Birthday party games

Games, timing and a plan for the party

For ages 4 to 6, pick games that last 5 to 10 minutes, have no losers and need little waiting: musical statues, red light green light, pass the parcel and bubble chase. For ages 7 to 12, games can last 10 to 15 minutes and include some competition, like the obstacle course, capture the flag or a clue-based treasure hunt. The list has 40 games, with a handful such as charades and the dance contest that work for adults and teens too.

A two-hour party usually fits four or five games, 15 minutes of cake and a short break for free play. Mix an active game with a calm one so that the younger kids do not burn out in the first half hour. Keep one backup game in your pocket for rainy weather or restless moments.

Safety is simple but worth a thought. Take hard objects off the floor for racing games, keep water balloons to a grassy spot, and check food allergies before any game that includes sweets. Small prizes, such as stickers or a pencil, keep everyone happy better than a single big prize for the winner.

What's on this wheel

• Musical statues
• Pin the tail on the donkey
• Treasure hunt with clues
• Sack race
• Egg and spoon race
• Duck duck goose
• Simon says
• Balloon pop relay
• Red light, green light
• Pass the parcel
• Freeze dance
• Obstacle course
• Water balloon toss
• Scavenger hunt in the yard
• Piñata
• Limbo
• Tug of war
• Musical chairs
• Hot potato
• Bean bag toss
• Pillowcase race
• Wrap the mummy with toilet paper
• Cupcake decorating
• Balloon keep-up
• Hide and seek
• Charades for kids
• Bubble chase
• Three-legged race
• Memory tray game
• Sleeping lions
• What's the time, Mr. Wolf
• Dance contest
• Candy guessing jar
• Capture the flag
• Bowling with water bottles
• Name that animal sound
• Cone ring toss
• Silly photo booth challenge
• Freeze tag
• Chalk drawing contest

Running the games

1. Before the party, open Entries and keep only games that fit your space and the children's ages. Eight to ten are enough.
2. When the last activity ends, press Spin and let the birthday child announce the next game.
3. Take each game out with Remove from wheel once you have played it, and let anything left over be your backup for later.

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