40 fun kids' party games for any occasion

Planning a kids’ party? The games you choose can make or break the fun! Whether you’re hosting a birthday bash, a backyard get-together, or a holiday party, these 40 exciting kids' party games will help keep kids entertained. From classic favorites to creative new ideas, there's something for every age group.

Classic kids’ party games

1. Musical Chairs – Arrange chairs in a circle with one fewer than the number of players. As music plays, kids walk around the chairs. When the music stops, they must quickly find a seat. The one left standing is out, and a chair is removed each round until only one child remains.

2. Freeze Dance – Play lively music and let kids dance freely. When the music stops, everyone must freeze in place. If someone moves, they are out. The game continues until only one dancer remains.

3. Simon Says – One player is designated as "Simon" and gives commands starting with "Simon says..." Players must follow the commands only when preceded by "Simon says" Anyone who follows a command without that phrase is out! 

4. Duck, Duck, Goose – Kids sit in a circle while one walks around tapping heads, saying "duck" each time. When they say "goose," the tapped player must jump up and chase them around the circle. If the goose catches the runner before they sit down, the runner goes again.

5. Hot Potato – Kids sit in a circle and pass an object (like a bean bag or ball) while music plays. When the music stops, the child holding it is out. The last player remaining wins.

6. Red Light, Green Light – One child stands at a distance and calls "Green light!" for others to move forward and "Red light!" to make them stop. If a player moves after "Red light!" is called, they must go back to the start. The first to reach the leader wins.

7. Treasure Hunt – Hide small toys, treats, or themed items around the party area. Provide kids with clues or a map to find the hidden treasures. You can make it more challenging with riddles or teamwork tasks.

8. Pin the Tail on the Donkey – Blindfolded players attempt to pin a paper tail as close to the correct spot on a donkey poster as possible. The closest placement wins.

Be a financially smart family!

Be a financially smart family!

From saving for the future to understanding credit, see how families are thriving with Greenlight.

Try Greenlight today

9. Egg-and-Spoon Race – Each child holds a spoon with an egg (or a plastic substitute) and must race to the finish line without dropping it. The first one across wins, or the last one standing with an intact egg wins.

10. Three-Legged Race – Pair up kids and tie one of their legs to their partner’s. They must work together to run to the finish line without falling. The fastest duo wins.

High-energy outdoor games

11. Sack Race – Each child stands inside a large sack and must hop their way to the finish line. The first one to reach the end without falling wins.

12. Water Balloon Toss – Kids pair up and toss a water balloon back and forth, taking a step back after each successful catch. If the balloon bursts, the pair is out. The last remaining team wins.

13. Obstacle Course – Set up a series of obstacles such as cones, tunnels, or balance beams. Kids must complete the course as fast as possible without skipping any challenges.

14. Capture the Flag – Players split into two teams, each with a flag on their territory. The goal is to sneak into the opposing team's area and bring their flag back without being tagged.

15. Tag Variations – Play different versions of tag such as Freeze Tag (where tagged players must freeze until freed) or Flashlight Tag (played in the dark with flashlights used to "tag" players).

16. Tug-of-War – Two teams hold opposite ends of a thick rope and pull as hard as they can to bring the other team across a marked line. The team that stays on their side wins.

17. Bubble Pop Challenge – Blow an abundance of bubbles and challenge kids to pop as many as possible using only their hands or different body parts.

18. Kick the Can – A hybrid of hide-and-seek and tag where one player guards a can while others hide. The hidden players try to kick the can before being caught.

19. Giant Parachute Games – Use a large play parachute for activities like bouncing balls, making waves, or having kids run underneath while lifting it up and down.

20. Backyard Bowling – Set up empty plastic bottles or lightweight pins and let kids take turns rolling a ball to knock them over. Increase the challenge by adjusting the distance.

Indoor party games

21. Charades – Players take turns acting out words or phrases without speaking, using only gestures and body movements. Their teammates must correctly guess the word or phrase before time runs out. The game continues until all prompts have been used, and the team with the most correct guesses wins.

22. Balloon Pop Challenge – Each child has a balloon tied to their ankle with a string. Players run around trying to pop each other’s balloons by stomping on them while protecting their own. The last child with an unpopped balloon wins.

