14 game ideas for a children’s party

The games listed below are great for themed birthday parties!

pinatas

The piñata is a brightly colored paper container filled with sweets and/or toys. It is usually hung on a rope from a tree branch or from the ceiling and is used during celebrations. A succession of blindfolded, stick-wielding children attempt to break the piñata to collect the candy (traditionally sugar cane) and/or toys inside. Best of all, you can create or purchase a piñata that matches your theme.

It might be a good idea to make goodie bags ahead of time to make sure each child gets their fair share.

Pin the ________ on the __________

(fill in the blanks with anything relevant to your topic)
Traditionally this game is played by groups of children. A picture of a donkey (or whatever is most appropriate for your theme) is pinned to a wall within easy reach of children (usually on a large cork bulletin board). Then each child in turn, one at a time, is blindfolded and given a paper “tail” with a pin or thumbtack through it. (The donkey image is missing its tail.) The blindfolded child is then spun around until he probably becomes disoriented (and possibly pleasantly dizzy). The boy then groups up and tries to pin the donkey’s tail.

The player who managed to stick his tail closer to the correct place on the back of the donkey (the target) wins. You can also use office tape instead of push pins.

Drop the clothespin into a bottle

This is another one that can be turned into a themed activity by simply using a coffee can with a plastic lid as a container to catch the clothespins. Poke a hole in the plastic lid appropriate for the child’s age. Then decorate the can.

bean bag toss

Create your own style of bean bag toss. You can use materials from around your house and match the theme to your party.

Go on a treasure hunt

Here are some scavenger hunt ideas: You can scatter real coins, plastic coins, or candy coins on the lawn and let the kids search for them, like an Easter egg hunt.

treasure hunt

Another variation of the scavenger hunt is the scavenger hunt. You can divide the children into teams and give them a list of objects to find (they can be random objects or hidden objects). Once they have found all the items listed, they will report back to you or the leader for a prize.

make a bracelet/necklace

Purchase cheap beads and some elastic cord at your local fabric store. Children can work on creating their own jewelry.

guess the number

Fill a jar with candy and have the children write their name on a small piece of paper and guess how many candies are in the jar. The winner can take the jar home as a prize.

Guess who?

As the children walk through the door, tape a farm animal or item/object to their backs. Throughout the party they can ask yes and no questions about what they are.

The players sit in a circle. The first player begins by saying, “For my birthday dinner I like to eat hamburgers.” The next player must repeat “For my birthday dinner I like to eat hamburger…” and add another plate. This continues around the circle with each player reciting the birthday dinner. She’s in the exact order they’ve been given, and then she adds a new one. If a player makes a mistake, he slips out of the circle and the game continues. The person left who can perfectly recite the birthday dinner menu wins.

Duck Duck Goose

Whatever the topic, replace the topic words with “duck” and “goose.”

hot potato

You can use an item that matches your theme in place of the “potato” for this old favorite. For the character parts, use a stuffed toy of the character.

charades

Have a child come up to the front of the group and whisper the name of an animal, or something related to your topic. Then they act out what the animal does. The rest of the children try to guess the name of the animal.

water balloon volleyball

You will need many water balloons stored in a bucket filled with water and towels for each pair of children. Divide the children into two groups. Combine them and give each pair a beach towel. One side begins by placing a water balloon in the center of your towel. Each child holds one of the two corners of the towel in their hands. The object is to launch the water balloon over the net with the opposite side catching the balloon on their towel. The volley continues until one side misses and the lob breaks giving the other team a point. First team to 15 wins.

Wits and Consequences

Blow up balloons with questions, written on strips of paper, inside and place the balloons in Bag “A”. Let each guest come up and pop a balloon in their turn. If they answer correctly, they stay in the game for another round, if they answer incorrectly, they draw a balloon from Bag “B”, pop it, and have to do what it says… “Stand on 1 foot for 30 seconds”. If they complete their task, they can return to the game. If not, they can cheer on the remaining players. When all the questions have been answered, the games are over.