30 Best Party Games for 8 Year Olds
Planning a party for 8-year-olds can be a delightful yet challenging task.
Keeping the energy high and the fun flowing requires creativity and a variety of engaging activities. To help you throw the ultimate party, we’ve compiled a list of the 30 best party games that are perfect for 8-year-olds. These games are designed to keep kids entertained, active, and laughing throughout the celebration. From classic favorites to innovative new ideas, this list has something for every young party-goer.
So, get ready to make your next party unforgettable with these fantastic game ideas!
Musical Chairs
Arrange chairs in a circle, one less than the number of players. Play music as the kids walk around the chairs. When the music stops, everyone must find a chair to sit in. The player left standing is out, and one chair is removed for the next round. Continue until only one player remains.
Treasure Hunt
Hide small treasures or treats around the party area. Give the kids a list of clues or a treasure map. Kids work individually or in teams to find all the hidden items. The first to find all the treasures wins a prize.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey
Hang a large picture of a donkey on the wall. Blindfold each child in turn and give them a paper tail with tape. Spin the child around a few times, then have them try to pin the tail on the donkey. The child who places the tail closest to the correct spot wins.
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Simon Says
One player is Simon and gives commands starting with “Simon says…” Players must follow the commands if they start with “Simon says…” If Simon gives a command without saying “Simon says,” players must not follow it. Those who do are out of the game. The last player remaining becomes the next Simon. Balloon Pop Inflate balloons and tie a string to each one. Tie a balloon to each player’s ankle. Players must try to pop each other’s balloons by stepping on them. The last player with an unpopped balloon wins.
Freeze Dance
Play lively music and have the kids dance around. When the music stops, everyone must freeze in place. Anyone who moves is out of the game. The last player dancing wins.
Hot Potato
Players sit in a circle and pass a small object (the “hot potato”) around. Play music as the potato is passed. When the music stops, the player holding the potato is out. Continue until only one player remains.
Duck, Duck, Goose
Players sit in a circle, and one player walks around tapping heads saying “duck.” When the tapper says “goose,” the tapped player must chase them around the circle. If the tapper gets back to the empty spot first, the chaser becomes the new tapper. If the chaser catches the tapper, the tapper must go again.
Relay Races
Divide the kids into teams and set up a racecourse. Include fun obstacles like crawling under tables, hopping on one foot, or balancing an object. Each team member completes the course and tags the next player. The first team to finish wins.
Charades
Write down simple actions or phrases on slips of paper. Players take turns drawing a slip and acting out the word or phrase without speaking. The other players must guess what is being acted out. The player who guesses correctly goes next.
Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of items for the kids to find around the house or yard. Items can be specific (a red leaf) or more general (something round). The first child or team to find all the items wins a prize.
Egg and Spoon Race
Give each child a spoon and a plastic egg. Set up a racecourse for the kids to navigate while balancing the egg on the spoon. If the egg falls, they must go back to the start. The first child to cross the finish line with their egg intact wins.
Three-Legged Race
Pair up the children and tie one of each pair’s legs together with a bandana or ribbon. They must work together to run from the starting line to the finish line. The first pair to cross the finish line wins.
Water Balloon Toss
Pair up the children and give each pair a water balloon. They start close together and toss the balloon back and forth. After each successful toss, they take a step back. The pair that tosses the balloon the farthest without breaking it wins.
Obstacle Course
Set up a course with various obstacles like crawling under tables, jumping over cushions, and weaving through cones. Time each child as they navigate the course. The child with the fastest time wins.
Limbo
Use a broomstick or similar object for the limbo bar. Play music and have the kids take turns leaning backward to pass under the bar without touching it. Lower the bar after each round. The last child to successfully pass under the bar at the lowest height wins.
Capture the Flag
Divide the kids into two teams and designate territories for each. Place a flag or marker in each territory. Teams must try to capture the opposing team’s flag and bring it back to their own territory without getting tagged. The first team to capture the other’s flag wins.
Sack Race
Provide each child with a sack or pillowcase to step into. Mark a starting line and a finish line. Kids must hop in their sacks from start to finish. The first child to cross the finish line wins.
Mummy Wrap
Pair up the children and give each pair a roll of toilet paper. One child in each pair wraps the other up like a mummy. The first pair to use up their roll of toilet paper wins. For extra fun, have a mummy parade afterward.
Fishing Game
Create fishing rods using sticks, string, and magnets. Cut out fish shapes from construction paper and attach paper clips to them. Scatter the fish around a play area. Kids use their fishing rods to “catch” the fish. The child who catches the most fish within a time limit wins.
Shoe Pile Scramble
Ask each child to take off their shoes and place them in a large pile. When the game starts, all participants scramble to find their own shoes and put them on as fast as possible. The first child to have both shoes on correctly wins the game.
Red Light, Green Light
One player is the traffic light and stands at one end of the play area. The other players start at the opposite end. When the traffic light says “green light,” players move towards them. When the traffic light says “red light,” players must freeze. Any player caught moving during “red light” is out. The first player to reach the traffic light wins.
Hula Hoop Contest
Give each child a hula hoop. Play music and have the kids start hula hooping. The last child still hooping wins.
Pass the Parcel
Wrap a small prize in multiple layers of wrapping paper. Players sit in a circle and pass the parcel while music plays. When the music stops, the player holding the parcel unwraps one layer. The game continues until the last layer is unwrapped, revealing the prize.
Marshmallow Tower
Provide each child with marshmallows and toothpicks. Set a time limit for them to build the tallest tower they can. The child with the tallest tower at the end of the time wins.
Blind Man’s Bluff
One player is blindfolded and tries to catch the other players. The caught player becomes the new blindfolded one. The game continues until everyone has had a turn or as long as the kids are enjoying it.
Pie Face Game
Use a pie face game set or make your own with a pie tin filled with whipped cream. Players take turns spinning a wheel and placing their face in the hole. They turn the handle the number of times indicated by the spinner. The player who gets “pie-faced” is out, and the game continues with the remaining players.
Hopscotch
Draw a hopscotch grid on the ground with chalk. Players take turns throwing a small object (like a stone) onto the grid. They must hop through the squares to retrieve the object without stepping on the lines. The first player to complete the course successfully wins.
Sardines
A twist on hide-and-seek where one player hides and the others seek. When a seeker finds the hider, they join them in hiding. The last player to find the hiding spot becomes the next hider.
Pictionary
Write down simple words or phrases on slips of paper. Players take turns drawing the word or phrase while the others guess what it is. The player who guesses correctly goes next.
