The best birthday games and activities are easy and affordable. These party games for kids are easy to set up and fun. Most work for both indoor and outdoor parties. Grapevine provides a variety of Treasure hunts. There really is something for everybody! There are treasure hunts that children will enjoy and quizzes and murder mysteries for adults. We also have products to celebrate holidays like Halloween, Christmas, Easter, or Summer.
Toddler Party Games (1-3 Years)
Freeze Dance
Nothing makes kids laugh (and move!) more than a game of freeze dance. A game of freeze dancing is a great way to get kids moving and laughing. Turn up the volume and let the party go until the music stops. Children who continue to booggle after the music stops are out. Continue until one child is left as the winner. You can award prizes to the victor, best dancer, and silliest dancer.
Bubblicious
Toys with bubbles are always a big hit with toddlers. For a backyard party, fill containers with bubble soap and set out several oversized bubble wands. Let the children dip and blow their bubbles. You can also control the chaos by appointing an older sibling to be the official bubble-blower. The bubbles will float away even if the children are not prompting.
Balloon Toss
Each guest should place a balloon on a spoon, and then walk from one side of the yard or family room to another. You can also pair up and challenge your guests to tap the balloon back-and-forth without it touching the ground. Let everyone participate in the competition, and each one of them will win a small prize for their efforts. Keep an eye out on children under 8 years old for any uninflated or popped balloons. They can be choking hazards.
Limbo
The limbo bar can be made with a pool noodle or a broomstick. Children can crawl, walk and crawl under the noodle bars. They can also jump over it. To avoid any accidents, keep the children moving in the same direction. If you have many children, it might be a good idea if you have more than one limbopole.
Pre-Schooler Party Games (3-4 Years)
Musical chairs
To participate, you will need at least six players and some chairs. One chair must not be less than the number of players. When the music starts, players walk around the chairs and then race to get in the chairs. The chair without a seat is eliminated. One chair is removed and the process continues until there is only one winner.
Have a go at guessing
This game is great for party guests or yourself if you need something quieter. You can place a few easily recognizable objects — a board book or toddler fork, a rubber duck, a teddy bear, or a chunky toy fork — in a hat, basket, or other container. Place one object inside the basket. Cover it with a blanket and let your children reach in to grab it. A small prize will be awarded to the child who can correctly guess the object he is grasping. You can use as many objects and guests as possible to keep from crying.
Simon Says
A sibling, adult, or older, can play the role of “Simon”. They will issue commands like “Simon says, please sit down,” and everyone does so. The players won’t perform any action unless they hear “Simon say.” The winner is the player who has left the game at the end.
Broken Telephone
Children sit in a circle. One child whispers a message to the child next to him. The message is repeated by the child in the next circle. A child can use the “operator” option to repeat the message if it is not understood. The message is said loudly by the last child to hear it. Compare the original message.
Give it to me
In a basket, place at least six times the number of socks as your guests. Children should sit in a circle. Children should try to get as many socks on each foot as possible when music starts. The one with more socks wins when the music stops.
Party Games for School Age (5-8 Years)
Pass the Parcel
Wrap a prize in a package before you send it. Wrap it with as many layers of paper as the number of children attending the party, plus a few more. Each layer should be wrapped using a different color of wrapping paper. Each layer should be sealed lightly so the children can easily remove it without having to tear the layers below. Each layer can be given a prize to make it more fun.
Place children in a circle. The package is passed around the circle when the music stops. The music stops and the child holds the parcel, unwrapping the first layer. The music stops and the parcel is passed around again. The process continues until the last layer has been unwrapped. The prize is kept by the child who holds the parcel.
Egg and Spoon Race
Each player is given one teaspoon and a hardboiled eggs (or a golfball) to place at the starting line. Place one teaspoon of the egg on each player’s teaspoon. Then, place the other hand behind your back. The players must move fast to reach the goal without letting the egg roll out of their spoons. The egg will roll off and the player is out. The game is won by the player who finishes the race with the egg in their spoon intact and one arm behind them.
Hunt for Treasure
Children love to find hidden treasures and decipher clues. You can draw clues to places you know (the large plant, the sofa in the living room) that will lead to the loot. Can’t draw? Take photos and print them. Have a sandbox to play with? You can fill small bags with small treasures such as rings, necklaces and temporary tattoos. Then, bury them in the ground before the party. Each guest will be given a map and a plastic shovel. There are plenty of buckets and sand toys that you can stash there. The kids might want to spend the remainder of the party digging up the goodies.
Sword/Coin Race
This relay race is fun with foam swords. Divide the children into teams. Each team should be given a container containing 20 plastic coins of gold. Place two baskets on each side of the room. Each team should give the sword to one child. Have them balance a coin of gold on the sword and then have them run to the basket at their opposite end. They must deposit the coin and then run back to give the sword to the next player. The first team to have all their coins in the basket wins. They must return any coin dropped to their container and put it back. The next person in line will grab a coin and begin.
Guessing Jar
Fill a small jar with candy, such as Smarties, jelly beans, and gummy bears. Ask your guests to estimate the amount, and keep track of their names and guesses. The correct number will be revealed at the end of the party. Prizes can be given to everyone, and the person closest gets the candy jar.
Tween Party Game (9-11 Years)
Drama on the Spot
Five items can be placed in several large shopping bags. You can put a shoe, hat, party favor, or other items in a large shopping bag. You should make sure that each bag contains different items. Split the bags into two teams, and give each team one bag. You can send them to different places. Each bag must be used in a skit. Allow them to practice for 15 minutes, then perform the skit for everyone. The finished skits might be filmed. Variation: Have them create a commercial with the items or a song.
Auction
Include a request in the invitation that all party guests bring a small gift or wrapped item. You can ask for something under $10, or even a gift they have received and want to regift. Each guest should be given a set amount of play money. Start an auction by displaying the first gift, and then auction it off to your guests. They can also bid on the cake, music or the first piece of cake with any leftover auction money.
Candy Hunt
Place lots of candy around the party area before the party begins. Use flashlights to help children find the candy when it is dark.
