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Classic Children’s Party Games

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Classic Old Fashioned Party Games For Kids Indoors And Outdoors

Classic kids party games are without doubt the best simple, cheap AND fun kids birthday party activity.

But the big secret to super fun kids party games is compiling the :

  • Perfect party mix
  • For each age group.

So I have for you here the ultimate guide to cool old school kids party games that will help you pick the best games for your kids party.

It covers indoor and outdoor party games for kids of all ages from toddlers to teens including racing, chasing & hiding games PLUS musical, singing and quieter games.

To plan your perfect party use the index below or read on for party planning tips & inspiration.

This party guide really does cover all the games you need so do bookmark or save it for later.

Party Games For Kids Index

Old School Party Games For Kids Index

The perfect kids party game mix obviously changes as children grow.

For the best old school party games for each age group click these links :

Fun Kids Party Games Rules

Simple Rules For Kids Party Games

Before we move onto the games themselves, I just want to share my key rules for successful party games for younger children under 7 or 8 :

  1. Keep games short – 10 mins max.
  2. No one goes out for long.
  3. Avoid turn taking games.
  4. Be sensitive about / avoid forfeits.
  5. Everyone does NOT need a prize.
  6. Always play Sleeping Lions before food – it calms everyone down!!
Secret Of Great Kids Parties

Our biggest challenge for a fun kids party is keeping them all engaged.

So we need short simple games where the kids don’t hang around waiting a turn or after going out.

With more than 8 kids at a party I would go old school with prizes for winners only and avoid most :

  • Going out games
  • Turn taking games.

It keeps everything moving so kids stay hooked and don’t drift off.

The Perfect Party Mix Of Old School Kids Party Games

Old School Party Games For Kids Indoors And Outside

We really do need a good mix of party games that let kids run around and burn energy but also come together as a team and at key points in the party actually quieten down.

So to create your party game list pick games from these categories :

Or check out these ready to go party game mixes for each age group.

Circle Games For Kids

Old Fashioned Circle Party Games For Kids

Circle games are great for pre-schoolers and under-8s as they bring kids together but can still be super fun and high energy.

Kick off with a circle game once everyone’s arrived and include a few more throughout the party to draw kids back together …

Musical Games For Kids

Old Fashioned Musical Games For Kids

Musical games are classic old school party games kids know and love …

Usually musical games involve kids going out but with big parties you can reward the first to freeze in statues or first to the floor in bumps with a sweet so kids who’ve gone out don’t drift off doing their own thing.

Party Races

Kids Party Races And First To The Front Games

Some old school party races are better played outdoors but bottom shuffling and crawling races are hilarious for kids of all ages and need less room inside :

Silly races aren’t just for little kids. Bottom shuffling and crawling races are a fabulous way for teens to shake off all that adolescent angst!!

First To The Front Games

First to the front games are fun races in which kids don’t have to be the fastest or strongest to win :

Team Games For Kids

Best Old Fashioned Team Games For Kids Parties

Team games really come into their own when kids are 7 to 8 years old.

These old school, classic games have all stood the test of time …

Hiding Games For Kids

Hiding Party Games For Kids

Kids of all ages love hiding games and you can gradually make them more and more sophisticated :

Hiding games are great for family parties with all ages playing.

Tag Games For Kids

Old School Tag Party Games For Kids

There’s a point an hour in or after food when most party kids go feral!!

This is when old school tag – AKA Tig, Tick, Tip – comes into its own.

So go with the flow and let the children run off all that sugar with classic tag or variations thereof :

Classic chasing games are great for outdoor and backyard parties or indoor parties in big halls.

Follow The Leader Games

Classic Follow The Leader Party Games For Kids

Follow the leader games are fun active games but keep kids energy focused on the party :

Singing Games For Kids

Best Old Fashioned Singing Games For Kids Parties

Singing games are a must for parties for toddlers and kids under 5.

These singing games for kids are all traditional, old school party favourites with energetic actions :

The secret to success is go with what you – and your kids – know!!

Balloon Games For Kids

Balloon Party Games For Kids

Balloon games are fabulous fun at that point in the party when kids are bursting with energy but haven’t totally lost all coordination :

Do watch out for burst balloons and remember toddlers can end up in tears when balloons go pop. Be ready with spares and a big hug!!

