There is nothing better than a good game to get your child’s party off to a flying start. Despite everything that technology throws at them, kids still go absolutely wild for a classic kids’ party game, and the sillier the better!
Party games for children are a great way of involving everyone and getting the energy going, especially with younger children who just want to move. Here are 10 of our favourites, including some old classics, some fun variations, and a few new ones to mix things up.
Our top 10 kids’ party games:
- The Chocolate Game
- Pass the Parcel
- Pin the Tail on the Donkey
- DIY Pictionary
- Pass the Balloon
- Kim’s Game
- Limbo
- Musical Statues
- Hot Potato
- Sardines
1. The Chocolate Game
Age: 6+
This is one of those party games for children that has genuinely stood the test of time. There is something wonderfully gratifying about eating large quantities of chocolate in a comical, undignified fashion with a knife and fork and without having to remember your manners! Any game that involves chocolate has to be a good one, right?!
Requirements
- Dressing-up clothes, including a hat, scarf and gloves
- Two dice
- A wrapped bar of chocolate
- A plate, knife and fork
How to play
- Put the bar of chocolate on the plate with the knife and fork nearby, and sit the children around it in a circle. Throw the pile of dressing-up clothes into the circle. Give one child the dice.
- Children take it in turns to roll the dice, passing them around the circle to their left.
- If a child rolls a double, they move into the centre, put on the dressing-up clothes, and start to unwrap and then eat the chocolate using only the knife and fork.
- That child continues until another child rolls a double, at which point they hand over the dressing-up clothes.
- The game continues until the chocolate is finished!
Tips
Don’t underestimate the ability of some children to expertly unwrap and eat copious amounts of chocolate with only a knife and fork. You may need a few spare bars!
For a larger group, divide into two teams and give each team their own bar of chocolate, clothes and dice. The winning team is the first to finish the whole bar.
Don’t forget to take photos as the children dress up. It will make for a brilliant souvenir!
Variation
Instead of a knife and fork and a bar of chocolate, try a pair of chopsticks and small sweets like M&Ms. Trickier for younger children, but hilarious once they get the hang of it.
2. Pass the Parcel (with forfeits!)
Age: 5+
Most people know the basic concept of pass the parcel, but the forfeit version takes it to a whole new level. Instead of just unwrapping layers to find a prize, each layer comes with a silly activity the whole group can enjoy. Trust us, it makes a big difference to these classic kids’ party games!
Requirements
- A present and a box to disguise its shape (optional)
- Wrapping paper, scissors and sticky tape
- Pen and paper
- A music player and playlist
Preparation
Wrap the gift at least as many times as you have children participating. Between each layer, write a forfeit for the person to do when they unwrap that layer. Some examples:
- Sing Happy Birthday like a dog, making woofs for each word
- Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” backwards
- Pretend to be a chicken with its bottom on fire
- Hop on one leg ten times while patting your head and rubbing your tummy
- Recite the alphabet in a silly voice
- Do 10 star jumps, counting backwards
- Hum a TV theme tune until someone guesses it correctly
- Tell a joke
- Say “she sells seashells on the seashore” without making a mistake
- Dance with a friend
How to play
- Sit the children in a circle, close enough to pass the parcel easily.
- Designate a music player who will be responsible for turning the music on and off.
- The music player starts the music and stops it when least expected.
- The child holding the parcel when the music stops unwraps one layer. If the parcel was mid-air between exchanges, it goes to the child it was being passed to.
- That child reads the forfeit out loud and has to do whatever it says!
- Restart the music and keep going until all layers are unwrapped. The child who unwraps the final layer keeps the present.
Tips
If you want the game to be more inclusive, choose a prize that can be shared by everyone, like a bag of sweets or a selection of small toys.
The adult controlling the music may need to time the stops to make sure every child gets a turn to unwrap a layer. Keep an eye on who has and hasn’t had a go.
Some children can feel self-conscious doing activities in front of a group, so have some simpler alternatives ready. Or write forfeits that everyone joins in with at once, for example, everyone does the chicken together, and the group votes on the best one!
If you want to cut down on wrapping paper, newspaper works just as well and is much more eco-friendly.
Variation
The modern version of pass the parcel includes a small prize between every layer rather than just at the end, so that every child wins something. A lovely idea for younger children’s parties, especially.
3. Pin the Tail on the Donkey
Age: 4+
A crowd pleaser that has been around since 1899 and still gets everyone going. Pin the Tail on the Donkey is one of those great kids’ party games that everyone loves! It’s great fun in its original form, but is also easily adapted to suit whatever theme your party is running with.
Requirements
- An image of a donkey on a poster board
- Cut-out donkey tails with adhesive
- A blindfold
- A prize for the winner (optional)
Preparation
- Draw a donkey or stick a printed image onto a poster board. Aim for at least 30cm wide and 45cm tall.
