Planning your kid’s birthday party is an exciting adventure, with endless options from choosing a theme to setting up decorations. At the heart of every memorable party are the games that bring laughter and connection. But what’s the best birthday party games for kids? Don’t worry, we’re here to help!
We know organizing the right games can be a bit overwhelming, finding the right mix is essential. A variety of fun activities boosts your child’s confidence, strengthens friendships, and creates lasting memories. So, whether your party is indoors or outdoors, here are some popular birthday party games for kids to make your child’s celebration unforgettable!
Classic Games That Everyone Loves
Games that never get old and are good for group bonding no matter what your crowd may be. Quick to prepare, they are classic ideas that can make kids of any age have fun.
Musical Chairs
The ultimate standby for crowd-pleasers through generations, musical chairs is a fast-moving game in which children circle around the chairs while listening to music. The music ends, everyone scrambles to sit and there is always one less chair than the number of players so that whoever stood up last would be out.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey
A classic that is great for children of all ages! It is a game where kids are blindfolded, twirled around and have to pin up some tail on the donkey poster (the title says it all here) or you can customize it for your party theme (like a pirate hat being pinned on a treasure chest etc). A silly and simple game, wait for the hilarious moments of kids trying to pin that tail. The blindfold element just ensures things are unhinged in plenty of giggles.
Duck, Duck Goose
This is a great game for younger players, and most kids understand it quickly. Players sit in a circle on the floor, and one child walks around tapping everyone’s head while saying, ‘Duck.’ When they yell “goose,” the child that got tapped jumps up and runs after them before they take their seat. This game is good for large and small groups alike since it’s a light and active game.
Simon says
A game that tests kids’ ability to follow directions, Simon Says involves one leader giving commands. If the leader says “Simon says,” the kids must obey; if not, they stay still. This makes it a fun, active way to make sure kids are still on their toes and who might be getting bored of the usual sit-down from 9 to 3!
Outdoor Fun and Active Games
Outdoor setups can do much justice to bigger and more dramatic activities, so children get the wide space of fun they deserve and burn off some energy while having a blast.
Sack Race
A sack race is both a challenging and beloved outdoor game. Kids hop toward the finish line inside sacks, competing for the fastest time. As simple as it sounds, sack races always lead to plenty of laughter, especially when kids trip or fall while trying to make their way to the end. It’s a great way to encourage friendly competition while allowing the children to enjoy some exercise.
Relay Races
Relay races are a great way to get kids collaborating in teams, this promotes cooperation and is fun as well. Baton relays, egg-on-a-spoon or bean bag on the head — all are perfect examples of combining individual skill with team work in a great relay! It can be adapted to any linage and it plays well with groups both large or small.
Water Balloon Toss
A water balloon toss is a fun way to entertain the kiddies and an excellent means of cooling them off during warm summer days. Children are playing water balloon catch with the balloons paired up and taking another step back whenever they toss it successfully to one another. The more distance they put between them, the greater the chance of popping one and causing splashes and laughter. The last team with an unpopped balloon wins, and the splashes add extra fun.
Treasure Hunt
A treasure hunt turns your garden or park into an adventure zone. Hide small prizes around the outdoor area and provide the kids with a map or clues to help them find the hidden treasures. You can tailor the theme to match the party such as explorers on a scavenger hunt. It’s a great way to keep the kids active and engaged.
Creative and Artistic Games
For kids that love the opportunity to express themselves artistic and freely through creative and artsy games. These games aim to kick back and relax but actually get your kids hands-on and creative. And because they can also serve as a keepsake that kids take home from the party, too! Definitely a “Birthday Party Games for Kids” vibe!
DIY Craft Stations
Create a craft station using items related to the party theme, such as making friendship bracelets, decorating party hats, or painting rocks. The best part? These crafts double as party favours, making them both a game and a gift in one.
Pictionary
A creative drawing game that challenges kids to sketch out a word or phrase while their teammates guess what it is. Pictionary helps kids with teamwork and creativity and can be adapted to different age groups by adjusting the difficulty of the words.
Playdough Sculpting Contests
Give the kids play dough and a theme, such as animals or birthday cakes. Let them make shapes within the set amount of time; once they are done, everyone can vote for the most creative or funniest designs.
Face Painting
Transform the party into an artistic wonderland by setting up a face-painting station. Whether it’s favourite characters, superheroes, or princesses, kids will love having their faces painted to match the theme. For a professional touch, consider hiring a vendor like GTA Drawing + Painting, known for their creative designs and engaging artists.
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Board and Card Games
Sometimes, following active games, kids want to do something more laid back. Board and card games are great for that option!
Uno
We all love this card game since it is one of the old family favourites and there are no brains wanted for even small kids and grown-ups. One by one players draw to match cards produced with matching colors and numbers, so you get plenty of chances to shout Uno! They count when your opponent gets to their last card.
Candy Land
This colourful board game is perfect for younger kids as it follows players through a sweet adventure, and has easy-to-understand rules so no reading is necessary.
Jenga
A game perfect for small groups with a good blend of focus and fun! Children pull wooden blocks from a stack, one by one without knocking over the tower. The suspense of the next block pulled out, and then there is always laughter when trying to avoid causing the structure to collapse.
Interactive and Tech-Based Games
For modern parties, tech-based games add a unique, interactive twist that tech-savvy kids will love.
Just Dance
In this favorite video game, kids follow the on-screen choreography to popular songs making any room a dancing floor. And it is incredibly high energy and will get everything on their feet… yes be fair they may just all want to dance around for fun! The game suits a wide age range as songs can easily be picked to match any theme of the party.
Karaoke
Let kids sing their favourite songs with a karaoke machine or app. It’s a hilarious way to let them be creative and feel confident; kids of all ages will love it.
Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Using smartphones or tablets, kids can complete digital clues, scan QR codes, or find objects virtually around the party area. It’s a fun and tech-forward take on the regular scavenger hunt idea.
Mario Kart Tournament
Organize a Mario Kart competition on a game console. This racing game is fun for all ages and easy to set up in a living room or backyard space with a projector.
Food Related Games
Kids love games, but they also love food! Combining the two creates a winning formula that guarantees excitement, laughter, and some delicious treats. These food-themed games are a delicious way to keep the party going.
Donut on a String
Hang donuts from a string and challenge kids to eat them without using their hands. It’s messy, funny, and always a crowd favourite.
Cupcake Decorating
Set up a cupcake decorating station for the kids with frosting, sprinkles, and other edible decorations. Not only is it a fun, hands-on activity, but it also doubles as a tasty treat that kids can eat once they’re finished.
Candy Relay Race
Kids race to carry candy from one point to another using only spoons, making it perfect for outdoor or indoor birthday parties. It’s a simple, energetic game with a sweet reward at the end.
Marshmallow Toss
Pair the kids up and see how far they can throw marshmallows into their partner’s mouth. It’s a silly and fun way to get everyone laughing—and snacking.
From classic favourites to fun, tech-savvy activities, there’s something for every kid to enjoy. While we’ve included a variety of games that keeps the energy high, smiles bright, and creates lasting memories, what’s your favourite birthday party games for kids from the list? Or better yet, what do you remember from your childhood? We’d love to know!
