Are you having a birthday party for your child? Struggling to come up with games to keep the children entertained? Look no further, here’s a list of 101 birthday games for the ages 0-10 for you to choose from. Some may require toys/equipment/prizes to play the game while others don’t require anything but the children’s cooperation.
Birthday party games for 0-6-year-old
1. Musical chairs
This game is fun for all children, just play the music and let the kids dance around to the music then watch them run to the chairs (one less than the kids) when the music stops. Whoever doesn’t sit is out. The last child left sitting is the winner.
Things you might need: Chairs, a device that plays music, and speakers
2. Musical Statues
Want to play another game with music? Musical statues are a fun way to dance it out and then freeze when the music stops. The last child dancing is the winner.
Things you might need: Device that plays music and speakers
3. Hot Potato
Still, looking for another game with music? Why not try the hot potato game. All you need is a small object like a ball, orange, or even a potato. Let the kids sit together in a circle and pass the ball around, stop the music and whoever is holding the potato when the music stops is out. Continue playing until one kid is left and he/she is the winner.
4. Pass the parcel
Here’s one more game that involves music, it’s an easy sitting down game that involves passing around the parcel, and whoever the parcel lands on when the music stops should open the parcel and wins a prize.
Things you meet need Toys/candy to put in the parcel, gift wrapping paper.
5. Pinata
Do you have active kids coming to the party? Do they want to win toys or candy? This is the game for them! Channel all that energy and hyperactivity by playing with the pinata. Blindfold them and let them take turns hitting the pinata, with the bat, filled with toys or candy.
Things you might need: A bat, a blindfold, and a pinata
6. Lasso competition
Do you have kids who love cowboys at the party? Why not teach the kids how to lasso? All you need is a rope and a stuffed animal. Let them practice and try to lasso the stuffed animal. This is a game suitable for older kids.
7. Balancing an egg on a spoon
Want a fun and active game for the kids? Let them try balancing an egg on a spoon and turn it into a race. The kid who finishes the race first without breaking the egg wins.
Things you might need: Spoons and Eggs
8. Sack race
Are you looking for a fun silly race for kids? Why don’t you try the sack race? It’s fun and involves children standing in a sack and jumping to the end of the race-track. Just relax and see how funny the kids look jumping up and down in a sack with their friends.
Things you might need: 5-10 sacks
9. Pin the tail on the donkey
You can never go wrong with the classics when it comes to games, so why don’t you introduce pin the tail on the donkey to your child’s birthday party. Put a poster of a donkey on the wall and see how close the kids can get to pinning the tail on the donkey while wearing a blindfold.
Things you might need: A poster of a donkey and a blindfold
10. Hide and seek pals
Hide and seek is classic game you can never go wrong with. Here is another version of hide and seek though, using the Hide and Seek Pals. Hide the Safari animal and let the kids go in search of the animal when you hear it make a sound.
11. Volleyball
If you have a volleyball net and a ball why not play volleyball. It’s an exciting sport to play with other kids. You divide the kids into teams and let them play by trying to get the ball over the net without it going out of play or hitting the ground.
12. Duck Duck Goose
Here is a spinoff from one of the classic games for the young ones, this is a boardgame that can be played indoors. Each player has a group of baby ducks and one mother goose. The goal is to get all the ducklings in a row.
13. Tic Tac Toe
Looking for an easy fun board game for children to play? How about Tic Tac Toe? It is short, simple, and easy to play. There are two teams X and O. Let the kids try and get three O’s and X’s in a row, either vertical, horizontally, or diagonally. Why not turn it into a competition so everyone gets to play?
14. Parent Wrapping
This game involves the parents’ participation. It’s an amusing game for the kids to play. Give all the kids a toilet paper roll and let them wrap one of their parents into a mummy. Whoever finishes first is the winner.
15. Pass the Potato
Here’s another game similar to the hula hoop race, instead of the hula hoops use potatoes instead. Let the kids pass the potato by holding the orange under the chin. Whoever reaches the end of the line first is the winner.
16. Limbo
Looking for an active game for the kids? Why don’t you try the limbo? It’s all about how low can you go? In other words, how flexible are you? All you need is a rope or stick and watch the kids bend backward trying to pass under the stick.
