Birthday Party Game Ideas for kids

Balloon Burst

kids birthday games

Age group

5-9 years

Items required

Balloons , Chocolates

Description

Fill up lots of balloons with small chocolates in random balloons. Put all balloons on the floor and get the kids to start bursting the balloons. Balloons should be burst by sitting on them or stomping them. Its super fun to watch when the kids burst the balloons with their bums . The one who bursts balloons and collects most number of chocolates , WINS !

Dress up Relay Race

Divide the kids into 2 teams. Draw up a start line and another line further away. Hand out 2 sets of same clothing to the teams (For example : A pair of socks, ,T shirt, Belt and a Cap, have them a little oversized so i…

Age group

6-15 years

Items required

Over sized clothes

Description

Divide the kids into 2 teams. Draw up a start line and another line further away. Hand out 2 sets of same clothing to the teams (For example : A pair of socks, ,T shirt, Belt and a Cap, have them a little oversized so its easy to put in and take off) .On the start whistle, the first player wears all the clothing , runs to the turn around point , runs back to start, removes the clothes and hands over to the next player. All players in a team need to do this, the team to finish first WINS !

Three legged Race

Mark a start and finish line. Pair up the kids at the start line next to each other. Tie their adjoining legs with a rope so that it becomes like a three legs. Flag off at start point . the pair to reach the finish line…

Age group

4-12 yrs

Items required

Rope

Description

Mark a start and finish line. Pair up the kids at the start line next to each other. Tie their adjoining legs with a rope so that it becomes like a three legs. Flag off at start point . the pair to reach the finish line first , WINS !

Stomp the Balloon

Divide the participants into 2 teams. Allot one color each for a team. Tie one balloon each on one leg of the participant. The first team to stomp and burst the the opponent's balloons , WINS !

Age group

5-12 yrs

Items required

Any 2 colored balloons , thread to tie

Description

Divide the participants into 2 teams. Allot one color each for a team. Tie one balloon each on one leg of the participant. The first team to stomp and burst the the opponent's balloons , WINS !

Candy guess

You will need a jar of candy/gems. Count the candies and put them in a jar. Ask the kids to guess the number of candies. The one who guesses the closest to the actual number , WINS !

Age group

8-15 years

Items required

Jar of gems

Description

You will need a jar of candy/gems. Count the candies and put them in a jar. Ask the kids to guess the number of candies. The one who guesses the closest to the actual number , WINS !

Four Corners

Create four corners in your party hall. For example : Blue corner, Green corner, Red corner, Yellow corner.Tie one colored balloon each so thats its at a visible height to everyone. Gather the participants around in a c…

Age group

3-12 years

Items required

4 different color balloons, Music Player

Description

Create four corners in your party hall. For example : Blue corner, Green corner, Red corner, Yellow corner.Tie one colored balloon each so thats its at a visible height to everyone. Gather the participants around in a circle and play the music. Get the kids to walk/dance around in a circle. When the music stops the kids need to run to any one corners of the hall. All this while get a guest to face against the participants and call out a color . All the kids standing at that colour are eliminated. Continue this till the last child is left. The one who lasts WINS !

Queen of Sheeba

The birthday girl / Boy is the Queen or King. Make them sit at the centre of the room. Make a list of random items that are around the room or common things that any guests may carry . Call out an item For example : Que…

Age group

5-15 years

Items required

List of Items

Description

The birthday girl / Boy is the Queen or King. Make them sit at the centre of the room. Make a list of random items that are around the room or common things that any guests may carry . Call out an item For example : Queen of sheeba needs a yellow show lace. The first one to bring this item WINS. Similarly call out items from your list and give away goodies. ( Call out list : yellow shoe lace , red handkerchief , tattoo, 10 paise coin, flower and the list is endless )

Lemon & spoon race

Alternatively you can use marbles instead of lemons. Mark a start and finish line. Line up the kids at the start line. Give each child a spoon to hold in the mouth. The lemon/ marble needs to be balanced on the spoon .…

Age group

5-10 years

Items required

Spoons, Lemons/ Marbles

Description

Alternatively you can use marbles instead of lemons. Mark a start and finish line. Line up the kids at the start line. Give each child a spoon to hold in the mouth. The lemon/ marble needs to be balanced on the spoon . The one to reach the finish line first without dropping the lemon/ marble WINS !