Food Games For Kids

Food Games For Kids Parties

Food games for kids at parties can be messy but they do bring all the kids together as they actually have fun watching each other take turns :

Guessing Games For Kids

Guessing Games To Play At Kids Parties

Guessing games add something different to your kids party mix.

I’ll be honest and say I do find classics like Pin The Tail On The Donkey and Kim’s Game dull.

These active alternatives all involve guessing but keep kids engaged :

Or for a fun sitting down guessing game for 7 and up play Wink Murder.

Quieter Party Games For Kids

Quieter Party Games For Kids

The perfect kids party game mix must include a few quieter party games to help everyone calm down :

I recommend you ALWAYS play Sleeping Lions before sitting down for food at parties for kids under 8.

Outdoor Kids Party Games

Best Outdoor Kids Party Games

You can obviously play most of the kids party games above both indoors and outdoors.

But these kids party games are real winners with space outside :

At an outdoor party for kids you could also include some of these low-prep outdoor activities including

Or for a more creative outdoor party check out these fun outdoor painting ideas for kids.

The Best Kids Party Games For Different Ages

Best Classic Kids Party Games For Different Ages

Pick the best classic party games for kids of different ages with these ready to go party game mixes :

Party Games For Toddlers

Best Party Games For Toddlers

The key secret of a lovely party for toddlers is to keep it super simple.

You only need 2 to 4 quick party games for toddlers and they need to be as familiar as possible.

These games are all easy for little kids and most will be known from play groups and child care.

Action Songs

Circle Games

Musical Games

Races

Just pick one from each category – going with what you know is always a great idea!! – and play Sleeping Lions just before food.

That really is, all you need for a fabulous no-stress party for toddlers.

If you do need to, just pad out games with dancing to a nursery rhyme play list PLUS bubbles and balloons.

Party Games For 3 Year Olds

Best Old Fashioned Party Games For 3 Year Olds

A great DIY party for 3 year olds needs 4 – 8 different party games.

With more kids under 3 go for fewer or with most kids near 4, pick more.

Simply pick 1 or 2 classics from the categories below and you will have a brilliant party mix for 3 year olds …

Action Songs

Circle Games – Sitting Down

Circle Games – Running Around

Race / First To The Front Games

Musical Games

Food Games

Quiet Games

Remember you don’t need to over complicate it or reinvent the wheel. These party games are old favourites for very good reasons!!

Party Games For 4 Year Olds

Best Old Fashioned Kids Party Games For 4 Year Olds

You don’t need me to tell you that 4 year olds are bursting with energy.

So the best mix of party games for 4 year olds needs lots of fun activities to burn off that energy without going crazy and out of control.

For a 2 hour party – with 30 minutes for food – you need 7 to 11 games taking roughly 10 minutes each.

If you pick 1 game from each of these categories PLUS Sleeping Lions before food you’ll have a great party game mix for 4 year olds.

Action Songs

Balloon Games

Circle Games

Food Games

Follow The Leader Games

Hiding Games

Musical Games

Races / First To Front

Tag Games

Tag games are great for burning off sugar after food. Stuck In The Mood is a top pick as there’s lot of running around but with a natural brake :

Team Games

A team game is a good game to bring kids back together after tag :

If you don’t want to deal with the mess of food games I would do more circle games. Pass The Parcel followed by Duck Duck Goose and the Hokey Cokey make a great sequence of circle activities.

Party Games For 5 Year Olds

Best Old Fashioned Party Games For 5 And 6 Year Olds

You need a good mix of high energy party games for 5 and 6 year olds but you can also start weaving in active games with numbers and more sophisticated physical skills.

For a 2 hour party with 30 minutes food, you need 7 to 11 games taking roughly 10 minutes each.

Pick 1 per category for a perfect mix.

Action Songs

5 and 6 year olds are definitely beyond nursery rhymes but these singing games can be high energy …

The Hokey Cokey works well after a couple of circle games e.g. Pass The Parcel and Fruit Salad.

Balloon Games

Circle Games

Food Games

Follow The Leader Games

Hiding Games

Musical Games

Quiet Games

Races / First To Front

Tag Games

Tag games, especially Stuck In The Mud, are great energy burners right after kids have had food :

Team Games

Fast moving team games like Ladders and Under & Over are a good way to bring kids back together after more freestyle tag games :

Party Games For 7-8 Year Olds

Best Old Fashioned Kids Party Games For 7 Year Olds

7 is a big development milestone and 7 year olds and 8 year olds won’t be happy playing party games that they think are in any way babyish.