- Cut out a tail for each player and attach adhesive tape to each one.
- Mount the donkey image on a wall at a height that works for all the children playing.
- Mark an X on the donkey where the tail should go, so there is a clear reference point for the winner.
How to play
- Blindfold the first player using a dark cloth or bandanna to make sure there is no peeking.
- Spin the blindfolded player in a slow circle five to ten times to make the guessing harder. You may want to skip this for very young children.
- Hand the player their tail and let them attempt to stick it as close to the X as possible.
- Guide them gently to face the donkey before they start walking forward.
- Repeat with each player until everyone has had a turn, leaving all the tails in place as you go.
- Mark each player’s initials next to their tail as it goes up.
- The player whose tail is closest to the X is the winner!
Tips
Use blue tack or sticky tape on the tails rather than actual pins, especially with younger children.
Variation
Turn the preparation into part of the party fun! Let the children draw and decorate the donkey together and make their own personalised tails using string, paper and ribbon.
You can also tailor the game to your party theme. Pin the tiara on the princess (you can find lots more princess party ideas here), pin the spade on the pirate treasure (and lots of pirate party ideas here!) – basically, whatever your party, you can make a custom version of this game to suit!
4. DIY Pictionary
Age: 6+
You don’t need to buy the board game to play your own version of this classic drawing and guessing game. All you need is something to draw on and a bit of imagination, and you are good to go!
Requirements
- A large pad of paper and marker, a chalkboard and chalk, or a whiteboard and dry erase marker
- Slips of paper with words written on them (for younger children, stick to simple nouns like “cat” or “sun”)
- A hat or bowl to draw from
How to play
- Divide players into two teams.
- One player picks a word from the hat and draws it silently while their team tries to guess what it is. No talking, miming or pointing allowed!
- If the team guesses correctly before the time runs out, they get a point. Then the other team takes a turn.
- If you have two drawing surfaces, both teams can draw the same word simultaneously. The first team to guess correctly wins the round.
- Tally up points at the end and crown a winner!
Tips
For younger children, keep the words simple and obvious. Animals, food and everyday objects work best. You can always have an adult help with the drawing for very little ones.
Variation
For a faster, more chaotic version, instead of one word per turn, let players draw as many words as their team can guess before the time runs out. You can also ditch the teams and scoring entirely and just take turns drawing for the group. First person to guess correctly draws next!
For a fun twist, everyone has to draw using their non-dominant hand only. It levels the playing field brilliantly if you have one child who is a budding artist, and the results are always entertaining!
5. Pass the Balloon
Age: 6+
Classic kids’ party games that guarantee a laugh are always a win, and this one is a great choice! Laughs come thick and fast in this wonderfully silly game of agility and teamwork. Simple to set up and impossible to play with a straight face!
Requirements (this is an easy one 😉)
- 2 inflated balloons!
How to play
- Create two teams with players standing in a line.
- The first child on each team tucks a balloon between their chin and chest.
- They must pass the balloon to the next player using no hands. The next player must also hold it using only their chin and chest.
- This continues down the line until the last player gets the balloon.
- If the balloon is dropped or bursts, the team starts again from the beginning. First team to finish wins!
Tips
If you have a mix of older and younger children, try to balance the teams so it stays competitive and fair. If your child loves balloons, why not hire a balloon modeller for your party?
Variation
Try using other round objects of different sizes, like oranges or apples. Smaller objects mean closer contact with teammates, which makes it even more fun. You could play a best-of-three rounds with a different object each time!
6. Kim’s Game (aka The Tray Game / The Memory Game)
Age: 6+
Another childhood favourite of mine, and a brilliant party calmer when things are getting a little hectic! This simple memory game requires no running around, just sharp eyes and a good memory.
Requirements
- A tray with around 20 small objects on it, for example, an apple, scissors, a fork, a glove, an egg
- A scarf or cloth to cover the tray
- Pen and paper for each player
How to play
- Give each child a pen and paper.
- Show the children the tray and let them study it for one minute.
- Cover the tray with the scarf.
- Children have to write down as many objects as they can remember.
- The child with the most correct answers wins!
Tips
This works really well as a breather between more energetic kids’ party games. It naturally quietens everyone down and gives the grown-ups a moment to breathe too!
Variation
Instead of writing everything down, remove one item from the tray while the children are not looking and ask them to call out what is missing. First child to get it right wins a point. Keep going until all the objects have been removed, with the overall winner being the child with the most points.
7. Limbo
Age: 7+
How low can you go? Originally a dance performed at celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago, limbo is one of those games that sounds simple but gets surprisingly competitive surprisingly quickly. This is a great addition to any kids’ party games list!