Sponge Bob

This is an out door game ! Line up buckets filled with water at the start line. Keep empty buckets on the finish line. Each kid gets a sponge , they need to dip the sponge in the water, wet it , walk across and squeeze…

Age group

5-12 years

Items required

Sponge, Water, Buckets

Description

This is an out door game ! Line up buckets filled with water at the start line. Keep empty buckets on the finish line. Each kid gets a sponge , they need to dip the sponge in the water, wet it , walk across and squeeze the sponge in the empty bucket. The one to fills the most in a stipulated time WINS !

Paper Dance

This can be played as pairs or individuals as well. Pair up the kids and hand out 1 sheet of newspaper to them. They need to place it on the floor and dance , when the music change they need to fold the paper into half…

Age group

8-15 years

Items required

Newspaper, Music Player

Description

This can be played as pairs or individuals as well. Pair up the kids and hand out 1 sheet of newspaper to them. They need to place it on the floor and dance , when the music change they need to fold the paper into half and dance again.As the music changes the paper becomes smaller and kids start getting eliminated, the last one standing on the smallest bit of paper WINS !

Pin the Horn on the Unicorn

Just like the age old pin the tail on the donkey , this game can be played based on your theme party. Blindfold kids one by one and hand them each a horn cutting, the one to pin the horn closest on the unicorn. WINS !

Age group

5-15 years

Items required

Blindfold, Horn cuttings , Unicorn poster

Description

Just like the age old pin the tail on the donkey , this game can be played based on your theme party. Blindfold kids one by one and hand them each a horn , the one to pin the horn closest on the unicorn. WINS !

Freeze

Age group

4 years up wards

Items required

Music Player

Description

A simple fun game which keeps guests across ages entertained. Play some music and get teh kids to dance. Once the music stops everyone must stop moving and FREEZE. If any one moves , they are disqualified and teh game cintinues till the last one standing.

Musical Walk

Age group

4 years up wards

Items required

Music Player, Chart Paper

Description

Giving a little twist to Musical chairs. In musical walk, cut out squares of paper with numbers on them. Also simultaneously make number chits for yourself. Lay them on the ground in a circle. Get the kids to walk around the circle , once the music stops, each kid staops at a number. Now pull up a chit from your bag and read out the number. he kid standing at that number is out.To make it interesting ask the child to do something funny before getting out.

Banana on a string

Age group

7 years upwards

Items required

Bananas , String

Description

This game can be played outdoors. Tie bananas with as string onto a strong branch of a tree. Tie these bananas at the face level of the kids Get the kids to line up one under each banana. Each kid has to eat the banana without using hands.The first one to eat the banana WINS !

Set sail

Age group

4 - 8 years

Items required

Plastic Pools, Craft paper and straws

Description

This is an outdoor game . You will require plastic pools filled with water. Divide the kids into 2 teams , get each of the teams to make a paper boat. Teams need to set sail their boats to the other side of the pool by blowing thru the straws. The team to get it across the other side first , WINS!

Find your Herd

Age group

5 years upwards

Items required

Paper Chits

Description

Write down names of 4 animals on chits. Write one chit for each Child. Each child picks up a chit and makes the noise of the animal written to find it's herd. Noisy but super fun when the kids are scampering around to form their group. The first group to find it's entire herd, WINS!

Doughnut on a string

Age group

3 years and above

Items required

Doughnuts, rope, ribbons

Description

Tie a rope to something sturdy, such as thick tree branches. Use ribbons to attach each doughnut to the rope so that the donuts hang freely. Each player must try to eat their entire doughnut without it falling to the ground. No hands allowed ! The first person to finish the doughnut wins !

Bubble Wrap Race

Age group

3 yrs and above

Items required

Bubble wrap , some space to spread the wrap

Description

Roll out a large sheet of bubble wrap on the ground in an open space. Now instruct the children to cross over the bubble wrap without popping any of the bubbles. The kid who crosses over the bubble wrap without making any noise wins !

Balloon Touch

Age group

4 yrs and above

Items required

Balloons , music

Description

Write some challenges on chits and insert them into different balloons before inflating them. The kids will have to bop the balloon in the air for as long as the music plays. When the music stops the person who last touched the balloon has to pop it and perform the challenge that is written on the chit.