Typically that means ditching anything with the connotation of a nursery rhyme or fairy story.

But most 7 and 8 year olds do still love daft physical games with lots of laughter PLUS longer games with more complicated rules!!

For a 2 and half hour party with 30 minutes for food, I recommend 6 to 8 games and to keep switching between a longer complicated game and quick crazy game. Longer games are asterisked below.

Balloon Games

Circle Games

Food Games

Follow Leader Games

Hiding Games

Races / First To Front

Quieter Games

Tag Games

Team Games

Party Games For 10 Year Olds

Best Old School Kids Party Games For 10 Year Olds

Finding the best party games for 10 year olds can be challenging as they are on the cusp of being a tween so are suddenly all self-conscious about looking silly and want to show how independent they are.

The best bet is usually to combine just a few party games with something else e.g. pool party, baking party, movie, sleepover.

Hiding Games

Longer hiding games are great for both outdoor parties and sleepovers with 10 year olds and tweens :

Silly Races

Even self-conscious 10 year olds let themselves go after enough sugar to enjoy silly games on a sleepover :

With a small group Twister still works as a silly game for 10 year olds. If you long since decluttered your Twister, Snake is a good alternative.

Sitting Down Games

Tag & Team Games

These tag and team party games are still winners for 10 year olds at an outdoor party with lots of space :

Party Games For Teenagers

Best Classic Old School Party Games For Teenagers

Teenagers do hit a point when they are confident enough in their own independence to enjoy playing party games again and the sillier the better.

For inspiration check out this list …

A To Z Of Kids Party Games Instructions

This section of the kids party games guide gives you easy instructions for every single game.

If you need help choosing games jump back to the party game mixes for different ages.

Apple Bobbing

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Food
  • Put water in large bowl
  • Add apple for each player
  • Players take turns to bob for apples removing apples with their mouth
  • Either race against the clock
  • Or have team race with 2 bowls.

Ball Under Chin Game

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Team
  • Race to pass ball from one end of the team line to the other
  • 1st player puts ball under chin
  • Passes ball to next player without using hands in anyway
  • Continues to end of line.

Balloon Passing Race

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Balloon
  • Teams of 4 or 5 players
  • 1st player holds balloon with knees
  • Passes balloon hands free
  • Continues to end of line
  • If a team drops or bursts balloon they have to start again
  • You can extend so last player runs to front with balloon and repeat for the numbers of players in team.

Balloon Spoon Race

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Balloon
  • Like an egg & spoon race but with wooden spoons & balloons
  • Start again if drop or burst balloon
  • Much harder than looks & v funny.

Balloon Volley Ball

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Balloon
  • Divide teams with rope or tape on ground rather than net
  • Win a point each time other team drops balloon, 10 if they burst it.

Balloon Waddle Race

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Balloon
  • Race with balloon between legs
  • If drop or burst balloon start again.

Bean Bag Pass

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Circle
  • Quick version of pass the parcel
  • Sit everyone in a circle
  • Pass bean bag when music plays
  • Whoever holding bean bag when music stops gets a candy or tiny party favor or hat
  • Ensure all kids get something!!

Blind Man’s Buff

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Tag
  • One player is IT & blind folded
  • Others move round in circle
  • It tries to grab other players
  • First player caught is IT.

Bottom Shuffling Race

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Race
  • A great party game for toddlers but super fun even for teenagers!!
  • Race from one end of room to other on your bottom
  • Older kids go back to the beginning if they put hands down.

British Bulldog

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Tag
  • A few players picked as bulldogs
  • Bulldogs stand in the middle
  • Everyone else in a row at end
  • Bulldogs shout “British bulldog”
  • Others run to far end without getting tagged by a bulldog
  • Anyone tagged becomes a bulldog
  • Repeat until one runner left wins.
  • Tell bulldogs at start they can only tag others and NOT tackle them!!

Bucket Toss

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Team
  • 2 or more teams line up
  • Team members take it in turns to toss bean bag into a bucket
  • Must repeat until goes in bucket
  • 1st team with all bean bags in wins.

Capture The Flag

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Team, Tag
  • Divide into 2 teams
  • Each team hides their flag in their territory on one side of the line
  • When game starts each team has to capture the other team’s flag whilst defending their own
  • Raiders tagged in enemy territory imprisoned at back of that territory
  • They can be released by one of their team tagging them
  • First team to capture flag wins.

