30 Games for Birthday Party for Kids
Planning a birthday party for kids? Inject some extra fun and excitement with our ultimate list of 30 games guaranteed to keep young guests entertained from start to finish!
Whether you’re hosting indoors or outdoors, these games cater to various ages and interests, ensuring everyone has a blast. From classic favorites like musical chairs and pin the tail on the donkey to creative twists on scavenger hunts and relay races, there’s something here to make every birthday celebration unforgettable.
Let’s dive into the world of joyful, laughter-filled moments that will make your child’s special day truly memorable!
Musical Chairs
Set up chairs in a circle, one less than the number of children. Play music and have kids walk around the chairs. When the music stops, they must find a chair to sit in. The child left standing is out, and one chair is removed each round.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey
Blindfold each child, spin them around gently, and have them try to pin a tail on a poster of a donkey. The closest to the correct spot wins.
Balloon Pop Relay
Divide children into teams. Each team has a balloon they must carry to a designated spot and sit on it to pop it. The first team to pop their balloon wins.
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Treasure Hunt
Create a treasure map with clues leading to hidden treats or small toys. Kids follow the clues to find the treasure.
Sack Race
Provide burlap or potato sacks. Kids hop to a finish line inside the sacks. The first to cross the line wins.
Limbo
Use a stick or rope held by two adults. Kids take turns bending backward to pass under it without touching it or falling. Lower the bar each round.
Freeze Dance
Play music and have kids dance. Pause the music sporadically. When the music stops, kids freeze in place. Anyone caught moving is out.
Bean Bag Toss
Set up targets with point values and have kids toss bean bags to score points. The highest score wins.
Obstacle Course
Create a course with tunnels, cones, and other obstacles. Kids race through it, and the fastest time wins.
Water Balloon Piñata
Hang water balloons from a tree or structure. Blindfolded kids take turns hitting them with a bat or stick until they burst, getting wet in the process. These games are sure to add loads of fun and laughter to any kids’ birthday party!
Bubble Wrap Stomp
Lay out a large sheet of bubble wrap and have kids stomp on it to pop the bubbles. The one who pops the most bubbles in a set time wins.
Pass the Parcel
Wrap a small gift in several layers of wrapping paper. Play music while kids pass the parcel around a circle. When the music stops, the child holding it removes one layer. Repeat until the final layer reveals the prize.
Hot Potato
Kids sit in a circle and pass a small object (like a beanbag or plush toy) around while music plays. The child holding the “hot potato” when the music stops is out.
Duck Duck Goose
Kids sit in a circle, and one child walks around tapping others on the head, saying “duck” each time. When they tap someone and say “goose,” that child chases them around the circle. If caught, they become the new tapper.
Cotton Ball Challenge
Blindfold kids and give them a spoon. They must scoop cotton balls from one bowl and transfer them to another across the room, guided only by verbal directions from teammates.
Simon Says
Designate one child as “Simon” who gives commands prefaced with “Simon says.” Players must only obey commands that start with “Simon says”; if they follow a command without “Simon says,” they are out.
Lollipop Tree
Insert lollipops with colored ends into a large foam board or tree-shaped display. Kids pull a lollipop to reveal a color, matching it to a prize of that color.
Wacky Relay Race
Create fun challenges like crab-walking, hopping on one foot, or spinning around a bat before running to tag the next teammate in this relay race.
Paper Plane Contest
Provide materials for kids to fold and decorate paper airplanes. Have them compete for distance or accuracy in flying their creations.
Bubble Gum Blowing Contest
Give each child a piece of bubble gum and see who can blow the biggest bubble within a time limit.
Tug of War
Divide kids into two teams and have them pull on opposite ends of a rope. The team that pulls the other across a designated line wins.
Pictionary Relay
Split kids into teams. One member from each team runs to the board, picks a card, and draws the word while teammates guess. Rotate until all team members have drawn.
Bean Bag Toss Relay
Set up a series of targets with different point values. Kids take turns tossing bean bags at the targets, aiming to score the most points for their team.
Hula Hoop Contest
See who can keep a hula hoop spinning around their waist the longest. Add challenges like walking or dancing while hula hooping.
Bingo
Create bingo cards with pictures or words related to the party theme. Call out items randomly, and kids mark their cards. The first to get a full line shouts “Bingo!” and wins a prize.
Dress-Up Relay
Place a box of dress-up clothes at one end of the room and an empty box at the other. Kids race to the dress-up box, put on one item, and race back to tag the next teammate.
Cupcake Decorating
Provide unfrosted cupcakes and bowls of frosting, sprinkles, and other decorations. Kids decorate their cupcakes creatively, and prizes can be given for the best design.
Photo Scavenger Hunt
Give kids a list of items or situations they need to photograph during the party. Provide disposable cameras or use smartphones. The first team to complete the list wins.
Animal Charades
Write down names of animals on slips of paper and place them in a bowl. Kids take turns drawing a slip and acting out the animal without making noises. Their team guesses within a time limit.
Water Sponge Toss
Pair kids up and give each pair a wet sponge. One child tosses the sponge to their partner, who catches and squeezes it into a bucket. The pair with the most water in their bucket after a set time wins.
