Best Games for Kids Parties

Getting the kids together for a birthday party is always cause for celebration. Though the cake and the decorations are a big part of any child's birthday party, you want to be sure to keep the little ones entertained at the same time.

No children's birthday party is complete without including several games. You want to be sure to include games that can get all the kids involved and having fun. Rather than plop them all down in front of video games, go for some classics. These are all traditional party games and get the kids active and having a blast. So if you are searching high and low for the best games to include in your child's birthday party, consider a few of our favourites.

Pin the Tail on the Donkey

What kid doesn't love to play this classic? There's always a place for this beloved kids game at any birthday party. The best part is that it's really simple for the adults too. All you do is put up a large picture of a donkey or whatever other animal or character that you wish (great for theme parties - for instance, use our Pin the Parrot on the Pirate for a pirate party).

Then you give the kids their own little "pins" that can be safe and simple like blu tack or even sticky tape, so long as they have an end that can stick to it. Blindfold each child and then spin them around, so that they can blindly try to find the picture and the target. First one to pin it properly wins but plenty of laughs and fun can be had in the meantime!

Hot Potato

Surely you can remember playing some derivative of this game when you were a child. It's been around forever and kids of all generations just love it! You give the kids a potato or any other item and then play the music while they pass it quickly around the circle. You can use variations for different parties of course - for a winter wonderland party, use a snow globe or other winter item.

The last one left holding it when the music ends or is turned off is out of the circle, and the cycle continues on until a winner is found. This is also a really simple activity for the parents to plan for.

Pinata

Kids love sweets, and kids love to hit things with a bat - so this makes for a perfect combination! You can either get a pre-filled pinata or fill your own with sweets and little toys that you and the kids love. Put the pinata up on a string and then each child gets a turn at whacking at it with a bat while blindfolded. There's also a less violent version for younger kids where all the party participants simply pull on the strings to open the pinata. It's a fun game and even more enjoyable when the contents come spilling out for all to pick up and enjoy!

Treasure Hunt

Kids love hunting for things, whether it's other kids in 'hide and seek' or toys and sweets in treasure hunts. Simply gather some toys or sweets in small packages and hide them around your house or yard. Print up some cards with clues on them to read out.

If you are having a pirate party, you can host a pirate party treasure hunt! Instead of simply hiding items, you will have markers, a map and a variety of other items. Our treasure hunt involves a pirate treasure map, clue cards, markers of pirates, a ship, a parrot and others, and a treasure chest you can fold into a 3-D shape and fill with gold chocolate coins!

If you have older children see our suggestions for going out and about on a scavenger hunt.

Red Rover

This was always a fun game on the playground and it happens to work well at a child's birthday party too. The kids line up in two lines facing each other, all holding hands. Then each side calls out one at a time "red rover, red rover, send Johnny on over...".

Each child gets a turn at trying to break the line and if they do, then they get one of the team members over to their side. If they don't, then they are taken to the opposite side. A winner is selected when it comes down to just one person that has outlasted all attempts at breaking the line.

Musical Chairs

You probably remember playing this game in nursery school, but it still hasn't lost its appeal. You put chairs in a circle and put enough for all but one of the kids running around. Then you start the music as the kids walk quickly around the circle. When the music stops, each child tries to stake their claim on a chair, and the last one standing is out for that turn. This goes on until a winner is chosen, and it's just as fun from the sidelines as it is in the game! If you want to update things a little use our themed stepping stones games, where you print out stepping stones instead of having chairs (see the party games section in the theme you want).

Sack Race

Do you remember playing this at picnics throughout your childhood? It's easy and fun for kids of all ages. All the kids pair up and then get into a potato or hessian sack together as teams. Then they have to work together to make it to the finish line as a team, and the antics that come out of the two trying to walk as one are priceless! Sometimes the easiest and most inexpensive games happen to be the most enjoyable and fun for all times.