Obstacle Course

Age group

4 years and above

Items required

Household items , lot of space

Description

Pretend the ground is a river and have items like pillows , mats and chairs set up around it, to form a course that children can walk on to reach the end. All the while they need to ensure that they don’t step into the river. The kid that completes this obstacle, without stepping into the river wins !

Egg Toss

Age group

6 years and above

Items required

Boiled eggs

Description

Pair players up in two’s and give them an egg each. Ask them to toss an egg back and forth to each other. Each time the children both catch it , they must take a step backward and continue . The pair that can catch their eggs with the furthest distance between them wins !

Sleeping Lions

Age group

5 years and above

Items required

Just yourself

Description

Ask the kids to turn into sleeping lions and lie down still on the floor . The aim of the game is to remain motionless even with an adult walking around , and perhaps telling a joke ! Anyone who itches, wriggles or giggles is out . Reward that person with a sweet . Winner is the one who stays motionless the longest !

Kim’s Game

Age group

5 years and above

Items required

Tray, mix of random objects ( eg tape, spoon etc ) , napkin , papers, pens

Description

Fill a tray with a mix of random items like toys , spoon, tape etc and cover the tray with a napkin. Allow the children to look at the contents of the tray for a minute or two before covering it back up. The children then write down everything they remember from the tray . The one who gets the maximum right items on the list wins !

What’s in the bag?

Age group

5 yrs and above

Items required

Non transparent bag , lot of household objects

Description

Put a few things in the bag from around the house like paper clips, coin, lime, toy car etc etc. Let each child put his/her hand into the bag and choose an object. Encourage the child to feel,roll it in the hand and guess what it could be before pulling it out . The one who can guess maximum objects is the winner

What’s the time Mr Wolf?

Age group

4 years and above

Items required

Just yourself

Description

An adult can be the wolf in the beginning. The wolf has his back to the crowd , who all stand some distance away. The crowd asks ‘what’s the time Mr Wolf? ‘ the wolf responds with a number. The crowd takes the corresponding number of steps towards him. Continue until the crowd gets really close to the wolf and instead of a number the wolf responds with ‘dinner time ! ‘ and chases them all. Whoever he catches becomes the Wolf in the next round !

Potato sack race

Age group

5 yrs and above

Items required

Sacks or king size pillow cases

Description

To play, have each kid step into his or her bag , pulling the top edges up around the waist. They must race to the finish line by holding the sack up and jumping inside of the bag

Photo scavenger hunt

Age group

5 yrs and above

Items required

Map and some picture clues

Description

Sketch out a map for the kids indicating where they need to go and give them picture clues of what they need to find. Keep rewards or chocolates along with these clues as prizes. In case you are conducting this in a public space , ensure that an adult is present to chaperone the kids.

Bowling Alley

Age group

3 yrs and above

Items required

Tape, balls , cans , bottles

Description

Use tape to create a bowling lane that measures 2 feet in width and about 5 feet in length. Arrange the pins or same size bottles or cans on one end of the lane that has been created. Place some throwing balls or kid size bowling balls on the other end. Instruct the kids to roll the ball , so that it hits the pins . The kid who makes the highest no of pins fall , wins the game !

Escape the monster!

Age group

4 years and above

Items required

Lots of open space

Description

Ask the kids to spread around and choose one kid to play the monster. The object of the other kids is to not to get caught by the monster. If they get caught , they turn into a monster too. Kids who are caught can also begin to play monster too and catch other kids, until the last kid remains !

Minute to win it

Age group

5 yrs and above

Items required

Tables , Items required for the tasks

Description

Stack a few tables together and set up a task on each table. Get creative with the tasks , keeping in mind the age of the kids. Some tasks may be where the kids place a cookie on their forehead and have to eat it without using their hands or they can even transfer 20 MnM

Bubble Game

Age group

Toddlers and infants

Items required

Bubbles or Bubble Machine

Description

An adult will blow bubbles and the players race around to pop as many bubbles as they can. Once you have played a few times, let the kids start taking turns being the bubble blower. Hand out small prizes or chocolates at the end to all your little bubble players !