17. Dominoes
There are so many fun boarding games around for young kids. Dominoes is one of them, it can help kids with their number and color recognition skills and at the same time give them a lot of entertainment value.
18. Basketball
This game only works if you have hoops for shooting. Divide the kids into teams and let them play a 30 minute game of basketball where the goal is to score as many shots through the hoops.
19. Snakes and Ladders
Have you ever played snakes and ladders? I’d be surprised if you haven’t. Why not introduce the game during a party and watch how much the kids enjoy it? All you need is the board game which includes the board, dice, and pieces. You roll the dice and try to get to the end of the board without landing on a snake. When you land on a snake it takes you down the snake and you most likely end up going behind the others.
20. Ludo
Here are fun game kids enjoy, it involves 4 players, 4 colors, and dice. The first kid to finish getting all his/her pieces to the end is the winner. Turn it into a birthday game by making it a competition.
21. Cartwheel competition
This is a game all kids will enjoy, let them have fun cartwheeling, somersaulting, and just having fun in the grass. If the kids know how to cartwheel you can make it a competition and the winner is the one who can cartwheel the most without stopping.
22. Catch a tiger by the tail
This is a pleasurable active game for kids, divide the kids into two teams and let all the members on one team have a tail. The goal is for the first team to run after the team with tails and try to catch as many tails as possible. Whoever has the most tails is the winner.
23. Tug of War
All you need for this game is a rope and a large group of kids. Divide the kids into two teams let them hold the rope each on one end. Whoever manages to pull the other side to them is the winner. It’s a fun active game for all ages.
24. Doll party
Here’s a game for the young girls, tell the girls to bring their favorite dolls to the party and let them have a fun pretend tea party. They get to play pretend.
Things you might need: Dolls, table, tea set.
25. Teddy Bear picnic
Here’s a game for the young kids, tell the kids to bring their favorite teddy bear to the party and let them have a fun pretend picnic where they get to play pretend.
Things you might need: Teddy Bears, picnic basket and picnic blanket.
26. Catch butterflies
The young kids will enjoy this game provide the kids with mason jars and let them catch as many butterflies as they can. The kid who catches the most butterflies is the winner. You can make this game longer by letting each child vote on the prettiest butterfly chosen and then let them draw the butterfly.
Things you might need: nets and mason jars
27. Ball pit outdoor game
Here’s an exhilarating game that involves a ball pit for all kids to enjoy together.
28. I spy
“I spy with my little eye something beginning with?” Never played it? It’s easy, let a child be “it” and choose an object in the room, say the phrase before, and end it with the first letter of the object. Whoever guesses right first is the winner.
29. Treasure hunt
Everyone loves getting prizes, why not turn it into a game and let the kids look for the prizes all over the house/garden. You can hide small toys and all types of candy. A fun and interactive way to spend time.
Things you might need: Prizes, toys, and candy.
30. Balance beam
Looking for an active outdoor game for kids who love gymnastics? Why not try a balancing beam which requires kids to play on the beam by using balance and good coordination.
31. Create a poster for the birthday kid
Another way to give the birthday kid something to remember their birthday from. Bring a huge plain poster with the kids’ name on it, let the kids decorate it with paint, markers, glitter, and stickers. What a creative and memorable way to spend the birthday.
32. Bouncing castle game
If you are planning to have a bouncing castle at the party, there are some games you can play at the party. A big hit at a birthday party is the jumping game. Let all the kids play, let them jump in the bouncing castle if they fall or sit they are out. The last kid still standing/jumping is the winner.
33. Make a Snowman
For the creative kids at the party, why not let them create a snowman out of different bits and pieces such as cardboard, balls of yarn, and other art supplies.
34. Ring toss game
Do your kids enjoy carnival games? Why not play the ring toss game? Put three bottles on top of a table and let the kids throw hoops onto the bottle. Whoever manages to get the most hoops onto the bottles is the winner and gets a prize.
35. Team building activities
Here’s a good game to teach kids teamwork and team building activities. Let the kids play on this movement mats by working as a teak.
36. Parachute Tag
This is an amusing game for young children. All you need is a big piece of cloth like a bedsheet. The kids hold the bedsheet, when the birthday kid calls out someone’s name they have to run to the other side of the parachute without the parachute touching them.
