Games for Children’s Birthday Parties: The 10 Best Ideas

For children’s birthday the big party is on: Here we have put together the ten best games for children’s birthday parties for indoors and outdoors!

A child’s birthday is something really big for the little ones: lots of treats, presents for the birthday child and of course great birthday games make this day a celebration. It’s best if the parents have a few games in the programme so that they can react flexibly to the weather if necessary. When the weather is fine, games such as can throwing, sack jumping & Co. will do the trick, while in bad weather the children’s birthday will be shifted inside: Unpacking chocolate and banging pots is guaranteed to put the little ones in a good mood. We will show you the funniest games, which are sure to keep the kids entertained and make their birthday party a hit!

Outdoor games

Summer children like to party outside – as long as the weather plays along! Whether in the park, on the playground or in the garden, you will surely find a nice place for the following fun games!

1. Throw cans (age: from 5 years)

You need: cleaned cans, a small throwing ball and a suitable surface (e.g. a table)
For this game you’ll need a lot of space – so go to the meadow or the garden!

1. Stack the cans on top of each other in a pyramid.
2. Fire free: All children now try to knock over as many cans as possible one after the other with one throw. It rattles properly and is fun! Alternatively, a water pistol can be used in warm weather.

2. Snatching pretzels (age: from 7 years)

You need: salt pretzels, a long string

1. Tie the salt pretzels to a string with sufficient distance between them.
2. Two people now hold the string at a height that can be reached.
3. The children then position themselves below the pretzels and, on command, may jump off and try to reach the pretzel with their mouth. The aim is to eat the entire pretzel without using their hands.
4. Decide for yourself if you want to stop the game as soon as the first child has finished or continue until all the pretzels have been eaten.

3. Sack race (age: from 4 years)

You need: Jute sacks (make sure that the sacks are the right size depending on the age)

1. Depending on the age and abilities of the children, a shorter or even longer route (with slalom or similar) is determined.
2. The children position themselves in the bags and wait for the start command.
3. Afterwards they jump around the race. The first to reach the finish line wins!

4. Egg-run (age: from 4 years)

You need: spoons, potatoes or boiled eggs

1. Defines a start and end point of the course. Now the children stand at the starting line with an egg (alternatively potato) on their spoon.
2. After the command they run and try to balance the eggs skillfully around the obstacles.
3. Whoever reaches the finish line first is the winner.
4. If an egg is lost along the way, it must first be collected and put back on the spoon before the child can continue running. Tip: This game can also be played as a team relay.

5. Tripod run (age: from 10 years)

You need: cords or ropes

1. Defines a start and end point of the run.
2. At least two teams are required for this game. After the pairs have formed, the players stand next to each other. The inner legs of the pair are tied together with a string or rope so that they can run in step with the “common” leg.
3. After the start command, the pairs break up and try to overtake the opposing pair or pairs. The pair that reaches the finish line first is the winner!

Games for indoors

If the birthday child has a birthday in the cold season, indoor games are the best choice! Here you can make yourself really comfortable with music, streamers and balloons!

6. Unpacking chocolate (age: from 8 years)

You will need: chocolate, newspaper, dice, scarf, hat, woollen gloves, knife and fork (depending on the level of development of the children)

1. Wraps a chocolate in several layers of newspaper.
2. Then the children gather around a table with the chocolate in the middle.
3. Now the children start to throw the dice one after the other: As soon as a six has been thrown, the respective child quickly puts on a hat, scarf and gloves and tries to unpack the chocolate with the cutlery afterwards.
4. In the meantime, the other children continue to roll the dice and as soon as another six is rolled, the first child leaves the scarf, cap, gloves and cutlery to the second child, who then tries to unpack the chocolate. Speed is the motto here!
5. As soon as the chocolate is unwrapped, it can either be divided fairly among the children or the game continues and the children continue to roll the dice until the chocolate is eaten with knife and fork.

7. Pot hitting (age: from 3 years)

You need: blindfold cloth, pot, wooden spoon, a small bowl with sweets
Pot hitting is a lot of fun – just make sure that there are no sharp corners or edges nearby!

1. Blindfold a child.
2. Hide a saucepan under which is a small bowl of sweets.
3. The child now tries to find the cooking pot on the ground, blindfolded and holding a wooden spoon. To do this, he keeps hitting the floor with the spoon.
4. All bystanders help by shouting “cold” or “warm” – depending on whether the seeker is far away or on the right track.
5. As soon as the child has found the pot, it is allowed to eat the sweets and it is the next one’s turn.

8. Blow cotton wool (age: from 7 years)

You need: cotton wool and straws

1. Form so many cotton balls that there is one for each child.
2. The children now sit down at a table opposite and are given a cotton ball and straw.
3. The cotton ball is placed on the table and must be blown forward with the straw after the command.
4. The winner is the one who has blown down his cotton ball first at the opposite edge of the table. Besides, one must also take care to prevent the opponents’ cotton balls from crossing one’s own table edge.

9. Chocolate kiss competition (age: from 6)

You need: seating and table, chocolate kisses, napkins and possibly some hair bands for girls with open, long hair

1. Place the chocolate kisses on a napkin.
2. The children now take a seat. The chocolate chocolate eating contest takes place without hands, so each child must put their hands behind their back.
3. After the start command, the children try to eat the chocolate kiss without using their hands. The first child wins.

10. Cut Flour (age: from 4 years)

You need: Flour, a dull knife, a gummy bear

1. Pour flour onto a table to form a pile of flour. Position the gummy bear on top of the pile.
2. Now the children take turns cutting off parts of the pile of flour with a knife, making sure that the gummy bear does not fall down. The closer the cut surface is to the jelly baby, the more difficult the task becomes.
3. The person who lets the bear fall down has lost: he or she must then try to evacuate the gummy bear from the flour mountain by mouth. A few funny flour faces should be sure to be involved in this endeavour!