Mummy Wrap

Age group

4 yrs and above

Items required

Toilet paper rolls

Description

Divide kids into small groups and have them pick someone to be a mummy. Pass out rolls of toilet paper to each group and whoever wraps up their mummy using all the toilet paper the quickest wins.

Bucket Toss

Age group

4 years and above

Items required

Buckets, balls

Description

Line up 6 buckets or pails and number them from 1 to 6. Put prizes in each of the buckets , saving the bigger prizes for the higher numbered buckets. Have the kids line up and instruct each child to start by tossing a ping pong ball into the first bucket. If it gets in then they move on to the next numbered bucket. The highest numbered bucket that a player lands his ball in determines which bucket he gets to pick his prize from. Each of the kids will surely get at least one ball in a bucket

Rainbow dress up relay race

Age group

4 years and above

Items required

2 sets of same colour clothes

Description

You will need two similar sets of clothing that in total make up the colours of the rainbow. For example a red shirt, a blue hat, a green sock, yellow skirt and so on. Divide players into two teams and have them line up at the starting point. The first player on each team has to put on all the clothing , run to a turnaround spot , run back to his/her team and take off the clothes and hand it over to the next player. Each team mate must complete this task . The team which has had all its players return to the starting point first wins !

Piñata

Age group

3 years and above

Items required

Piñata filled with treats, stick

Description

Before the birthday party day you’ll need to purchase or make a piñata and fill it with treats. Hang the piñata so that it’s hanging at above kids heads height . Have the kids stand in a line a few metres away. Traditionally , players are blindfolded and gently spun around 3 times before trying to hit the piñata with a stick but nowadays players simply take turns hitting the piñata (without blindfold) until it breaks open. Whatever treats they get their hands on is theirs to take back home.

Candy bar game

Age group

4 years and above

Items required

Candy bars, oven mitts, dice , spoon, knife

Description

Each person has a candy bar in front of them at a table as well as a spoon and butter knife. There is also a pair of oven mitts and a pair of dice. One person has to put on the oven mitts and try to open his candy bar and start eating it with a spoon and knife while the person next to him rolls the dice. When the person rolling the dice gets doubles, the dice goes to the next person in the circle while the first person has to stop eating his candy, and pass on his oven mitts to the person who just rolled doubles.That person then puts on the oven mitts and starts trying to open and eat the candy bar while the person ahead of her rolls the dice and tries to get doubles. Play continues around the circle until someone has opened and eaten his entire candy bar , at which point everyone can finish their own candy bars.

Coin Toss

Age group

3 years and above

Items required

Foam , cups , Coins

Description

Take a piece of foam core and glue plastic cups on it , covering the entire board with cups. Use a few cups of different colour . Let the kids try tossing coins at the cups, and give them a prize if they manage to get a coin in a coloured cup

Partners in Pen

Age group

4 years and above

Items required

Paper bag, house hold items, pen, paper

Description

Kids work in pairs, back to back. Each team is given a paper bag with household items / toys . One team member draws what the other is describing to him , but the name of the item and what it is used for cannot be mentioned. If the partner figures out or draws what the item is , the team gets a point. The team who scores maximum points wins !

Strip the Present

Age group

4 years and above

Items required

A gift , lots of wrapping paper

Description

Pre party, a gift is wrapped and re wrapped in layers of newspaper, foil, wax paper, plastic, paper etc. All guests sit in a circle. Each one removes one layer of wrapping paper and passes the present on to the next guest. The guest who removes the last wrapper gets to keep the gift.

Toe Grab

Age group

4 years and above

Items required

2 containers and Marbles

Description

Play this game with or without water, but have one container filled with marbles and one empty container . See how many marbles the kids can pick up and move from one container to the other, using just their toes

Who / What am I

Age group

5 yrs and above

Items required

Paper and tape

Description

Each guest has a name of a person , animal or object taped to their forehead or back . That person gets to ask 20 questions from various guests to figure out who he is.

Feather Blow

Age group

3 years and above

Items required

Feathers

Description

Each guest is given a feather. The idea of the game is to see who can keep it up in the air the longest by only blowing

Shoe Matcher

Match shoe's

Age group

4-15

Items required

Shoes

Description

Find all the shoes in your house and mix them up. Pair up your kids and give them the unpaired shoes. Whichever pair matches all the Shoes up First wins!