Birthday party games for 6-10-year-old kids
37. Connect 4
Looking for a more advanced version of tic tac toe for the older kids? Why not try Connect 4 its name explains itself literally. Just be the first to connect 4 horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Make it a competition and everyone can get involved.
38. Scrabble
This is a fun game for people who love words and spelling. Not all kids enjoy this game but the bookworms, the writers and the intellectual kids would probably like this game. Scrabble is a board game that involves spelling out words on the board with the 7 letters you have and the kid who gets the most points once all the letters have finished is the winner. Make it a game for everyone by turning it into a competition.
39. UNO
Here’s a card game for kids to play it’s a fun short game where the kids take turns playing different cards either the same number/sign or color. When you have one more card, you have to say UNO, the first kid to finish all the kids is the winner.
40. Bowling
Why not have a bowling party for the young kids all you need is light balls and bowling pins. Make it a competition with teams and points and the winning team gets prizes.
41. Jenga
This is a fun game that involves first putting a tower of blocks on top of each other. Then the aim is to remove one block at a time and placing it on top without letting the tower fall. It’s a fun game with no winners.
42. Pictionary
This is a fun game to play in groups. Divide the kids into two teams, let one child draw something from the deck and the rest of the team has to guess what they drew. Whichever team guesses right the most is the winner.
43. Trivial pursuit
Here’s a fun board game for the older kids who enjoy trivia knowledge. It involves 2-4 players and it’s an interesting way to learn and have fun at the same time. You take turns to play.
44. Birthday Bingo
Bingo is a fun way to play, maybe instead of the usual numbers, make a bingo with birthday images such as cakes, candles, party hats, and so on. The winner is whoever gets all their images first.
45. Paint a canvas
Draw a big letter of the alphabet on each canvas based on the first letter of the kids’ name, let them paint the canvas, and take it home. Provide them with paint, stickers, and glitter.
46. Make candy bracelets
What young girl wouldn’t love their candy bracelet? Provide them with thread and circle-shaped candy. They can make as many as they want till the candy is over.
47. Make beaded necklaces
What about a necklace instead? Why not, provide the kids with a lot of beads and elastic string and let them make their necklaces.
48. Water gunfight
If the birthday is in the summer, why not have a water gun fight? Buy around 15-20 guns and let the kids chase each other and try to get each other wet. A less painful and more child-friendly version of paint-balling.
49. Make your pizzas
Do you have kids who like cooking? Why not let the kids make their own pizza. If they are too young let them make a pretend pizza. The older kids provide them with ingredients for pizza and instead of a normal pizza base you can, use pita bread. Let the kids put their toppings and enjoy their meal.
50. Decorate Fairy wings
Looking for a game just for girls? Here’s one, make fairy wings for the kids and let them color and decorate them and take them home. A fun creative way to keep the girls entertained.
51. Face painting
Here’s an activity available at most kids birthdays, face painting. Let the kids get their face painted by an adult or by each other.
52. Scavenger hunt
A more advanced version of the treasure hunt is the scavenger hunt. Create clues the first clue should lead the kids to the place of the next clue until they reach the end of the hunt and find the prize. Whoever reaches the end first is the winner.
53. Checkers
This is a good game for kids who love boardgames, checkers is similar to chess but with less rules. It is played by 2 players at a time and can be fun at parties if made into a competition.
54. Head Basketball Hoop Game
Here is another game that can be played outside, it’s a sporty exotic game that involves placing a hoop on their head.
55. 3-Legged race
Another active game for the kids, provide them with ropes or scarves, and each team has two kids they should tie the inner leg to each other so they look like they have 3 legs. Let them race and the one who reaches the end first wins.
56. Cops and Robbers
Here’s an active game for your kids to play at a birthday party. Let three kids be the cop and the rest robbers. The robbers run away and hide and the cops have to catch all the robbers to win.
57. Decorate Jewelry box
Another game for a girl party? Provide the girls with empty plain boxes and let them decorate them with colors, stickers, stars, buttons, and so much more. A fun creative way to keep the girls busy and something to go home with.
58. Five a side football
Why not play a game of football? Especially if you have a lot of boys at the party. Let the kids choose teams and play a short 30 minute game of football.
59. Decorating Table Cloth
Give the birthday child something to remember by letting the kids decorate a table-cloth with special wishes to the birthday kid. It’s a creative way to keep the kids busy and to give the kid something for the memory box from the birthday.
