In this article
- Pass the Parcel
- Treasure Hunt
- The Floor is Lava
- Hide and Seek
- Balloon Relay Race
- Musical Statues
- Sleeping Lions
- Pin the Tail on the Donkey
- Musical Chairs
- Egg and Spoon Race
- Wheelbarrow Race
- Duck, Duck, Goose
- Piñata
- Limbo
- Cupcake Decorating Competition
- Simon Says
- Hanging Doughnut Game
- Under Over
Bouncy castles may be the hallmark of early years birthday parties, but for a tried-and-tested formula that doesn’t require weeks of saving and planning, children’s party games win every time! All you need is a few props, a bit of space and a couple of willing adults to be chief organisers. The kids will bring the excitement all by themselves!
We’ve rounded up 18 of the best to help celebrate your child’s special day no matter the age or weather. We've got everything from old-school classics to modern-day hits, and we’ve even included a few Nestlé-inspired suggestions for quick and easy prizes. So let the games begin!
Of course, no party is complete without an ace party bag – the perfect way to tie up your theme and help the event go down in history! And if you need a little inspiration for easy bakes to go alongside the carrot and cucumber sticks, we have a huge range of sweet recipes to get the cogs whirring.
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1. The Floor is Lava
It’s hot and happening!
How to play
- The Floor is Lava can be played in or outdoors, but you’ll need to set up the area.
- Scatter cushions, mats, coloured pieces of card or paper plates around your chosen area. These little islands are the only safe spots in your lava world. If you’re playing on a slippery surface, it's a good idea to tape the card or paper plates to the floor. You can even scatter a few treats, like small packets of Jelly Tots or packets of Milkybar® Buttons in hard-to-reach spots!
- Start all the kids at one end of the obstacle course and set a timer for one minute.
- The kids must move through the imaginary fiery course without touching the floor.
- The first child to make it through the course gets a point. At the end of five rounds, the child with the most points wins!
What you need
- A timer
- Cushions
- Coloured card
- Paper plates
- Small rewards for daring adventurers
2. Treasure Hunt
Great for little explorers.
How to play
- Set some boundaries for the treasure hunt so your adventurers know where they can and cannot safely go.
- Create a treasure chest and fill it with all your favourite Nestlé goodies! You could also bake some Easy Cookies or create Sweet Cones as prizes.
- The clues could be riddles, word searches, or puzzles. Each clue should reveal the location of the next clue.
- Set them off to hunt down the hidden treats.
What you need
- A treasure map
- A treasure box or bag
- A selection of treats, baked goods, or sweet cones
- Paper and pen for clues
- Print-outs of word searches or puzzles if needed
Why kids love it
Who doesn’t love an adventure? Finding hidden treasures feels magical and teamwork makes it even more exciting.
“Finding hidden treasures feels magical and teamwork makes it even more exciting.”
3. Hide and Seek
An easy classic.
How to play
- One child counts to 20, while the others hide.
- The seeker then finds them one by one.
- The last child found is the next seeker!
What you need
- Just a gang of eager children!
Why kids love it
Hide and Seek is a timeless classic that can be played in or outdoors! Kids love the suspense of searching for sneaky hidden holes and the thrill of not being found. Just be sure to make clear which areas or rooms are off-limits!
Why kids love it
It’s chaotic, exciting, imaginative and makes for fun photo moments!
4. Musical Chairs
Be funky, be fast and claim your chair!
How to play
- You need one less chair than the number of players. So, if there are six players, you need five chairs.
- Arrange the chairs in a circle or line.
- Get the kids to stand in a circle around the chairs and start the music. Encourage the kids to walk or dance around the chairs.
- When the music stops, each child must sit on a chair. Whoever doesn’t claim a chair is out, and one chair must be removed.
- The child who claims the last chair is the winner.
What you need
- At least three players but the more the merrier
- Chairs
- Music
Why kids love it
Kids love the fact they get to move and groove, plus the surprise factor is always a hit!
5. Balloon Relay Race
Colourful fun and mayhem!
How to play
- Divide kids into two teams.
- There are a few ways to play. The first is a hopping relay race holding the balloon between the legs. Once the racer reaches a teammate, they pass the balloon over, and the race continues. The second option is to have teammates stand back-to-back, then put the balloon in between them. Then they walk together, keeping the balloon safe until they reach the next team. This version requires more players, but it’s great fun!
- In both games, if they drop the balloon, they must start again.
- First team to finish wins!
What you need
- Balloons
Why kids love it
Kids love balloons and this game is hilarious to watch and play. Expect lots of laughter!
6. Musical Statues
Let the kids go crazy!
How to play
- Pick some funky music and let the kids go wild with their best dance moves.
- You control the music, and when you pause it, they must freeze.
- Keep an eye on the players, and anyone who moves is out!
- The last dancer still in at the end wins a small reward.
The great thing about dance-based games is that you can tie them in with the theme of the party. So for Halloween, play spooky music and lead by example by your killer Thriller moves! For cowboys, get that imaginary lasso going. Most likely, the kids will end up reminding you how to dance the Macarena.