Requirements
- A broomstick or any other long stick
How to play
- Two players hold the limbo stick at either end while the other players take turns going under it, however they like.
- After everyone has had a turn, lower the stick by a few centimetres.
- Players keep going under the stick as it gets lower and lower.
- If a player touches the stick with any part of their body, they are out.
- The last player standing wins!
Tips
This works brilliantly outside where there is more space. Put on some upbeat music to really set the mood and get everyone in the spirit!
Variation
For a fun alternative that tests the same flexibility, try the cereal box game. Place an empty cereal box on the floor and challenge players to pick it up using only their teeth, with no hands touching the ground. After each round, tear a few centimetres off the top of the box to make it lower and lower. Anyone who can’t manage it is out. The winner is the last one standing, and fair warning, adults get very competitive with this one!
8. Musical Statues
Age: 4+
A timeless classic in the world of kids’ party games – it never fails to get kids giggling. All you need is music and a bit of floor space! Musical Statues is brilliant for burning off energy and works perfectly as an icebreaker at the start of a party when kids are still warming up to each other.
Requirements
- A music player and a playlist
- Enough space for children to move around freely
- A small prize for the winner (optional)
How to play
- Ask all the children to spread out so they have space to dance.
- When the music starts, everyone dances their best moves. The sillier the better!
- When the music suddenly stops, everyone must freeze completely still like a statue.
- Any child who wobbles, moves or can’t help laughing is out and steps to the side.
- Restart the music and keep going until only one player is left standing. They are the winner!
Tips
The person controlling the music is the secret weapon here. Stop it unpredictably, sometimes very quickly, sometimes letting it run longer to lull everyone into a false sense of security. The element of surprise is what makes it so funny! If your child loves to dance, you might consider a full-on disco party (ideas here!)
Variation
Musical Bumps is the floor-based version of this game. Instead of freezing when the music stops, children have to sit down on the floor as fast as possible. The last one to sit is out. It is slightly more chaotic and a favourite with younger children who find standing still basically impossible!
9. Hot Potato
Age: 4+
Fast, frantic and guaranteed to get everyone shrieking! Hot Potato is pass the parcel’s hyperactive little sibling. No wrapping required, no prep needed, just grab an object and go.
Requirements
- A small object to act as the “potato” (a ball, a beanbag, or even an actual potato works perfectly!)
- A music player
How to play
- Sit all the children in a circle.
- When the music starts, children pass the potato around the circle as quickly as possible. No holding on to it!
- When the music stops, the child holding the potato is out and steps out of the circle.
- Keep going until only one player is left. They are the winner!
Tips
The person controlling the music should stop it unpredictably, sometimes very quickly and sometimes let it run longer to keep everyone on their toes. You could even run this one back-to-back with musical statues for a brilliant set of high-energy games!
Variation
Instead of being eliminated, the child holding the potato has to do a silly forfeit before rejoining the circle, similar to pass the parcel. This keeps everyone in the game and the energy high throughout!
10. Sardines
Age: 5+
Think hide and seek, but in reverse! Instead of one person searching while everyone hides, one person hides while everyone else searches. The twist is that when you find the hider, you quietly squeeze in and hide alongside them. The hiding spot gets more and more cramped and giggly as people pile in, and the last person to find the group loses. Chaotic, silly and absolutely brilliant for parties in bigger homes or venues (check for any out-of-bounds areas if using a venue)
Requirements
- A house or venue with plenty of hiding spots
- 3 or more players
How to play
- Choose one player to be the first sardine. They go off and hide while everyone else waits and counts to 30.
- Once counting is done, all the other players spread out and search individually, not in a group.
- When a player finds the sardine, they quietly squeeze in and hide alongside them (no announcing it!)
- The hiding spot fills up one by one until only one player is left searching.
- The last person to find the group loses, and the first person who found the sardine gets to hide next!
Tips
The bigger and more interesting the space, the better this game gets. It works brilliantly in gardens too. Make sure younger children are paired with an adult or older child for their turn hiding so nobody gets genuinely lost!
Variation
For a noisier (and more difficult) version, the sardines must make a quiet animal noise every 30 seconds. A soft moo, a quiet bark, whatever they choose! Searchers have to listen as well as look, which adds a whole new layer of silliness.
We hope these party games for children give you plenty of inspiration for your next celebration. Happy playing!
PartyWizz helps you book the best kid’s entertainers and party services in UK and Ireland. From magicians and face painters to party packages and photographers, you’ll find those in your area on our easy-to-use platform. Whether you’re planning a birthday party, christening, communion or a corporate family day, go to PartyWizz to find the perfect service providers hassle-free!