Things you might need: table cloth, markers and paint
60. Hula Hoop Race
This is a fun game if you have a lot of kids. Divide the kids into two teams, let them stand in a line , and hold hands. Give each time one hula hoop. The goal is for the kids to pass the hula hoop to the end of the line without letting go of their hands. Whoever reaches the end first is the winner.
61. Rock Climbing
Do your kids enjoy climbing things? Why not provide a mini rock climbing experience the kids will never forget? Rock climbing requires different gear and a wall/mountain/hill.
62. Mini golf
This is a mini version of golf that will bring a lot of excitement and joy for all kids alike
63. Charades
Put a list of actions and animals on separate pieces of paper and let one child be “it” where they have to act out what’s written on the piece of paper they chose. Let the other kids guess what the action is.
64. Plastic Darts
Looking for a game that focuses on kid’s motor skills, why not try darts (the ones without the sharp points). Make two teams and let the kids compete whoever gets the most points win.
65. Pop and catch
This is an easy game for young kids that requires only 2 players at a time, it can be an easy version of ping pong for young kids. Let the kids play outside enjoying this game of catch. Make it a competition to involve more kids in the game.
66. Lava land
This game involves letting kids try their best to not touch the ground as they pretend its lava. They have to jump from one stone to the other without falling down.
67. Obstacle course
If you have a lot of space in your backyard why not create a good workout through an obstacle course with hula hoops, bean bags to toss, buckets, and an area to race. Divide the kids into teams and let them race against each other.
68. Design clothes for dolls
Here’s one more game for the girls only, provide them with plain doll dresses and let them decorate them with different colors, buttons, glitter, and so much more. The kids can vote on which one they like best and can get a prize.
69. Paper sailboat race
If you have a pool, pond, or near a park with a river why not have a paper sailboat race? It involves an art and crafts side where the kids make their paper sailboats and then they race them in the water. The winner should get a prize.
70. Hop Scotch competition
Do you have a driveway that you can draw on with chalk? Why not create a hopscotch court. It’s an easy game that kids will enjoy. You draw squares up to 10. The kid throws their marker onto number 1 and hops to number 2 to the end and back without hopping on number one and stepping on the lines. If they manage to do that then they throw their marker to the next number 2, 3, 4,5 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The game continues until someone finishes all 10, they are the winner.
71. Jump rope competition
Ever jumped rope? Had fun? I’m sure all the kids would enjoy jumping rope at a birthday party. Get like 5 ropes and let the kids jump whoever jumps the longest is the winner.
72. Decorate picture frame
Another arts and crafts party game involves an empty picture frame that the kids can decorate and get to take home with them. It’s a fun, simple, and for all ages.
73. Create your own headband
Here’s an interesting game for the girls, Provide the girls with arts and crafts and let them create their own headbands. Make it a competition and let the kids vote on the best design and the winner gets a prize.
74. Decorate stones
Let kids with a love for outdoors collect round rocks and then paint them however they like. A small gift to take home.
75. Make your own dreamcatcher
Looking for a birthday game for older girls? Why not let them have a great time creating their own dreamcatcher. Dreamcatchers are pretty, unique decorations that can be placed in every house. Let them create their own dreamcatcher and take it home with them.
76. Paint a birdhouse
Let kids create, paint and decorate a plain wooden birdhouse and they get to take it home with them.
77. Create your own night light
Here’s an imaginative way to spend a few hours with a large group of girls. Let them create their own night lights and then take it home with them to keep in their room as an elegant reminder of the birthday.
78. Create a wind chime
This is a creative activity that involves making and decorating wind chimes. It can be played by both boys and girls. An activity that will give the kids something to remember the day by.
79. Create a fairy lantern jar
This is an artistic activity that involves creating your own fairy lantern jar with different paints, colors, glitter and shapes.
80. Unicorn piggy bank
A girly art game that will appeal to girls who love unicorns. Provide them with unicorn piggy bank and let them decorate it in a way that appeals to them.
81. Make your comic book
Here’s another arts and crafts game. Why not create a comic book based on the birthday kid? Provide comic book strips with photos and speech bubbles and let the kids make their own story. A creative way to remember the day by.