23. The Floor Is Lava – Players move around the room using furniture, cushions, and designated safe zones while avoiding touching the floor, which is "lava." If a player touches the floor, they are out. The last remaining player wins the game.

24. Guess the Animal – One player silently acts out an animal or makes its sounds while the other players try to guess what it is. The first to guess correctly gets to be the next performer. The game continues until everyone has had a turn.

25. Mummy Wrap – Players form teams, and each team selects one player to be the "mummy." The other teammates use toilet paper to wrap the "mummy" as quickly and thoroughly as possible. The team with the best or fastest wrap wins.

26. Don’t Laugh Challenge – Players take turns telling jokes, making funny faces, or performing silly antics while the rest of the group tries to keep a straight face. Anyone who laughs is out. The last player remaining wins.

27. Sleeping Lions – All players lie still on the floor like sleeping lions while an adult or designated "lion tamer" tries to make them move or giggle using jokes, funny noises, or gentle pokes. The last child to remain still wins.

28. Pass the Parcel – A wrapped gift with multiple layers of wrapping is passed around in a circle while music plays. When the music stops, the child holding the parcel unwraps one layer. The game continues until the final layer is removed, revealing the prize for the last child.

29. Pom-Pom Blow Race – Each child gets a straw and a small pom-pom. Players must blow through their straws to push their pom-pom across a table or designated track to reach the finish line first. The first to cross wins.

30. Puzzle Race – Each child receives a small jigsaw puzzle with equal difficulty. They race to complete their puzzle as quickly as possible. The first one to correctly finish assembling their puzzle wins the game.

Creative & DIY games

31. DIY Carnival Games – Set up a mini carnival with games like ring toss, bean bag toss, or fishing for prizes. Use simple household items to create the games and award small prizes to winners. This keeps kids engaged and adds a festive atmosphere to the party.

32. Paper Airplane Contest – Provide kids with paper and let them design and decorate their own airplanes. Once ready, have them compete in different challenges, such as longest flight distance, most accurate landing, or coolest design.

33. Cup Stacking Race – Each child is given a set of plastic cups and must quickly stack them into a pyramid, then collapse them back down. The fastest player to complete the sequence wins the round.

34. Photo Booth Challenge – Set up a photo booth with fun backdrops and props like hats, glasses, and wigs. Let kids take turns striking funny poses and capturing memories with a camera or smartphone.

35. Lego Building Contest – Provide kids with an assortment of Lego bricks and assign a theme, such as animals, castles, or vehicles. Set a time limit and have a judging panel (or let the kids vote) to determine the most creative or impressive build.

36. Marshmallow Tower – Kids use marshmallows and toothpicks to build the tallest, most stable tower possible within a set time. Encourage creativity by allowing different design approaches to see whose tower stands tallest at the end.

37. Pictionary – Players take turns drawing a given word or phrase while their teammates try to guess it within a time limit. Use a whiteboard, chalkboard, or paper for drawings, and keep score to determine the winning team.

38. Shadow Puppet Theater – Set up a dimly lit area and give kids flashlights. Encourage them to use their hands or paper cutouts to create shadow characters and act out short stories for an imaginative and interactive experience.

39. Homemade Piñata – Create a DIY piñata using paper mache or a decorated paper bag filled with treats. Hang it up and let kids take turns blindfolded, trying to break it open with a stick to release the goodies inside.

40. DIY Dance-Off – Play upbeat music and let kids showcase their best dance moves. Allow them to choreograph routines alone or in teams, and celebrate their creativity with applause or small prizes for participation.

Want more parenting wins? From budgeting to spending wisely, Greenlight’s family money app teaches money lessons for life. Try Greenlight, one month, risk-free.†

This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.

†Valid for new customers only. Subject to identity verification and minimum load requirements. Your first monthly fee will be billed to your parent wallet seven days after successful registration. To receive a refund of your first monthly fee, you must request to close your account on or before the day immediately preceding your first Monthly Billing Date. See the ‘Account’ tab of Settings by tapping the gear icon on the Greenlight app home page to confirm when your risk-free trial ends. See Terms for details.