Cat & Mouse

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Circle
  • 1 player is a mouse inside circle
  • 1 player is a cat outside circle
  • Everyone else stands holding hands in circle
  • Cat tries to tag mouse
  • Mouse must leave circle every 10 counts, every time mouse runs back under arms into circle everyone else counts to 10 again
  • Cat cannot enter circle
  • Cat can tag mouse outside circle or inside through others arms
  • Caught mouse becomes cat.

Charades

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Quieter (obviously can be raucous but no running around)
  • The classic family party game needs no introduction but can make more fun with extra categories personal to your family e.g. :
    • Animals
    • Sports teams / players
    • Historical events
    • Places

Crawling Race

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Race
  • Another party game for toddlers that is hilarious for all ages
  • A good family party game in which little kids have an advantage.

Duck Duck Goose

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Circle
  • One person is IT
  • Everyone else sits in a circle
  • IT walks around the outside of the circle tapping each person on the head and saying duck
  • Finally they tap one person on the head and say goose
  • Tapped person must chase IT round circle and try and catch them before they get back to the spare place in the circle.
  • Tapped person becomes IT.

Egg & Spoon Race

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Race
  • Classic race with hard boiled – or fake – eggs and spoons
  • Start again if you drop your egg.

Eggy Peggy Lost Her Leggy

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Tag, Outdoor
  • This is a classic school playground game beloved by over 7s as it combines tag & ways to trick each other. It is a bit complicated!!
  • But can entertain kids for ages.
  • One kid is IT & stands in middle
  • Other kids stand on one side and calls out “Eggy Peggy lost her leggy on the way to school. What by?”
  • IT shouts out a category e.g. colours, animals, bands
  • All the other kids have to pick an instance of that category
  • IT then has 5 chances to guess and call out instances
  • If IT calls out your pick you have to run to the other side without being tagged by IT.

Find Your Partner

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Hiding, Guessing
  • A classic version Who Am I game
  • The name of 1 part of a famous duo e.g. Tom & Jerry, Batman & Robin is stuck on each kid’s forehead
  • By asking Yes / No questions each player has to work out who they are and find their partner.

Fruit Salad

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Circle
  • 1 kids stands in middle of circle
  • Can be a circle of inward facing chairs or on floor
  • At beginning of game walk round circle naming everyone alternately apple, orange, banana
  • Also name person in middle
  • Person in middle then shouts e.g. apple
  • All the apples have to swap places
  • Person in middle tries to nab a place as they swap
  • New person without a place then calls out a fruit etc
  • If a large group add more fruit varieties

Grandma’s Footsteps / Sly Fox

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : First To Front
  • 1 person is grandma at one end of room
  • Everyone else stands at other end
  • Grandma turns away from others
  • Everyone else sneaks up
  • Grandma turns round suddenly & anyone she catches moving starts again
  • Winner is first person to grandma

Greetings Oh Great One

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Tag, Hiding, Guessing
  • A variation on Blind Mans Buff
  • One player blindfolded as The Great One
  • Other players move around but allow themselves to be easily caught by Great One
  • When caught they say Greetings Oh Great One in funny voice
  • If the Great One guesses who it is that person becomes Great One
  • Otherwise the Great One has to catch someone else

Gummy Bear Pie

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Food
  • Put heaps of flour on party plates on table
  • Add gummy bears into flour
  • Race to find gummy bears in flour with mouth whilst keeping hands behind back

Hanging Doughnuts

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Food
  • Simply thread doughnuts onto string
  • Hang at mouth height of smallest
  • Everyone tries to eat doughnut without using hands

Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Singing
  • Classic circle song with actions most toddlers will know
  • Check this Mulberry Bush video to remind yourself

Hide & Seek

  • Age 3+
  • Game type : Hiding
  • Needs no introduction
  • A fun game for smallish family parties with kids of all ages or a small party of pre-schoolers who just hide in the living room.
  • Not so great for big parties when it takes too long and you lose control of the kids.

