Planning a memorable birthday party for your child can be both exciting and a little bit daunting. 

You want activities that are fun, engaging, and most importantly, easy to set up. 

And the older your kids get, the more pressure you feel to get it right. 

Oh, I’ve been there. 

And that’s why we’ve scoured the internet for these unique birthday party games and activities will ensure the kids have a blast whether you’re hosting the party at home, in a park, or in your backyard. 

Each idea we found includes a supply list to help you visualize and prepare for what the activities requires and the set-up. 

There’s a variety of options from classic games with a twist, to creative DIY activities that spark imagination. If you need outdoor water games and activities, this is a great resource.

These 20 birthday party game suggestions cater to various themes and age groups, making it easier for you to tailor the party to your child’s interests. 

Plus, with easy-to-source items and step-by-step instructions, you’ll spend less time stressing over details and more time enjoying the celebration with your child and their friends. 

Whether you’re looking for high-energy games or quiet activities for downtime, this quick guide has something for every type of party, age and personality.

20 Fun & Easy Birthday Party Games for Kids: Unique Ideas for Unforgettable Celebrations

20 Fun & Easy Birthday Party Games and Activities for Kids

1. Balloon Pop Relay

This fun relay race involves teams working together to pop balloons with their bodies as fast as possible and beat the other team. You can also do this as an individual activity to see who can pop the most in a designated amount of time. Kids will sit on, lay on top of, step on, squeeze and stop as they attempt to pop the balloons quickly.

You can also add a twist to this activity by tying the balloons by string to the player’s ankles. (This works better with older kids.)

Supplies:

  • Balloons (plan for at least 2 per child)
  • Electric Balloon Pump
  • String (optional, for tying balloons to ankles)
  • Space on the floor to have kids scurrying around and trying to pop balloons with their bodies.

Instructions: Divide the kids into two teams. Each child must pop a balloon by sitting on it, stomping on it, or squeezing it between their hands before tagging the next teammate.

2. DIY Photo Booth with Props

Set up a colorful backdrop (or a white sheet works too!) and provide props for a birthday photo shoot. You can snap these on your phone and print them out for guests to take home as party favors or use a fun polaroid camera with polaroid film to print out and even string up for everyone to look at afterwards.

Supplies:

Instructions: Let the kids take turns posing with props and capture the fun with instant prints or digital photos they can take home as a party favor.

3. Treasure Hunt / Scavenger Hunt

Create a treasure hunt with clues leading to hidden “treasures” around the party area. You can use these indoor scavenger hunts or outdoor scavenger hunt if you’d like or make your own for the big day.

Supplies:

  • Scavenger Hunt Cards or Clue cards
  • Small prizes or treats
  • Treasure map (optional)

Instructions: Hide clues around the yard or house, leading to a final treasure chest filled with goodies. You can make the clues simple or complex, depending on the age group.

20 Fun & Easy Birthday Party Games for Kids:

4. Craft Station

Set up a table where kids can make their own party favors. Some ideas include painting a canvas (this is best if everyone does this together and there’s step-by-step instruction), tie dye shirt making, canvas bag painting/stencil making, jewelry making, pottery painting, or kindness rock painting.

Supplies:

  • Blank t-shirts or canvas bags
  • Tie dye kit
  • Jewelry kits, pottery for painting, blank kindness rocks, painting supplies
  • Fabric markers or paint
  • Stickers, beads, and other decorations

Instructions: Let the kids decorate their own item to take home at the end of the party. This doubles as both an activity and a party favor!

5. Pin the Tail on the Donkey (With a Twist)

Update the classic game with a modern twist based on your party theme. This might be a giant picture of the birthday child where blindfolded guests pin the hat on their head or a soccer ball into the party girl picture’s hands. It might be their favorite cartoon character or movie actor in costume, etc. Get creative!

Supplies:

  • Poster board (with an image of a donkey, dinosaur, princess, etc.)
  • Giant birthday person cut-out
  • Tail or other themed item to pin
  • Blindfold

Instructions: Blindfolded kids try to pin the item in the correct spot on the poster. You can customize the image and items to match your party’s theme.

6. Water Balloon Piñata

A refreshing twist on the traditional piñata, perfect for a hot day! Let blindfolded players take turns swinging a plastic bat at hanging water balloons and cool everyone off.

Supplies:

Instructions: Fill balloons with water, hang them like a piñata, and let the kids take turns trying to burst them. They’ll get soaked, so have towels ready!

7. Musical Chairs with a Twist

Add some excitement to musical chairs with themed rules.

Supplies:

  • Chairs (one less than the number of kids)
  • Music

Instructions: Play music and have kids walk around the chairs. When the music stops, they must find a chair to sit on. The twist? Add rules like hopping on one foot or sitting backward!

backyard obstacle course

8. DIY Obstacle Course

Create an obstacle course using everyday items. If you have the space, you can use swing sets or jungle gyms to to create a obstacle course with various challenge. Kids can crawl on the ground, swing from monkey bars, jump over or run around, cones, balance on objects, carry objects or move heavy items only using muscle power.

Supplies:

Instructions: Set up a course where kids can jump through hoops, crawl under ropes, and weave through cones. Time each child and see who can complete the course the fastest.

