Planning a party and need some lively, laughter-filled activities? Try party games for kids!

Whether you’re celebrating a themed birthday, such as a unicorn party, a holiday, or just a special afternoon, the right party games can turn a fun gathering into an unforgettable one.

Here’s your ultimate guide to party games for kids, organized by age to make it easy to pick the perfect games for your group! There’s a mix of both indoor and outdoor activities, so you’re sure to find something that works for your space!

In this post:

• Party Games for Ages 3–5
• Party Games for Ages 6–8
• Party Games for Ages 9-12
• Party Games for Mixed Ages
• Troubleshooting Party Games: What to Do If Things Don’t Go as Planned

Party Games for Kids (By Age)

Kids have different energy levels, attention spans, and abilities at every age, so picking the right games makes a huge difference.

This list is divided by age group to help you easily find games that match your party guests’ needs — keeping everyone engaged, having fun, and feeling included!

Party Games for Ages 3–5

Little ones love games that are simple, active, and full of silliness. These games keep them moving while still being easy to understand

1. Duck, Duck, Goose

• Number of Players: 5+
• Things Needed: None
• Time: 10–15 minutes

Children sit cross-legged in a wide circle. One child becomes “It” and slowly walks around the outside, tapping each child’s head and saying “duck” each time.

When they say “goose,” the tapped child must jump up and chase the tapper around the circle, trying to tag them before they sit in the empty spot. If the tapper gets caught, they sit in the center (or do a silly action) before returning to the game.

This game is fantastic for preschoolers because it burns off energy, teaches turn-taking, and almost always results in squeals of laughter.

2. Freeze Dance

• Number of Players: 3+
• Things Needed: Music player
• Time: 10–20 minutes

Play some upbeat kids’ music and let everyone dance freely! Periodically pause the music — when it stops, all dancers must freeze immediately. Anyone who moves after the music stops is “out” (optional for younger groups). Kids love trying to freeze in silly poses or trying not to laugh and wiggle.

This fun music and movement activity is a great way to combine movement, listening skills, and pure goofy fun — plus, no setup needed!

3. Animal Charades

• Number of Players: 3+
• Things Needed: Cards with animal pictures or names
• Time: 15–20 minutes

Kids take turns picking a card with an animal on it. Without using words, they act out the animal for the group to guess — crawling like a cat, hopping like a frog, flapping like a bird. If they’re shy, a buddy can help act it out!

Animal charades spark imagination, get everyone giggling, and are perfect even for kids who aren’t reading yet.

4. Bubble Pop

• Number of Players: 1+
• Things Needed: Bubble solution and wands or a bubble machine
• Time: 10–15 minutes

Blow a flurry of bubbles into the air and watch the kids go wild trying to pop them all! You can simply let them chase bubbles freely or add challenges like “pop with one hand” or “pop only the biggest bubbles.” If you have a bubble machine, even better — it’ll keep a constant stream going!

Bubble Pop is great for outdoor parties and gives toddlers and preschoolers a chance to burn off energy while developing their coordination.

5. Bean Bag Toss

• Number of Players: 2+
• Things Needed: Bean bags, a bucket, or a hoop
• Time: 15–20 minutes

Set up a few buckets, hoops, or laundry baskets at different distances. Kids take turns tossing bean bags into the targets, earning more points for longer shots. You can make it easier by moving the buckets closer or harder by requiring underhand throws!

You can also try additional fun bean bag games for kids!

This is a fun, no-stress game that builds gross motor skills while keeping even young kids happily entertained.

6. Color Hunt

• Number of Players: 1+
• Things Needed: Every day colored objects
• Time: 10–15 minutes

Call out a color — “Find something green!” — and kids race to bring you something of that color. For an outdoor party, it could be a leaf or a toy; indoors, maybe a pillow or a sock.

Color Hunt encourages quick thinking and movement without the need for any fancy supplies, making it an easy win for young partygoers.

7. Parachute Play

• Number of Players: 5+
• Things Needed: Play parachute (or a large sheet)
• Time: 20 minutes
• Description:
  Kids hold the edges of a parachute and lift it up and down. Try games like “cat and mouse” (one child crawls under as others lift the parachute) or simply create a colorful “mushroom” dome!
  Best for cooperative, inclusive play.

8. Simon Says

• Number of Players: 3+
• Things Needed: None
• Time: 10–15 minutes

One child (or adult) plays “Simon,” giving commands like “Simon says touch your nose” or “Simon says jump three times.” Players must only follow the command if it starts with “Simon says.” If they move when Simon didn’t say it, they’re out.