Hokey Cokey

  • Age 3+
  • Game type : Singing
  • A classic musical party game for preschoolers most kids will know
  • Check this Hokey Cokey video for lyrics

Honey Bear

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Circle, Guessing
  • One child is bear in middle with a “pot of honey” e.g. bean bag
  • Bear curls up with eyes shut
  • Point to a child to steal honey
  • Thief steals it & returns to place
  • Everyone puts hands behind back
  • Then call out “Wake up Mr Bear someone’s stolen your honey!!”
  • Bear wakes up & tries find thief asking “Did you steal my honey?”
  • Children show they’re hands to reveal if thief or not
  • Once found thief is bear

Extension for 4+

  • When found thief jumps up & runs round circle chased by bear

Hot Potato

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Circle
  • Wrap a potato in foil
  • Play music
  • Pass potato around circle quickly
  • Child holding potato when music stops pays forfeit e.g. hop on one leg, jump up & down, run round circle, pull face

Hotter Colder

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Hiding
  • Hide a prize with kids out of room
  • When come in let know whether close or not by calling warm, hotter, cold, cooler, freezing cold, scorching hot etc

I Sent A Letter To My Love

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Circle
  • AKA Tisket Tasket
  • One child carrying “letter” skips round outside of circle
  • Everyone sings Sent A Letter song
    • I sent a letter to my love
    • And on the way I dropped it
    • Someone must have picked it up
    • And put it in their pocket
  • The skipper taps others on head saying It wasn’t you, It wasn’t you etc
  • Finally say It was you & drops letter
  • The tapped child picks up letter & chases skipper around circle back to empty space

If You’re Happy & You Know It

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Singing
  • A classic sing along party game for toddlers to the Happy As You Know It song
  • Add trickier or sillier actions for older kids

Jello Bobbing

  • Age 3+
  • Game type : Food
  • Put party plates of jello/jelly on table
  • Add candies to jello
  • Race to find candies in jello with mouth whilst keeping hands behind back

Keepie Uppie

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Balloon
  • Keep your balloon off the floor the longest
  • You can pat it, knee it, head it
  • But you can’t hold onto it
  • You’re out if you drop it, burst it etc

Kim’s Game

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Quiet
  • Put out tray of small objects
  • Or set of larger objects on floor
  • For younger kids :
    • Get younger children to shut eyes whilst you pop 1 object in a bag
    • Children open eyes
    • First to remember missing object wins treat
    • Repeat
  • For older kids in teams:
    • Remove all objects
    • Teams have 2 mins to write down all objects
    • Team with most wins

Ladders

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Team
  • Ladders is a brilliant game for all ages over 4 as it is fast and furious but keeps everyone together
  • Split kids into 2 teams
  • They sit down in 2 rows facing each other with legs straight out so each opposing pair forms a ladder rung
  • Give each pair a number
  • Call out a number
  • The pair jump up & race:
    • Over rungs to top of ladder
    • Down behind their team’s line
    • Back up ladder from bottom over rungs to their spot

Lion’s Tail

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Follow Leader
  • Great fun for a big party but does involve kids falling over and on top of each other so don’t mix ages too much!
  • Everyone holds hands in a line
  • First in line is the lion’s head
  • Back of line is lion’s tail
  • When you shout go the lion’s head tries to catch tail who tries to escape
  • Everyone must keep holding hands the whole time.

Marco Polo

  • Age 6+
  • Game type : Hiding, Guessing
  • This is a variation on Blind Mans Bluff
  • One player is It
  • It is blindfolded or shuts eyes
  • Others move around
  • It calls out Marco
  • Everyone responds Polo
  • It keeps calling Marco & uses responses to find & tag someone
  • First person caught is IT

Marshmallow & Pasta Tower Race

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Food, Team
  • Race to build tallest tower using marshmallows & spaghetti
  • Can be done in pairs or small teams

Monsters In The Forest

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : First To Front
  • A variation on What’s The Time Mr Wolf
  • An adult or player is Monster
  • Monster stands 1 end of room
  • Everyone else stands at other
  • Kids call out Monster, Monster are you hungry?
  • Monster replies “Not really. Come closer”
  • Kids step closer
  • Repeated until monster says “Yes I am starving” and tries to catch as many kids as possible

Mother May I

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Follow Leader, First To Front
  • Someone is made Mother
  • Mother stands 1 end of room
  • Everyone else stands other end
  • Mother tells each person in turn to take :
    • a number of steps
    • in a certain way e.g. tip toe, giant strides, hops
  • Before moving player must say “Mother May I”
  • If forget they start again
  • First player to Mother wins
  • Older kids have fun making up movements e.g.
    • frog hops
    • tornados – swirls
    • crab steps – sideways walks
  • Is also a good outdoor kids game for school.

