These no-cost and cheap party games are perfect for parents who want to throw a memorable birthday party for kids or other children’s party celebration without busting your budget. These frugal DIY kid activities prove that you don’t need a lot of money to have a good time.
$5 or Less DIY Cheap Party Games for Kids Parties
Planning a kids’ birthday party or other activities on a tight budget? (You’re not alone!)
With all the over-the-top teen parties and children’s parties right now, it’s hard to compete.
(I see you TikTok trends and Pinterest pins…)
But, you don’t need to spend a lot of money for kids to have fun. I think we’ve forgotten that kids just love being together and running around more than anything.
(Some of my favorite childhood party memories are playing tag with friends or running through the sprinklers!)
Whether you’re looking for frugal party ideas, budget-friendly kids activities, or fun games that cost nothing, there are plenty of ways to keep kids laughing without spending a dime (or, at least, not many dimes!).
PRO PARTY TIP: If you want to save money on game winner prizes, don't buy single prizes. Instead, keep score over multiple games and then award a "group prize" to the overall winning team. You can put together a basket of treats for the winning team to choose from for around $10 - bags of home popped popcorn, suckers, bouncy balls or these fun ball fidget spinners, etc.
Here are 11 fun kids’ games you can play that cost no money or less than $5 games…
Spoon Relay (No Expensive Eggs Needed!) – $0
Give each child a spoon with a paper wad (rolled up paper ball) on it.
Kids must quickly walk across to the finish line without dropping it.
You can also make it a team game by having kids roll the paper ball off of their spoon onto a teammates spoon at the other end of the room.
Then, that team player walks back to the other end of the room and does the same thing with the next team member, until all teammates have gone.
First person or team to make it without dropping it wins.
Balloon Pop Relay Games: $5
Balloons are THE BEST cheap party supplies because everyone loves balloons and you can do a lot of different party games with a couple of packs of cheap balloons from the dollar store or 100 for around $5.
For this party game, divide kids into teams and give each child a balloon.
On GO!, the first kids hold their balloon, race to a chair, and place the balloon on the seat of the chair.
Then, they sit on it to pop it.
PRO PARTY TIP: The more you fill the balloons, the easier they are to pop. If you are playing this as a teen game or with older kids, don't fill them all the way up with air to make the game more challenging.
Once it’s popped, they run back to their team and tag the next person, who does the same thing.
First team to pop all of their balloons and get back to the starting line wins.
FUN PARTY TIP: If you're having an outdoor party, you can make this into a water balloon game by filling them with water instead of air. Just be sure to let parents know on the invitation to pack a towel and extra clothes for the kids. GET MORE IDEAS FOR WATER BALLOON GAMES. GREAT IDEAS FOR TEEN GAMES!
Freeze Dance: $0
Little kids love the freeze dance game and it costs you nothing!
Play a favorite music playlist for kids like this, then pause it randomly.
Kids must freeze when the music stops.
No props required—just a speaker or phone or laptop.
Then, after the game, just let the music play and the kids will dance. They’re already in the mood for it!
Treasure Hunt or Scavenger Hunt: $0
Using items you have at home already, hide small toys, candies, or other fun items.
Use handwritten clues that direct teams around the party area (yard or house) to find the item with the next clue attached.
The team who finds the last clue, wins!
PRIZE REMINDER: Again, if you're doing giveaways for winners, your prizes don't have to be something major or expensive. It can just be suckers, mini gummy packs (buy the big box from Costco!), or mini candy bars placed in a basket for the winners to pick from.
DIY Carnival Games: $0
Use cups, buckets, bowls, and rolled-up socks for tossing games.
Set up the containers in different areas.
Be sure to place tape or chalk X’s where players have to stand to play the toss game for each container.
Tape point signs (1 points, 5 points, 10 points) onto the different containers. (Higher points for harder containers or containers far away.)
PRO PARTY TIP: You can also play this as a kids Minute To Win It Game and give each player or each team 1 minute to see how many points they can get.
Arts & Craft Station: $0
This isn’t really a game (obviously) but it is a fun party activity, especially if you have a kid who loves doing crafts and making art.
Set up a table with crayons, craft paper, drawing paper, old magazines, stickers, scissors, glue sticks and any other crafty items you have at home.
Then, let kids create their own masterpieces that doubles as a take-home party favor (that you don’t have to spend money on!).
PRO PARTY TIP: Don't have craft supplies? Splurge on this craft tub that you can usually get for around 15 bucks and it's enough for the whole group!
Obstacle Course: $0
Use chairs, pillows, hula hoops, pool noodles, and whatever you have lying around to make a fun challenge course that kids can tag-team their way through with teammates.
Post-It Note Game – $0
If you’re having a middle school party or a teenager’s party, the story note game is really fun to play with those ages.
Using sticky notes you have at home (or even just plain paper), everyone writes a sentence in the story without seeing the whole story.
For example:
- Player 1 writes a sentence.
- Player 2 reviews player 1’s sentence and writes a related sentence, placing their sentence on top of player 1’s.
- Player 3 then can only see Player 2’s sentence and must continue building on the story from there.
As you can imagine, it ends up making a really silly and funny story when read aloud.
This game is a hit for sleepover activities, too!
CLICK TO GET FULL DIRECTIONS FOR THE STORY GAME
Cup Stack Challenge: $0-$5
Kids race to stack plastic cups into a pyramid to see how tall they can get it within 30 seconds.
Use leftover party cups, plastic cups you already have (they don’t need to match!), or pick some up at the dollar store for less than $5.
Don’t Drop the Balloon: $5
The goal is for each child to keep a balloon in the air, but — PLOT TWIST — without using their hands! They can use heads, feet, knees, bums, or whatever… just not hands.
So be sure to have them hold their hands behind their backs and bob those balloons so they don’t hit the floor.
If their balloon hits the floor or they’re caught using their hands, they’re out of the game.
Last child with a balloon they haven’t touched or let hit the floor wins!
PRO PARTY TIP: Add a timer or music to make it competitive for teen games or mixed ages.
Mystery Box Game – $0
PARTY GAME TIP: This is like the mystery bag game we made for Halloween. You can see how I made that here.
Grab a shoebox or one of those million leftover Amazon boxes you have around.
In the box, place items different from around the house like dry pasta noodles, cotton balls, different toys, utensils, etc.
Tape the lid shut and cut an opening just large enough for kids to put their hands.
Have kids feel inside and guess the items that are inside.
Person with the most correct guesses wins.
ANOTHER CHEAP & EASY GAME TO TRY: Spin The Nail Polish Bottle Game For Sleepovers
I hope you have fun with these no-cost and cheap party games for kids and teen party games!
