Birthday party games for kids of all ages.
Birthday party games can range from the classic to the silly. We've organized every classic birthday party game we could think of into this handy reference guide. Go through our list and you'll see which of these birthday party games are easiest for you to prepare for your birthday party!
Fish Pond
Age: kids
Players: 6+ (but it needs to be an equal number of boys and girls)
What you need:
- A string with a pencil or other light weight tied to the end for every set of partners
- A changing screen (if you have one. If not, a door will work too)
Preparation: Tie the pencils or the weights to the strings. Set up the screen, if you have one, in a corner.
This game is also a nice ice breaker when not everyone knows each other. All you do is have one of the boys take the long string with the pencil tied to it. he throws it over the door or screen, and whichever girl grabs hold of the pencil becomes his partner.
Keep going until all the partners are taken.
Sardines
Age range: kids
Players: 5 or more
This is "Hide and Seek" backwards. Only one player hides, and the other players go hunting individually. When a hunter finds the hiding place, though, instead of announcing it, that player gets into the hiding place, too. As each hunter finds the hiding place, the hunter joins the hunted until they are crowded—you guessed it—like sardines. The game goes on until the last hunter finds the sardines.
Airplane Ride
Age: kids
Players: 8+ (but probably no more than 25)
What you need:
- A large map of the world that is adhered to the wall
- A paper airplane that can make for each player with a thumbtack or adhesive attached to it.
- Something to use for blindfolding
- A tape measure or ruler
Mark each airplane with the names of the players. And mark a point on the map that will be the “Airport.”
Everyone stands on the other side of the room. It’s more fun if you put a few large (but safe) items in the way for the players to navigate around, like chairs or a wastebasket.
The objective of this game is to get your airplane as close to the Airport as possible. Before each player starts, you should have each of them spin three times in place with the blindfold on.
After all the airplanes have been stuck to the map, use the rules or tape measure to see who got closest! That’s your winner!
Hot Potato
Age: kids
Players: 6-30
What you need:
- A small potato or ball.
Another classic kids game. In case you’ve forgotten how to play…
All the kids sit in a big circle with “IT” in the middle. It tosses the potato to a person sitting in the circle, and then s/he turns around. The potato gets passed quickly around the circle, until It yells, “STOP!” At that point, whoever has the potato is OUT!
Keep going until only one person is left. That person now becomes “IT”.
Baby Bottle Contest
Age range: kids and baby shower guests.
Players: 2 or more
What you need:
- Baby bottles with new nipples, punctured by a straight pin
- Each bottle should be filled with water
This is simply a speed contest to see who can drink their water from a baby bottle the fastest! We feel this game is even more fun at baby showers.
Losing Your Marbles
Age range: kids
Players: 2 or more
What you need:
- A dozen marbles
- 4 saucers or other small plates
- 4 straws
Preparation: Put 6 marbles on a saucer for each player.
This game is pretty simple: First person to move all six of her marbles from one plate to the next is the winner.
Each player can only use the straws (like chopsticks) to move the marbles. If a marble is dropped and hits the floor, the player can either retreive it of she can keep going on the marbles that are still on her plate.
Blow-Me-Down Race
Age range: kids
Players: 2 or more
What you need:
- 2 (dry) medicine droppers (the kind that comes with nose drops—you can get them at a pharmacy)
- 2 small downy feathers (the kind in some sofa pillows) or two small pieces of tissue paper that are cut to about one inch in diameter
The objective in this game is to move the feather or tissue paper across the table using nothing but the air being pumped by the dropper.
The first player to push their feather or tissue off the table is the winner.
Chimp Race
Age range: kids
Players: 2 or more
For this race, ask all the participants to line up at a starting line. When the referee yells, “GO!” the player spread their feet apart, bend over, and grab their ankles with their hands.
They must then race to the finish line without letting go of their ankles. The first one to cross the finish line wins!
If they let go of their ankles, they need to head back to the finish line and start over. It’s a good idea to make the distance a bit on the short side (20 or 30 feet) so that the players don’t get too tired and give up before someone hits the finish line.
Note that this can also be done as a team relay!
Paper Training Race
Age range: kids
Players: 2 or more
What you need:
- 2 sheets of newspaper for each player (and a few extras in case they tear)
This is race where you’re only allowed to step on newspaper. Have the players line up at a starting line. They are given two sheets of newspaper. In order to move forward they need to lift one paper, place it in front of them, and step on it.
The first player to cross the finish line is the winner!
Kick The Can
Age range: kids and teens
What you need:
- A can that can be safely kicked without hurting your foot (like an empty soda can)
Players: 4 – 12
This is another classic game that needs to be played outdoors. One person is selected as “IT”. Similar to Hide and Seek, the other players run and hid.
It counts and looks for them. When he finds someone, instead of tagging that person, they both race for the can. If IT kicks it before the other person, then the other person is now it. If IT doesn’t reach the can first, then she is still IT and must look for the others.
Marshmallow Chew
Age range: kids and young teens
Players: 2 or more
What you need:
- A string about one and a half feet long
- A marshmallow
Each player should be given a marshmallow with a string tied around it.
Have the players line up next to each other with one end of the string in their mouths and the marshmallow hanging below. The objective of the game is to bring the marshmallow into their mouths without the use of their hands.
The first person to accomplish this task is the winner! The trick is to get the string to wrap around the tongue and then to start “winding” the string around the tongue in your mouth. Otherwise, it’s almost impossible to do (but fun to watch!).
Up Jenkins!
Age range: kids and teens
Players: 12 or more
What you need:
- A long table Chairs or benches
- A coin
Even though I recommend 12 players, it all depends on how big your table is. If you can fit more, even better!
The first step is to form two teams with the same number of players. Each team must also find a team captain. The teams sit across the table from one another and the captains sit at the head.
The captain from team 1 gets the coin and begins passing it UNDER the table to the person next to her. The second person passes it again, and so forth. Team 1’s objective is to be secretive about where the coin is among the teammates. They should not let Team 2 know who has the coin.
At any time, the captain of Team 2 can yell, "Up Jenkins!"
Upon hearing this, Team 1 has to hold their hands over their heads with their hands clenched into fists. The captain than says, “Down Jenkins!” and all the players must put their hands flat on the table. The coin should remain hidden and should not make any extra noise as it hits the table.
Team 2 now has to guess which player has the coin. Every time you get one right, you get a point. The coin goes from team to team with each round, and you should set a point total to reach to determine which team is the winner.
In the Manner of the Word
Age range: kids and teens
Players: 4 or more
One player is chosen as “IT” and must leave the room. The remaining players must choose an adverb that IT must guess when she returns.
The only clue IT receives is to see actions performed “In the Manner of the Word.” So, for example, if the adverb is “angrily”, then all the guests perform tasks in an “angry fashion”. Like walking angrily, dancing angrily, pointing angrily, etc.
