For the sleuth in your family, a mystery party fits the bill. Guests put their problem-solving skills to the test, figuring out mystery guests, determining what the hidden object is, and solving a murder mystery.

Decorations - Make big question marks or magnifying glasses out of construction paper and tape them to the walls. Hang yellow "caution" tape (can be purchased at hardware stores).

Food

• Mystery Food -- Make a menu of mystery food from which the guests order. Some things to include: Slippery snakes (spaghetti), rabbit food (carrots), and brown cow (chocolate milk). Leave the descriptions off the menu so that the kids have to guess what they will be served.
• Death by chocolate cake

Activities/Games

Who Am I? -- Paste the name of a known figure (actor, singer, book character, etc.) on the back of each guest. The guests then ask each other yes or no questions to figure out who they are.

What Is It? -- Put different objects in individual bags and have each guest reach in and determine by touch what the object is.

Memory Tray Game -- Put several objects on a tray. Have the guests study the tray and memorize the items. Then have the guests close or cover their eyes and have an adult remove one item. The guests then try to figure out which item is missing.

The Hunt -- Begin by reading a short letter from a mystery source that says one of the guests is a ghost, one of the guests is the murderer, and that they must figure out who has been killed, by whom, and how. The letter ends by sending the guests off to find clues. The clues are in envelopes addressed to each guest. The clues are riddles that direct them to the next clue. The last clue is a fingerprint. The guests then take each other's fingerprints to try and find a match. (Note: You can take the kids' fingerprints when they first arrive, making two prints of them and then hide one of them. Or make the birthday child the killer, and use his print in the game.

Party Favors

Each guest receives a goody bag with a flip notepad, a pen, a small magnifying glass, a mini flashlight, and a puzzle.

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