Boys play differently to girls. They tend to be both more competitive and full of energy. Most boys enjoy getting wet and dirty plus doing physical activities. If you are having a single gender party for your son, here are some great games and entertainment ideas.

Balloon water bombs

Half fill balloons with water. Divide the boys into two teams. Let them stand facing each other. Give one team balloons with water. They throw the balloon to their partner. The partner takes a step back and throws the balloon back to his partner. Who in turn takes a step back and so on. The couple that throws their balloon furthermost without it bursting is the winner.

Water balloon bowling

This is a great game in summer. Play cricket with a plastic bat using balloons filled with water as the balls. Each boy gets a chance to bowl and bat. Ensure there are plenty of balloon balls for the boys to enjoy the wet fun.

Paint Ball

Fill balloons with water soluble paint. Fill half with red and the other with blue paint. Ensure to instruct the guests to wear old clothes and bring a change of clean cloths with. Divide the boys into 2 teams - the red and blue team. To identify the teams give each an inexpensive T-shirt or bandana round their heads in their team color. Create a strip of no mans land - you don't want the boys to be too close when they throw. They must try hit members of the opposite team with the balloons. When a boy is hit he sits out. The winning team is the one with the most un-marked boys.

You can also play a drier version of this game with flour balls. Place baking flour in stockings and tie them off. As the flower balls hit someone they leave a white mark, this person then sits out. The members need to wear dark clothing and you won't have two colors to distinguish between the teams.

Obstacle Course

This is a wonderful way for boys to expend energy. Create an obstacle course in your garden. For younger boys have tables and chairs to climb under or over. A blowup pool for them to wade through. The older boys can climb trees and jungle gyms, run round the house, etc. Take a walk outside, plot the course using lots of imagination. The first one through the course is the winner.

Treasure Hunt

Divide the boys into two groups. Give them a list of articles to find. These articles can be outside - long leaf, round leaf, feather, stone, etc. Or inside - crayon, video, pillow, spoon, toy car, etc. Depending on their ages have between 20 and 30 items on the list. This will keep them very busy. Another version is to tell each group to find items for each letter of the alphabet - apple, ball, comic book, etc. They can become very inventive.

Happy Puppy

Give each boy three marshmallows to put in their mouths. With the marshmallows in their mouth ask them to say "happy puppy". Give another marshmallow to each child that could clearly say the words. They must put the next marshmallow in their mouth and repeat the words. Repeat this process. Each boy that can't say the words clearly is out. Continue till the last one standing can say the words. Gross for mom - great for the boys.

Swing Ball

Tie a ball onto a piece of string. Let the party boy stand in the middle with his friends in a circle around him. He swings the ball around keeping it just above the ground. All the boys jump over the string when it comes to them. If they touch the string, that boy is out or the next one to swing the ball around.

Races

Any type of races is generally enjoyed by most boys - sack race, two-legged race, egg and spoon race, team relay race, etc.

Traffic Light Game

Let all the boys stand in a row. The birthday boy stands about 10-15 paces away with his back to the boys. He says green and the other boys run towards him till he says red and turns around. Anyone he sees moving is out. He then turns around again and says green. On red he turns to spot a boy moving. The winner is the first one to get to the "traffic light".

Sharky Sharky

Party child starts as sharky. He walks around the garden while the other children follow him chanting "sharky, sharky what's the time." He then answers with 1 'O clock or 5 'O clock. This continues till he says "dinner time" and turns around to catch one of the boys. The boy he catches is then sharky. Change this game to match your theme by saying Spiderman or Captain for a pirate theme instead of sharky.

Here are more party games and entertainment ideas.

Remember the aim is for everyone to have fun - including you.