Top Tips: Play multiple rounds and mix up the music selection for each round. You could also throw in some extra awards, such as ‘best animal pose’, ‘best balance’ or ‘funniest dance moves’.
What you need
- Music
- At least three players
- Small prizes like two-finger KitKats®
Why kids love it
Kids love to dance and it’s one children’s party game that never goes out of style!
7. Sleeping Lions
Who’s the sleepiest lion in the Jungle?
How to play
- Wrangle the kids to lie down and pretend they are sleeping lions.
- The designated hunter moves around the room and tries to make them giggle or move. They can sing, dance, tell jokes, do anything silly, but they can’t touch the sleeping lions!
- If a child laughs or moves, they are out.
- The last lion that is still asleep wins.
What you need
- Three or more lions and one hunter. For bigger groups, you can have two hunters working together to rouse those sleepy kitty cats.
- A floor or garden area.
Why kids love it
Kids love the challenge of not laughing, and having their eyes closed heightens the excitement – plus, it’s a great game for parents seeking a brief moment of peace and quiet!
8. Pin the Tail on the Donkey
Spin, spin, spin and let the wobbly fun begin!
How to play
- Set up the donkey poster or card. Mark out a spot a couple of feet away with a piece of chalk for the kids to stand, to keep it fair.
- Blindfold the first child and give them the tail.
- Spin them around a few times and let them try to pin the tail in the right place.
- See who gets closest to the mark!
What you need
- Large donkey poster – drawn or printed out on a piece of A3 paper
- Paper tails with sticky tack on the end
- Blindfold
Why kids love it
Pin the Tail is a classic birthday celebration game. The dizziness combined with the expectation for success is always fun to watch!
Top Tips: If your party has a theme, this is a great way to tie it together – simply swap out the donkey. You could have a monster or an alien, or turn it into pin-the-tail on the mermaid or unicorn!
9. Pass the Parcel
Always fun, always a surprise!
How to play
- Wrap a small gift in multiple layers of colourful wrapping paper.
- Sit the kids in a circle and play some upbeat music or something they can sing along to.
- When the music starts, they pass the parcel around – not too fast and not too slow!
- When the music stops, the child holding the parcel removes one layer. The coloured layers ensure no cheeky double layers of paper are removed.
- Repeat until the final layer is removed and the prize is revealed!
Top Tip: stick smaller treats like Milkybar® Kid bars or bags of Jelly Tots® in between layers to add to the excitement and share around.
What you need
- A small prize
- Wrapping paper
- Scissors
- Sticky tape
- Music
Why kids love it
The thrill of the chase and the anticipation of the final prize! Every layer brings excitement, and even if they don’t win the final prize, everyone gets a chance to play. It’s one of the all-time children’s party game greats!
10. Egg and Spoon Race
Great for kids' parties, picnics in the park and Easter celebrations.
How to play
- Set out a clearly marked course. It can be a straight line, or you can make it more interesting with a few twists and turns.
- Give each child a spoon and an egg (boiled or plastic to avoid a messy clean-up!).
- Get the kids to balance their egg on the spoon, then it's off to the races.
- Should they drop the egg, they have to stand still until it is back on the spoon. Whoever completes the race or course first is the winner.
What you need
- Regular-size spoons are best, but you can also mix it up to make it more challenging with wooden spoons.
- Hard boiled eggs are best
- If you’re hosting the race during Easter, you can colour the eggs before the race to make it extra special.
Why kids love it
The thrill of the race coupled with the challenge of balancing the egg is just so much fun. If you’re feeling really brave, opt for fresh eggs and enjoy the chaos!
Looking for Easter inspiration? We’ve got some great ideas for Easter Baking with Kids, have created a guide to How to Plan the Ultimate Easter Egg Hunt and created a recipe for an Easter party centrepiece, our Easter Bunny Cake.
11. Wheelbarrow Race
About as fun as exercise can get!
How to play
- Set out a clearly marked course.
- Get the kids into pairs. One is the wheelbarrow, and the other is the driver.
- The wheelbarrow gets into a push-up position while their partner holds their legs.
- When everyone is ready, start the race!
- First team to the finish line wins.
- A fun idea is to swap roles and race again.
What you need
- A clear, soft surface like grass or astroturf.
Why kids love it
The mix of teamwork, co-ordination and silliness has everything kids need for a fun-filled experience.
Top Tip: If you have enough willing participants, get the grown-ups to do a round! The kids will go crazy cheering on their parents.
12. Duck, Duck, Goose
Let them run wild!
How to play
- Have the kids sit in a circle.
- One child walks around the outside, tapping each player head and saying “duck.”
- When they choose, they tap a child and shout “goose!”
- The goose jumps up and chases them around the circle.
- If the runner reaches the empty spot and sits down before being tagged, the “goose” becomes the next tapper. If they get caught, they go again!
What you need
- An outside space
- A group of energetic kids!
Why kids love it
The suspense, excitement and running keeps the kids on their toes!
13. Piñata
Always a smash hit.