Musical Animals

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Musical
  • When music stops shout out an animal e.g. lion, dog, crocodile, duck, snake
  • Everyone has to be that animal
  • Award treats for best movements or sound

Musical Bumps

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Musical
  • Needs no introduction
  • Fun party game for toddlers & preschoolers who can bump down quickly
  • But also silly fun for teens
  • A good party game if you don’t have room for musical chairs
  • Can give treat to first down rather than making last one go out

Musical Chairs

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Musical
  • Put chairs in row
  • If chairs have backs alternate direction
  • Have 1 less chair than players
  • Player without chair when music stop loses
  • If players are going out remove 1 chair each round

Musical Cushions

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Musical
  • Basically musical chairs but with cushions on floor
  • A good alternative if short of space

Musical Islands

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Musical
  • Cut out paper islands from newspaper big enough for 2 kids to stand on
  • Scatter islands around room
  • When music stops everyone must be on an island with 1 other player
  • Remove an island each go until 1 pair wins

Musical Numbers

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Musical
  • This is a fun musical game BUT no one goes out which makes it easier to keep all kids engaged.
  • Write numbers on sheets of paper
  • Scatter around room
  • Also put numbers on small scraps into a hat / bowl
  • When music stops each player jumps onto number
  • Only 1 player per number
  • Pull a number from hat
  • Whoever matches gets a treat

Musical Statues

  • Age 3+
  • Game type : Musical
  • Again needs no introduction
  • For bigger parties try to eliminate multiple kids each time so it’s pretty speedy

Off Ground Tag

  • Age : 5+
  • Game type : Tag
  • Classic tag game where players are safe from It if off ground but can only say off ground for count of 5
  • A good outdoor party game where kids can use logs, play equipment etc as off ground
  • Indoors spread cushions, bean bags, draft excluders around room so kids can be safely off ground without damaging furniture

Opposites

  • Age : 6+
  • Game type : Follow Leader
  • A version of Simon Says
  • When an adult calls out actions kids have to do the opposite e.g. :
    • Stop – kids move around
    • Go – kids stop
    • Up – kids crouch
    • Down – kids jump or stretch
    • Be quiet – shout out loud
    • Shout – keep quiet
    • Jump forward – jump back
    • Touch your toes – touch your head
  • Kids doing wrong thing go out
  • For older kids make commands trickier e.g. :
    • Hop right – hop with left leg
    • Wave left – wave right
    • Spin right – spin left

Oranges & Lemons

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Singing
  • Played to the song Oranges & Lemons
  • 2 players form an arch with arms above head holding hands
  • Secretly 2 players agree who is orange & who lemon
  • Everyone else walks through arch repeatedly whilst singing song
  • On last line “And here comes a chopper to chop off your head” the arch is dropped
  • Caught player whispers whether want to be orange or lemon and then stands behind the right arch
  • At end of game there is a tug of war between oranges & lemons

Pass The Parcel

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Circle
  • Small treats often now included between layers but slows game down and makes it dull
  • Also makes music stopping super complicated if trying to make sure everyone gets a treat!!
  • Stick to traditional party game and just have 1 great gift in 5 layers of wrapping

Pass The Polo

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Circle, Guessing
  • Thread a polo or sweet with a hole in it onto a long piece of string
  • Tie string into circle long enough for circle of kids
  • One kid is It & sits in middle
  • Everyone else holds onto string & secretly passes around polo
  • It has to guess where polo is
  • Person caught with polo becomes It
  • A very simple game but kids need to be old enough to try & trick It by pretending to pass on polo when they’re not

Pin The Tail

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Guessing, Quiet
  • A traditional party game that can be easily adapted to match party theme
  • Quite slow so best with a small party
  • Can have another game going on in parallel so kids not drifting around whilst waiting or having pinned the tail

Red Rover

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Team, Outdoor
  • Needs plenty of space so a good outdoor party game
  • Can be physical so players should be similar age
  • Split players into two teams
  • Each team stands in a row holding hands
  • The 2 teams face each other as far apart as possible
  • Teams take it in turns to call out name of 1 player on other side
  • That player has to run across and get past or through the opposing team
  • They go back to their team if get through or join the other

Ring A Ring A Roses

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Singing
  • The simplest of traditional party games for toddlers, Ring A Ring A Roses is fun way for everyone to fall down!!

