For reaching the end of the plank without falling, 2 points – For completing the task of hopping on one foot all the way from one end of the plank to the other. 3 points – For walking backwards all the way. 2 points – Deduction for one foot touching the ocean. Loose a turn – For falling off the plank completely. Add your own challenges or let the guests add their own challenges to make it fun, such as a challenge to do a cartwheel on the plank!

Swab The Deck Relay. Divide the guests into 2 teams and give the first person in each group a mop, a bucket and 5 ping pong balls. Each person has to use the broom to sweep the balls from one side of “the deck” and back, then tag the next person and that person has to do the same. The last person has to make it back with all the 5 balls and put them into the bucket. Whichever team accomplishes this task first, wins.

Pirate Face Painting. Get some quality face paints and draw mustaches, or pirate tattoos on guests’ arms. Some kids can be highly sensitive to dyes, chemicals so only use paints that are meant for faces. If you will be dividing the teams up for games later on, perhaps each team can have their special pirate tattoo drawn on their arm to let others know which team they belong to.

Sink the Pirate Ship. Make a pirate ship out of cardboard, crepe paper, etc., and set up in front of the house as party decor. At the end of the party, have the guests sink the ship. Give the kids water balloons and let them try to sink the ship by tossing balloons at it. Fun, and great for a hot, summer day.