Party Games for kids
Games can not only add fun to the festivities, but teach kids about team building, counting, physical activity, and more! Games are how kids learn, how adults entertain them, and bring an occasion to life!
Toddler to preschool
Balloon Bop
Endless fun with bopping and chasing air filled balloons in an open area! Join in to keep the balloons in the air, bopping them back and forth! Keep several on hand for "pops"!
Helium Balloons tied to a child's wrist or clothing are fascinating! Have one for each child at the party! I recommend a dollar store for the best prices!
Bean Bag Toss
Place hula hoops, buckets, baskets or bowls on ground for easy tossing. Fill socks or sandwich bags with rice or beans to make quick bean bags.
Wonder Ball
Pass the ball back and forth until the music stops. Count how many times each player got the ball!
Scavenger Hunt
Scatter simple things to "find" in an open area. Use colors and shapes to describe each item. Ask child to bring item to you, and when all have found the item, give them another thing to "hunt".
Musical Chairs
At this age, every child should have a chair. Try to be "first" to sit down as a simple version.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey
Make a felt board, use tape and paper, or Velcro to attach body parts to the "donkey", with eyes open!
Follow the Leader Parade
Strike up the band with instruments, kazoos, or pots and pans and parade around the yard!
Pick A Ducky
Put just enough water in a large pan or kiddie pool to float rubber ducks. Put a dot of color on bottom of each duck to indicate which bag to choose prize from.
Kids to Preteen
Piñata
With an array of paper mache piñatas available, choose one that goes with your party theme or the honorees interests. Be sure to fill your piñata ahead of time to ensure that you have enough candy treats inside! Choose a safe space to hang the piñata high enough to swing a stick at, and room enough for bystanders to be safely out of the way! Set rules for the candy grab! Give each kid a loot bag to collect their bounty! I'd recommend having extra hidden away for the slow pickers! You might try to make your own with paper mache over a balloon, with paper rolls and cardboard attached for shape. Plan way ahead, to create, dry, cut, and paint your original piece!
Hula Hooping Contest
Who can keep up spinning that hoop on their waist the longest?
Bean Bag Tossing
Set up targets such as hula hoops, boxes or twister sheet and keep track of points!
Water Balloon Tossing
Form teams of two. Toss back and forth on count, stepping farther apart as game goes on. Team who lasts longest without breaking water balloon, wins.
Wonderball
Pass a ball around in a circle while singing the tune: "The wonderball goes round and round, pass it quickly you are bound, Hoooold it tight! If you're the one to hold it last, then for you this game is passed, YOU... ARE... OUT!" Continue until one is left standing. HOT POTATO is another verison of this game.
Pin The Tail On The Donkey
A classic party game for old and young alike. Put paper donkey on flat surface or cardboard that will not be damaged by thumb tacks. Blind fold players as they attempt to pin the tail! One hand only! First touch is where it is pinned!
Ring Toss
Use any circular item as rings, from cheap bracelets to hula hoops. Set up sticks appropriately sized, from popsicle sticks to garden stakes. Tie prizes to sticks!
Musical Chairs
Set chairs in a circle, facing out. One less chair than players. Remove a chair each round. Person in charge of starting and stopping music should not be watching players!
Scavenger Hunt
Indoors or out will determine your scavenger list. Look around area for items that are plentiful or available to all players. Make copies of list for all players. Pick a judge to determine first finisher.