Sardines

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Hiding
  • A good outdoor party game or sleepover party game for 10 year olds and teenagers
  • One person hides in a space big enough for others to squeeze in
  • Everyone else counts to 100 then at 10 second intervals goes off to hunt the original hider
  • When they find the hider they squeeze in & hide with them
  • Loser is last person to find original hider
  • Older kids & teenagers can play in dark

Simon Says

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Follow Leader
  • The leader commands everyone to e.g. :
    • Jump up & down
    • Touch toes
    • Do star jumps
  • If leader says Simon Says before command it must be followed
  • If they don’t it mustn’t
  • Can be adapted into both quiet & outdoor games
  • For a quiet game giving sitting commands e.g. :
    • Touch nose
    • Pat head
    • Stick out tongue
  • For an outdoor game to burn off energy give running commands e.g. :
    • Run to tree & back
    • Jog for 10 seconds
  • Can also be adapted to fit a party theme e.g. for a jungle theme : roar like a lion, swing like a monkey, slither like a snake

Sleeping Lions

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Quiet
  • A very useful game to get everyone to stay still and calm down before party food
  • All children lie down on floor as sleeping lions
  • An adult walks among them trying to prompt them to move e.g. telling jokes but not touching them
  • Build up suspense by talking as walk round
  • For first few minutes ignore anyone moving – the whole point is to keep them still on the floor!!!
  • When you’re ready start spotting anyone moving or giggling
  • They get up & join adult as hunters
  • Last person to move wins

Snake

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Circle
  • Everyone joins hand in a line
  • Child one end is snake’s head, the other snake’s tail
  • Snake’s head twists way in and of others with everyone following until reaches tail
  • Head & tail join hands
  • The whole circle tries to untangle themselves without letting go of hands

Squeak Piggy Squeak

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Circle, Guessing
  • This game needs all players to know each other
  • One player the farmer is blindfolded
  • Farmer is spun round in middle of circle
  • Everyone else sits in circle on chairs or floor
  • Farmer sits on someone & says “Squeak Piggy Squeak”
  • The piggy squeaks but tries to disguise their squeak
  • Farm guesses who pig is
  • If right pig becomes farmer or farmer tries again

Steal The Bacon

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Team
  • Split players into at least 2 even teams
  • Number the players in each team
  • Teams stand at opposite ends or corners
  • Put bean bag or similar in centre as bacon
  • Call out a number
  • That number in each term runs to steal the bacon first and return it to their team
  • Repeat until each number called
  • Prizes for winning team

Stuck In The Mud

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Tag
  • A simple extension of tag
  • One person is IT
  • Tagged players are stuck in the mud and must freeze with legs apart
  • Other players can unfreeze them by crawling under their legs
  • Game ends when everyone stuck in mud
  • A new player becomes IT

Submarine Tag

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Tag
  • One or more players are submarines
  • Submarines need soft but throwable foam balls
  • All the other players are boats
  • Boats line up on one side & then run across the room
  • Submarines throw foam balls at boats
  • Any hit boat is sunk
  • Un-sunk boats keep running from side to side
  • Last boat sunk is winner

Tag or Tig aka Dobby, Tick, Tiggy, Tip

  • Age 3+
  • Game type : Tag
  • Very small children can understand & enjoy tag
  • One person is IT
  • IT counts to 10 & then chases others
  • For older kids have 1 or more home areas where players are safe
  • Players can only stay in home for 10 seconds
  • Anyone caught becomes IT

Telephone / Chinese Whispers

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Circle, Quiet
  • Needs at least 5 players but best with less than 10
  • Give one person in the circle a short message on a piece of paper
  • They whisper the message to next person in the circle
  • Who in turn whispers to the next person
  • Keep whispering message until reaches last person
  • They say the – by now hilariously garbled – message out loud
  • Telephone can be a good quiet circle game to give children a chance to calm down before food

The Farmer’s In His Den

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Singing
  • A super simple classic party game for toddlers & preschoolers
  • One child is the farmer and stands in the middle of a circle
  • Everyone else holds hands & walks around farmer singing The Farmers In His Den
  • At the appropriate point in the sing the :
    • farmer chooses a wife
    • wife chooses a child
    • child chooses a nurse
    • nurses chooses a dog
  • … and the chosen person joins the farmer in the circle
  • At the end everyone pats the dog!!