Simon Says encourages careful listening, quick thinking, and a lot of silly mistakes and laughter!

• Check out my massive list of 1001 Simon says ideas! Having a list really does help to keep the game moving.

Party Games for Ages 6–8

These early elementary kids are ready for a little more challenge — games that mix movement, creativity, and simple competition work best.

9. Balloon Pop Race

• Number of Players: 4+
• Things Needed: Balloons
• Time: 15 minutes

Blow up enough balloons for each player, plus extras. On “Go!”, each child races to pop their balloon as fast as they can — but no sharp objects allowed! They must use their body: stomping, squeezing, hugging, or sitting. To make it sillier, you can have them pop balloons by sitting on a chair or bouncing on a pile.

This game always brings laughter and is perfect for getting the wiggles out at the start of a party.

The suspense keeps kids excited the whole time, and you can tailor the mini prizes to your party theme.

10. Obstacle Course

• Number of Players: 2+
• Things Needed: Pillows, chairs, cones, hoops, etc.
• Time: 20–30 minutes

Set up a playful obstacle course using everyday household items. Kids might crawl under tables, hop over pillows, balance across a “tightrope” (string), or spin around a chair before sprinting to the finish line.

Add silly challenges like “quack like a duck while hopping” or “carry a spoon with a ball across the room.”

Obstacle courses are an incredible gross motor activity that also builds creative thinking — and you can make them as simple or complex as you like!

11. Popcorn Catch

• Number of Players: 2+
• Things Needed: Small soft balls (or crumpled paper balls), a large bowl
• Time: 15–20 minutes

One player tosses “popcorn” (soft balls) toward a teammate holding a big bowl. The goal is to catch as many as possible without dropping them! After a few rounds, switch roles and see who can catch more.

This game brings tons of giggles and helps kids practice hand-eye coordination — plus, it’s perfect indoors or outdoors.

12. Treasure Hunt Dig

• Number of Players: 2+
• Things Needed: Sandbox or large tub of rice, hidden small prizes
• Time: 20–30 minutes

Bury small toys, plastic coins, or wrapped candies in a sandbox, a rice bin, or a large container filled with packing peanuts. Give each child a scoop, shovel, or just their hands, and set them loose to find as many treasures as they can within a set time.

Kids LOVE digging for hidden treasures — it feels like a real-life adventure game!

13. Costume Relay Race

• Number of Players: 6+
• Things Needed: A box of costume items (hats, scarves, glasses, silly shoes)
• Time: 20–30 minutes

Divide into two teams. The first player races to the costume pile, puts on a full outfit (at least three items), runs back, and tags the next player — who must swap into a whole new crazy costume!

This is one of those games where the fun is just watching how ridiculous everyone looks — and it gets the whole crowd roaring with laughter.

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Party Games for Ages 9–12

Older kids want bigger challenges and a little more strategy. These games are fast-paced, team-driven, and often hilarious.

14. Scavenger Hunt

• Number of Players: 4+
• Things Needed: List of clues, small prizes
• Time: 30–45 minutes

Create a scavenger hunt with clever clues leading kids to hidden objects around your home or yard. You can write riddles (“I’m cold and keep your food fresh” for the fridge!) or simple hints (“Look under something soft” for a couch). They work solo or in teams, racing to complete the list first.

This game adds excitement, mystery, and problem-solving to your party — and older kids absolutely love the adventure feel.

15. Capture the Flag

• Number of Players: 8+
• Things Needed: Two flags, outdoor space
• Time: 30–45 minutes

Divide into two teams and assign “territories.” Each team hides its flag somewhere within its area. The goal? Sneak into enemy territory, grab their flag, and bring it back without being tagged.

Tagged players must freeze, return to base, or go to “jail” — you can customize rules!

Capture the Flag turns outdoor parties into thrilling battles of strategy, speed, and team spirit.

16. Minute to Win It Challenges

• Number of Players: 2+
• Things Needed: A variety of household items (plastic cups, ping pong balls, spoons, cookies, cotton balls, paper plates, etc.)
• Time: 15 minutes (or longer, if you’d like!)

Set up a series of fast-paced mini challenges where players race against the clock to complete silly tasks — each one in under a minute!

For a 15-minute version, pick 5 quick games and set up stations. Players rotate through each challenge, trying to complete it before time runs out.