How to play
- Get a colourful piñata and hang it up somewhere safe. You can either have it dangling from a stationery position or you can set it up so you can raise and lower the piñata as the children swing.
- Fill it with kids’ Nestlé treats such as packets of Jelly Tots®, Milkybar® buttons or Smarties®.
- Have all the children seated behind the piñata and well out of range of the swinging player.
- Blindfold the player and give them a wooden stick – nothing that is too heavy!
- Give each child the chance to take three swings and continue until it breaks and rains treats to share around!
What you need
- A piñata
- Treats
- Rope
- A kid-size bat (an old broomstick cut in half works well)
- A blindfold
Why kids love it
They get to smash something that is filled with all their favourite treats! What’s not to love?
14. Limbo
How low can you go?
How to play
- Set up a limbo stick (a broomstick or pool noodle can work). Players can hold it, or else securing the broomstick between two chairs works well.
- Play some fun music and have the kids take turns leaning backward to pass under the stick without touching it or falling.
- After each round, lower the stick slightly to make it trickier.
- The last child remaining who can still pass under wins!
What you need
- A limbo stick
- Music
Why kids (and adults) love it
With its fun mix of flexibility, balance and friendly competition, a good limbo game will keep both kids and parents busy for hours.
15. Cupcake Decorating Competition
Get colourful and creative!
How to play
- Give each child a plain cupcake to create their masterpiece!
- Set out a variety of toppings like icing, sprinkles, freeze-dried strawberries, fresh blueberries, toasted nuts, a few Rowntree’s Jelly Tots or Smarties®.
- Let the kids get creative, decorating their cupcakes however they like.
- If you want, have a fun awards ceremony with light-hearted categories like: Most Colourful, Tallest Icing Swirl, or Best Use of Sprinkles.
- The real winners are the kids who get to munch on their delicious creations!
Top Tip: Line your table with paper or a disposable tablecloth to make cleaning up a breeze.
What you need
- Plain cupcakes, such as our easy Smarties Vanilla Mini Cupcakes, before they’ve been iced.
- Icing in different colours
- A selection of tasty toppings
Why kids love it
It’s creative, hands-on, and ends with a delicious reward! Plus, there’s no right or wrong way to decorate a tasty cupcake.
16. Simon Says
Simon says read this sentence!
How to play
- Choose one child or an adult to be Simon.
- Simon gives commands like “Simon says touch your toes” or “Simon says jump three times.”
- The trick? If Simon doesn’t say “Simon says” before the command, and a child still does it, they’re out!
- The last child standing becomes the next Simon.
What you need
- Just a group of eager kids with their listening ears turned on.
Why kids love it
It’s all about quick thinking, fast reactions and trying to catch your friends out!
17. Hanging Doughnut Game
Fun, tasty and hilarious!
How to play
- Tie a few doughnuts onto a string and hang them from a tree branch, clothes-line, or doorway at mouth level for your hungry doughnut munchers. Leave enough space between each to fit in all the players.
- Each child stands in front of a doughnut with their hands behind their back.
- When the game starts, they must try to eat their doughnut without using their hands.
- The first to finish wins the challenge!
What you need
- Doughnuts (classic cinnamon sugar ring ones work best!).
- String or ribbon
- A suitable place to set up the game.
Why kids love it
One word: doughnuts!
18. Under Over
Great fun and a good workout.
How to play
- Divide the kids into two teams and have them form a line.
- The first child in each line holds a ball or balloon and passes it over their head to the child behind them.
- That child then passes it under their legs to the next person.
- The pattern continues (over, under, over, under) until the last person gets the ball or balloon.
- The last child runs to the front and starts the process again.
- The first team to cycle through all players wins!
What you need
- A small ball or balloon, or try a larger ball for more of a challenge.
Why kids love it
The teamwork and fast-paced nature of the game keeps kids thinking, busy and having fun.
Tips for Hosting a Successful Kids' Party
Follow our top tips for party success!
Pick age-appropriate games
Choose games that match the abilities and energy levels of your little party people. Younger kids love simple games like Duck, Duck, Goose, while older ones enjoy more competitive and physical challenges like Wheelbarrow Races.
Mix indoor and outdoor games
The UK weather isn’t always on our side, so have a backup plan! Pass the Parcel and Musical Statues work indoors, while Egg and Spoon races and Treasure Hunts are great for outdoor fun.
Keep the good times rolling
Alternate between high-energy games like Balloon Relay Race and Limbo and calmer ones like Sleeping Lions or Cupcake Decorating to avoid exhaustion for both kids and parents!
Have small and tasty prizes
A little reward goes a long way! Nestlé-infused treats like our Smarties® Sports Mini Cheesecakes or our Smarties Mini Cupcakes are fun to make and share. Little mixed bags of Smarties® and Rowntree’s® sweets make sweet prizes and are also a great way to add another layer of fun and excitement.
Focus on fun over competition
Kids love the experience just as much as the victory, and not every game needs a winner. Create fun awards along the way for silly behaviour to encourage the kids to just have fun and enjoy the moment. Lastly, it’s important for the parents to have fun, so get in on the action and show the kids how it’s done!