82. Create a chocolate bar
Here’s a game for the kids that involve making your own chocolate. This is a sweet way to spend the day making chocolates and decorating them to their own designs.
83. Dodgeball
Looking for a sporty game for your birthday? Why not take a look at the next 5 games. This one involves a ball and two teams, some inside the square others outside the goal is to get all the kids out by hitting them with the ball.
84. Kickball
Here’s another sporty game. all you need is a ball and some cones for the bases. This game is similar to baseball except you kick the ball instead of using a baseball bat. It’s a good game that 6-10 year old would enjoy.
85. Relay race
Another active game for the kids, make three teams of 4 and let them race each other in a relay. All you need are batons or anything like batons for the kids to pass onto each other.
86. Rocket Ball
This is a sporty game that combines different sports together in order to make its own called Rocketball. It can be played indoors or outdoors and even in the swimming pool if you wanted.
87. Name that Cartoon
If you have a lot of time before the birthday why not make a slideshow/video called Name that cartoon. Put a few photos and short clips into a video and let the kids guess what cartoon is on the screen. Whoever gets the most right is the winner.
88. Keep the balloon up
This is an easy game that only requires a balloon. Let the kids form a circle and they have to keep the balloon up at all costs. The game ends when the balloon touches the ground.
89. Chess competition
This is a fun game for the older kids, all you need is the boardgame and 2 players. The goal is to win by moving the pieces in the allowed moves until one kid gets the king or reaches checkmate. Why not make it a competition, so all the kids that would like to play get their chance.
90. Karaoke
Do you have a karaoke machine? If yes, why not bring out for the kids birthday party, just play a lot of Disney/cartoon songs and let the kids have a fun time singing.
91. Race cars
This is a game all boys will enjoy. Collect small equal-sized cars and make a race track. Let the kids race their cars on the track and whoever reaches the end first is the winner. The winner can get a prize.
92. Tight rope
Do you have flexible kids who enjoy gymnastics? Why not create a low tight rope (with a wooden plank) let them have fun going across the plank and see who can do it without falling off.
93. Juggling competition
If your kid enjoys the carnival, here’s another game they would enjoy. Juggling, it’s a funny act that involves balancing three balls at the same time. Let the kids have fun seeing who can juggle the best.
94. Bug hunt
Do you have kids who love nature? Why not make a bug hunt for them? Make a list with pictures of bugs that they could find in the park and let them search for the bugs whoever finds the most bugs is the winner and gets a prize.
95. Archeological hunt
Do you have kids who love digging and dinosaurs? Why not create an archeological hunt for them? Dig some fake dinosaur eggs and let them enjoy finding them based on different clues.
96. Archery
If the kids are older an enjoy sports, why not let them enjoy a challenging game of archery. Divide the group into two teams and let them compete to see how gets the most points.
97. Balloon Race
Here’s a fun game to play, divide the kids into teams of two, give them a balloon and let them race while carrying the balloon together. However, they cannot use their hands at all. Whoever reaches the end first without touching the balloon with their hands is the winner.
98. Oreo Face
If looking for a game for kids involving food, why don’t you try the Oreo face game. Let the kids put the Oreo on their forehead and they try to eat it without using their hands. The first kid to eat the Oreo without touching it with their hands or it falling on the ground is the winner.
- Marshmallow game
Here’s another enjoyable food game for the kids. All you need is a big bag of marshmallows and several bowls. Fill up the bowls with marshmallows, set a timer, and let the kids eat as much as they can in under one minute. The one who eats the most is the winner.
100. Play twister
This is a fun board game to play with other kids. It involves a mat with different colors and a spinner board to choose the color. The aim is for the kids to put one hand or feet on each color that the spinner reaches to. The first child to fall loses.
101. Spiderweb
Have a lot of kids at the party? Why not play Spiderweb? All you need is a big ball of yarn and a big group of kids. Let one kid keep hold of a piece of the string till the end, and then throw the ball of string to another kid keep throw and you end up with a big spider web.
Final Thoughts
With all these games you’ll be able to keep the kids entertained at any birthday party. Here are the best three birthday games if you have a lot of kids at a birthday. Personally I would recommend Obstacle Course, Shark pass the parcel and Scavenger Hunt Game for Kids as they are the most fun and many kids can be involved.
