Kids Birthday Party Game Ideas

If you have ever held a child’s birthday party at home, or been to someone who has, you know that it is much easier if you spend a little time planning party ideas ahead of time. A room filled with sugared up kids hyped on cake and excitement need fun activities to keep the party moving.

When making your game plans, make sure that you stick to your party’s theme. There is always the traditional “Pin the Tail on the Donkey”, but if you have another theme party, incorporate that. Play “Pin the License Plate on the Car” for Vehicle Themed parties, “Butterfly on the Flower” for Garden Themed parties, “Heart on the Tin Man” for The Wizard of Oz… you catch the drift. Blindfolded child, spun in circles - heading towards a target. No birthday party is complete without some variation of this game.

How low can YOU go? That’s the Limbo question. Take a limbo stick (or a broom handle at my party), play some limbo music, and have the kids go in a circle. To jazz up the game, add some unexpected elements. I had the kids have to keep up with a moving limbo stick as it changed sides of the couch, and it would be raising and lowering. This was more fun than taking time out, and the kids were laughing and gasping for breath when we finished.

Musical chairs is always a winner, since it uses music and action. Line up chairs one short of the number of players. You know the rest, right? Play the music, when it stops the one standing is out. Keep it going until only one person is standing. Make sure to throw the kids off balance by making each one a winner when they get “out” with a small prize.

This one is only for those who are not faint of heart. An egg race is a novel idea for younger kids. If you aren’t game for cleaning up slime and egg goo, then make sure to have hard-boiled eggs on hand. Have the kids line up and put an egg on a spoon. If they make it across the finish line, they win.

To keep kids running until it’s time to go home, have a candy clean up party. Either use a piniata, or just throw candy. Give each kid a goody bag, and they stock it themselves. Kids plus candy, and I promise you won’t find any leftovers. Make sure to keep a few extras to pass out for those a little more timid.

One of the favorites at my house is midnight hide and seek. Either inside or out, have the kids hide once it is completely dark. The rest is traditional hide and seek, but the seeker cannot SEE the other kids. This makes a fun and completely silly game. Make sure your space is safe before you do this one, since kids will be running to safety in the dark.

There are countless resources to give you ideas for birthday party games. Ask your child for ideas - they might just surprise you with their creativity. Make sure to consider making snacks, or arts and crafts. Water games are always good, too. There’s just so much fun to be had! Maybe that’s why we get a birthday every year, so we can try all the games.