The Wheels On The Bus

  • Age 2+
  • Game type : Singing
  • A classic action song most toddlers & preschoolers know and love that is great fun to sing at toddlers or preschoolers party
  • Check out the lyrics & actions if by any chance you’ve forgotten

Three Legged Race

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Race, Outdoor
  • A fun silly race game for outdoor kids parties
  • Can also be fun game for teenagers prepared to get silly again
  • Simply split racers into pairs
  • Tie one leg of each to the other with scarf or strip of scrap fabric
  • One pairs lined up it is as simple as ready steady go …
  • It is easier if kids are same size but more fun if they’re not!!
  • Be a little careful of having adult & chair pairs where an adult could end up falling on a child

Tinkernelly

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Hiding, Outdoor
  • A combination of hide & seek and tag
  • One player stands at the base and counts to 100 whilst the others hide
  • On reaching 100 the counter calls out “Coming ready or not …” and start seeks seeking
  • Whilst the counter is seeking other players try to sneak back to base without being tagged
  • First player back to base without being tagged wins

Tug Of War

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Team, Outdoor
  • A tug of war is a classic outdoor party game for kids
  • It is best played on grass so children don’t get hurt falling over
  • To organise a tug of war you simply need a long rope with a scarf tied around the centre
  • PLUS two lines behind which the teams line up
  • The aim of the game is to pull the point on the rope marked by the scarf over your team’s line
  • Divide teams up evenly by size to make it as fair as possible
  • Be careful playing with adults & small kids who could hurt by an adult falling on them

Under & Over

  • Age 4+
  • Game type : Balloon, Team
  • A fun team race game with balloons
  • Split kids into 2 or more even teams of at least 5 kids
  • Line teams up with some space between them
  • Give child at front of each team a ballon
  • When you shout go first child passes ballon under legs to child behind them
  • 2nd child passes balloon backwards over head without turning around
  • 3rd child passes balloon under legs …
  • This continues until ballon reaches the end
  • Have spare balloons ready
  • If a balloon bursts team must start again
  • For a longer game get last child to run to front with balloon and start again
  • And repeat until balloon has been passed down line as many times as they’re are kids in team
  • This is a fun noisy game but keeps everyone engaged in their line without running around everywhere so can be a good game whilst you are getting tea ready

What’s The Time Mr Wolf

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : First To Front, Tag
  • One child at one end of the room is Mr Wolf
  • Everyone else at the other end, shouts out “What’s the time Mr Wolf?”
  • Mr Wolf says 2 or 3 or 4 etc O’Clock
  • Everyone takes that number of steps forward
  • Repeat until Mr Wolf shouts Dinner Time and chases after everyone
  • First person Mr Wolf catches is the next wolf.

Wheelbarrow Race

  • Age 5+
  • Game type : Race, Outdoor
  • A classic crazy race game that’s great for outdoor parties
  • Divide kids into pairs
  • Best to match a big kid with a smaller kid
  • Line kids up at one end of room or grass
  • Smaller kid of pair goes down on hands and knees to be the wheelbarrow
  • Other kid lifts them up by ankles
  • Then all pairs race to the end
  • Wheelbarrows must stay up on hands, they can’t crawl!!

Who Am I

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Guessing
  • Every child has the name of an animal or famous character stuck on their forehead
  • They have to go round the room asking yes-no questions to work out who they are

Wink Murder

  • Age 7+
  • Game type : Quieter, Circle, Guessing
  • Another classic party game for older kids – including teens – that works as a quieter sitting down, circle game when Sleeping Lions no longer cuts it!
  • It couldn’t be simpler
  • 1 person, the detective, goes out of the room
  • The others agree who is murderer
  • Detective comes back in
  • Murderer winks at victims to kill them off
  • Without being spotted by detective.

And there you go, all the best classic party games for kids of all ages that you can easily put on yourself for a fabulously fun kids party.

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Classic Party Games For Kids
Original image sources: balloons, girl, boy rawpixel.com

Original images 3 jaar 3 by Philippe Put, Turning 3 by Lars Ploughmann under Creative Commons License.

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Comments

  1. This is amazing and so helpful! Iā€™d forgotten half of these from my childhood-sorts out a 6th birthday party this weekend.

    Reply

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