Kids can compete individually or in small teams, and you can award points for each challenge they complete.

Some ideas include:

• Stack Attack: Stack 10 plastic cups into a pyramid and back down.
• Cookie Face: Place a cookie on your forehead and move it into your mouth without using your hands.
• Scoop It Up: Transfer cotton balls from one bowl to another using only a spoon held in your mouth.
• Defying Gravity: Keep three balloons in the air for 60 seconds.
• Penny Tower: Stack as many pennies as possible with one hand in 60 seconds.
• Cup Tower: Stack 36 plastic cups into a pyramid and take it down before time runs out.
• Junk in the Trunk: Shake ping pong balls out of a tissue box tied around your waist — no hands!
• M&M or Skittle Sort: Use one hand to sort a pile of candies by color into separate bowls.
• Pencil Flip: Balance pencils on your hand, toss them up, and catch them — adding one more pencil after each success.
• Nose Dive: Move cotton balls from one plate to another using only your nose and a dab of petroleum jelly.
• Bottle Flip: Flip a water bottle and try to land it upright as many times as possible in 60 seconds.
• Balloon Waddle: Hold a balloon between your knees and waddle to the finish line without dropping it.
• Suck It Up: Use a straw to transfer small candies from one plate to another using only suction.
• Ping Pong Bounce: Bounce ping pong balls off a table into a set of cups as fast as you can.
• Tissue Pull: Empty a tissue box one tissue at a time using just one hand — speed matters!
• Marshmallow Toss: Toss mini marshmallows into your partner’s mouth and see how many you can catch.
• Puddle Jumper: Bounce a ping pong ball across cups of water and land it in a final cup.
• Paper Plate Shuffle: Cross the room stepping only on paper plates and moving the back plate to the front each time.
• Backwards Clothes Race: Put on as many layers of clothing backward as you can in 60 seconds.

This is an energetic and hilarious way to keep kids busy, moving, and laughing — and it works well both indoors and out! Perfect for when you need a burst of fun with minimal prep time.

17. Sardines

• Number of Players: 5+
• Things Needed: None (just a house or yard to hide in)
• Time: 20–30 minutes

Sardines is a reverse hide-and-seek game. One person hides while everyone else searches. When a player finds the hider, they quietly join them — squeezing into the hiding spot like sardines. The last player left searching becomes the next hider!

This game gets funnier the longer it goes, especially as kids cram into hilariously small spaces together.

18. Sock Wrestling

• Number of Players: 2 at a time (plus spectators!)
• Things Needed: Clean socks
• Time: 10 minutes per match

Two players face off on a soft surface, like grass or a carpeted area. The goal? Remove your opponent’s socks without letting them get yours! No pushing or hitting allowed — just strategic pulling and lots of laughing.

Sock Wrestling is ridiculously silly and a guaranteed crowd favorite for tweens.

19. Guess the Sound

• Number of Players: 3+
• Things Needed: Blindfold, objects that make noise
• Time: 20 minutes

Blindfold one player and make sounds with different objects — jingling keys, tapping a spoon, crumpling paper, etc. The player must guess what the sound is. You can make it harder by combining two sounds at once!

This game is perfect for indoor parties and challenges kids’ auditory memory in a fun, surprising way.

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Party Games for Mixed Ages

When you have a wide range of ages at the party, you’ll want games that are simple enough for little ones but still goofy and active enough to entertain the big kids.

20. Pass the Parcel

• Number of Players: 4+
• Things Needed: A wrapped prize with many layers
• Time: 20 minutes

Wrap a small prize in multiple layers of paper — with each layer hiding a small treat, sticker, or fun challenge (like “hop on one foot”). Kids sit in a circle and pass the parcel around while music plays. When the music stops, the child holding it peels off one layer.

Keep playing until the final layer reveals the big prize!

21. Limbo

• Number of Players: 3+
• Things Needed: A stick or rope, music
• Time: 15–20 minutes

Crank up the music and have kids line up. One by one, they bend backward and try to shimmy under the limbo stick without touching it or falling. After each round, lower the stick slightly to increase the challenge.

Limbo is simple, silly, and easily adjustable for all skill levels — perfect for mixed-age groups.

22. Human Ring Toss

• Number of Players: 4+
• Things Needed: Pool noodles formed into rings, cones or willing “targets”
• Time: 15–20 minutes

Make giant rings by taping pool noodles into circles. Players take turns tossing them over cones — or better yet, over teammates who stand still like statues! Keep score, or not, based on age, and keep it fun for all!