9. Giant Foam Party

If you can find a foam party vendor in your area who does all the set-up, clean-up and foam making, you’ll have the most memorable backyard birthday party ever!

Supplies:

  • Foam Party Vendor
  • Towels

Instructions: What happens is a foam party supplier will make the foam and blast it from a foam cannon alongside music (or you can supply this yourself.)

Giant bumper balls for kids birthday party

10. Bumper Ball Battle or Soccer Game

These giant, inflatable bumper balls that child or adult can squeeze into and wrap their body in a large cushion with only legs, arms and head sticking out, let’s participants bump, roll, smash and crash into one another. Your child may feel like a sumo wrestling (with more clothes) and protective gear.

Supplies:

Instructions: You can create a large mat for bumper bouncing with a gymnastics mat or temporarily taping a large square on the round to indicate boundaries. Add some more movement into the mix with a soccer game, obstacle course, game of flag football with bumper suits on!

11. Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin

Great for toddlers and younger kids, this colorful sensory activity is both calming and fun.

Supplies:

Note: You can always turn this into a themed water table and replace the rice with water. 

Instructions: Dye rice in various colors and place it in a large bin. Add small toys or scoops for the kids to dig through the rice and discover treasures.

12. Indoor Camping Adventure

Bring the excitement of camping indoors (or you can keep it outdoors if the weather is nice and not too hot or cold) with tents and campfire stories. It’s easy to pitch a few smaller two-person tents or one large family-sized tent and hold a birthday camp out.

Supplies:

Instructions: Set up tents or forts, and have the kids sit inside with flashlights. Tell stories, sing songs, or even make indoor s’mores using a microwave.

image from Fantabulosity.com

13. DIY Slime Station

Slime is always a hit, and making it can be just as fun as playing with it. Slime parties have been popular for years and are a great party gift everyone gets to take home with them in the end.

Supplies:

  • Glue, baking soda, contact lens solution
  • Slime kit
  • Food coloring, glitter, beads

Instructions: Set up a station with all the ingredients for slime. Let the kids choose their colors and add-ins, and mix up their own slime to take home.

14. Tea Party

Get dressed up and host a pretty princess tea party or a themed tea party with teas of all flavors and types! Children ones love the elaborate setup of fancy teacups with saucers, tiered trays of mini bite-sized sandwiches, scones, and a variety of mini desserts! They can try different flavors, can add milk and honey to their teacups and even experiment with new teas.

Supplies:

  • Tea Sets (you might need a few tea sets depending on how many kids you have at the tea party)
  • Variety of teas
  • Honey, milk, bite-sized tea sandwiches, scones and variety of mini desserts

Instructions: Set up one large dining table or several smaller tables with tablecloths, individual place setting and tiered trays for snacks. Offer a variety of teas in a few flavors. Be sure to take pictures of everyone dressed up before and after!

15. Balloon Tennis

A high energy game that’s easy to set up and play indoors or outdoors.

Supplies:

  • Balloons
  • Paper plates, popsicle sticks (for paddles)
  • String (optional for net)

Instructions: Tape popsicle sticks to paper plates to create paddles. You can also use badminton rackets if you have them! Use a balloon as the ball and string as the net. Have the kids volley the balloon back and forth.

16. Puzzle Race

Challenge the kids to see who can complete a puzzle the fastest. Stick with the larger-sized 48 – 100 piece Melissa and Doug puzzles so this isn’t a 4-hour puzzle contest.

Supplies:

Instructions: Give each child a puzzle and see who can complete it first. For older kids, use more complex puzzles or have them work in teams.

17. Freeze Dance

A simple yet exciting game that gets kids moving. You can also turn off the lights, shut the blinds, and add a disco ball, glow sticks and specialty lights around the room for full on dance-party vibes.

Supplies:

Instructions: Play music and have the kids dance around. When the music stops, they must freeze in place. Anyone who moves is out. Continue until only one child remains.

18. Coloring Station

Sometimes the simplest activities are the most engaging and for younger kids, this could be a huge hit!

Supplies:

  • Coloring books, blank paper
  • Crayons, markers, colored pencils

Instructions: Set up a table with coloring supplies and let the kids go to town. You can even have a coloring contest with small prizes for creativity.

19. Magic Show

Have a mini magic show to entertain the kids. You can hire someone to be a magician for an hour or ask around amongst parents about who knows a few magic tricks and wouldn’t be shy to show them off.

Supplies:

  • Magic kit or simple tricks (like cards, coins)

Instructions: Either hire a magician or learn some simple tricks yourself to put on a show. Let the kids try out the tricks too!

Image from stevekishmagic.com

20. DIY Pinata

Let the kids create, fill and then break their own piñata! Let the creativity flow with paint, markers, stickers, tape and cardboard.

Supplies:

Instructions: Help the kids create their own piñata using cardboard and decorate it. Fill it with candy, hang it up, and let them have fun breaking it open!

Recap

These 20 games and activities are sure to make any birthday party unforgettable, without requiring too much time or effort to prepare.

Whether you’re hosting a party for toddlers or tweens, there’s something on this list for every age group. With a little planning and some easy-to-source supplies, you’ll be ready to throw a party that will keep the kids entertained and happy all day long.

 

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