The ridiculousness of tossing giant rings over friends makes this a hilarious hit for all ages.

23. Newspaper Fashion Show

• Number of Players: 4+
• Things Needed: Old newspapers, tape, scissors
• Time: 30–45 minutes

Split kids into small teams. Give them a pile of newspapers and tape, and challenge them to create an outfit — dress, superhero cape, hat, whatever they dream up! End with a fashion show where everyone struts their stuff.

This is a creativity-packed game that works exceptionally well if the weather turns bad and you need a fun indoor activity.

24. Balloon Volleyball

• Number of Players: 2+
• Things Needed: Balloon, string or tape for a “net”
• Time: 15–20 minutes

Create a volleyball “net” by tying a string across a room or using chairs to hold it up. Hit a balloon back and forth over the net, trying not to let it touch the ground. You can play one-on-one or in teams!

This is great for indoor play because balloons move slowly — and it’s funny for all ages when people dive dramatically for slow-floating balloons.

25. Musical Chairs

• Number of Players: 5+
• Things Needed: Chairs (one fewer than the number of players), music
• Time: 15–20 minutes

Set up a circle of chairs — one fewer than the number of kids playing. Start the music and have everyone walk (or dance!) around the chairs. When the music stops suddenly, everyone must quickly find a chair to sit in!

The player left standing is out for that round, and one chair is removed. The game continues until only one player remains.

Musical Chairs is a timeless party classic that’s full of suspense, excitement, and lots of laughter — it’s simple to set up, and kids of all ages love the thrilling scramble to grab a seat in time!

26. Hot Potato

• Number of Players: 3+
• Things Needed: Small ball or soft object, music
• Time: 10–15 minutes

Players sit in a circle and quickly pass the “potato” while music plays. When the music stops, the person holding the potato is out (or just continue for fun).

Simple, exciting, and easy to set up last-minute.

27. Pin the Tail on the Donkey (or themed version)

• Number of Players: 3+
• Things Needed: Poster (donkey or theme of choice), blindfold, “tail” or object with tape
• Time: 15–20 minutes

Hang a large poster on a wall — traditionally a donkey missing its tail, but you can easily swap it for themed versions like “Pin the Crown on the Princess” or “Pin the Star on the Superhero.”

Each player is blindfolded, spun around gently a few times, and then tries to pin their “tail” as close to the correct spot as possible. Mark where each player places their piece, and the one closest to the target wins!

Pin the Tail on the Donkey is a timeless, laughter-filled game that’s easy to customize for any party theme and loved by young kids for its mix of silly challenge and excitement.

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Troubleshooting Party Games: What to Do If Things Don’t Go as Planned

Even the best-laid party plans can hit a few bumps!

Here’s what to keep in your back pocket if a game isn’t working out the way you hoped:

• Kids Lose Interest Fast

What to Do:

• Keep things moving! If kids seem bored or restless, pivot quickly.
• End the current game early and switch to a high-energy favorite like Freeze Dance or Balloon Volleyball.
• Keep a few quick, no-prep games ready (Simon Says, Duck Duck Goose, Hot Potato).

• Game Rules Are Too Complicated

What to Do:

• Simplify! Drop any complicated rules and focus on the fun.
• For younger kids especially, just making silly movements or doing a “practice round” first helps a lot.

• Kids Get Too Competitive

What to Do:

• Shift focus to teamwork or “everyone wins” games like the Newspaper Fashion Show or Parachute Play.
• Emphasize that it’s about having fun together, not winning.
• Give out small prizes for “best teamwork” or “biggest smile” instead of only for “winners.”

• Someone Doesn’t Want to Play

What to Do:

• Don’t force it. Let kids opt out and offer them a quieter alternative (like helping you with music, handing out balloons, or being the “official helper”).
• Often, shy kids will join back in once they see others laughing and playing.

• Games Run Out Too Quickly

What to Do:

• Always prepare more games than you think you’ll need — but don’t feel pressure to use them all.
• Have some very simple backup ideas ready (like Storytime, Freeze Dance Rematch, or a Coloring Station).

Final Thoughts on Party Games for Kids

The right games keep kids engaged, laughing, and feeling included — whether it’s a handful of toddlers or a huge group of preteens.

Mix a few high-energy games with some slower, silly ones to balance the party vibe. Most importantly, keep it lighthearted — and don’t worry if things get a little wild. That’s where the best memories are made!