Over lame kids birthday party activities? Leave these tired birthday party games for kids to other boring parties and use these awesome children’s party ideas instead!
Kids Birthday Party Activities That Everyone Loathes (And What Birthday Party Games To Play Instead)
#1. Don’t Play This Birthday Game: Musical Chairs
Do This Instead: Trendy Dance Challenge
While it’s a classic party game, leave musical chairs to school events or other loser parties.
Instead, opt for a trendy dance-off (or TikTok challenge)!
Set up a mini dance floor area with lights, party photo backdrops, and fun music where kids can show off their coolest moves or even compete in online challenges.
#2. Don’t Play This Birthday Game: Pin The Tail On The Donkey
Do This Instead: Tailor The Game To Your Party Theme
Can I let you in on a secret? No one cares if that donkey gets a tail (unless you’re specifically having a donkey-themed party).
If you want to play this game, use your birthday party theme for inspiration and make party themed games like pin the horn on the unicorn, pin the eye patch on the pirate, or pin the party hat on a picture of the birthday boy or girl.
It’s much more fun and engaging this way!
#3. Don’t Play This Birthday Game: Balloon Pop Game
Do This Instead: Minute To Win It Games
I might have a special bias on this one, but I say leave all the balloon pop games alone. This includes sit on the balloon pop, throwing something at a balloon to pop it, or even water balloon popping.
(My daughter has sensitivity issues and this did not end well at a party we attended.)
Instead, go for the trendy (and way more fun) Minute To Win It games of any kind. Kids can compete as teams or with individual challenges.
GET MINUTE TO WIN IT GAMES FOR KIDS
#4. Don’t Play This Birthday Game: Pinata
Do This Instead: Treasure Hunt
Am I the only one who thinks giving a blinded folded kid a stick to swing around blindly is weird?
Yeah, skip the pinata (and all the candy) and instead have a treasure hunt complete with a map and clues at each point.
At then end, you can have a treasure chest like this where kids can share the party favors! (Plus, it’s a fun activity to keep kids occupied. This was a huge hit a my daughter’s birthday party one year!)
#5. Don’t Play This Birthday Game: Bobbing For Donuts
Do This Instead: Donut Decorating Station
I actually think the donut bobbing game is really fun, but it is messy (and some parents definitely don’t like that!).
So, instead of doing a donut bobbing game, have a donut decorating station and let kids create their own donut decorations.
(That way you can also have gluten free options and kids can pick and choose what they want to eat.)
#6. Don’t Do This Birthday Party Activity: Blow Out Candles On A Big Cake
Do This Instead: Cupcake Decorating Station
I don’t know why we accepted this before, but I think (especially now) we can all agree that we don’t need anyone blowing out candles (and spit) on a big cake where people eat it after, right?
Instead, set up a cupcake decorating station where kids get to pick their own cupcakes, decorate it how they want, and then the birthday kid can have a candle on their own cupcake for the Happy Birthday song singing!
#7. Don’t Do This Birthday Party Activity: Face Painting
Do This Instead: Temporary Tattoo And Sticker Station
It’s hard to have a face painting station with a large birthday party because each painting is time consuming and kids get bored and annoyed standing in line.
Also, kids can have sensitivities to face paint (and I’m pretty sure that’s not a conversation you want to have with the parents…).
Instead of facepainting, have a temporary tattoo station / sticker station. It’s quick and easy and they can wear a sticker if they don’t want a tattoo!
(Plus, you don’t have to hire a face painter!)
#8. Don’t Do This Birthday Party Activity: Clowns Or Magic
Do This Instead: Science Show Or Reptile Show
If you’re booking birthday party entertainment, skip the (scary) clowns or outdated magicians. Instead, bring in a hands-on science show or a professional reptile show!
These are super trendy entertainment options right now that kids love!
#9. Don’t Do This Birthday Party Activity: Have A “Leave Your Phone Here” Basket
Do This Instead: Have A Phone Scavenger Hunt
The quickest way to ruin a tween or teen birthday party is to have a “phone basket” at the door where everyone leaves their phone during the party.
(Their misery will make you miserable. Trust me.)
Instead, lean into how kids like to be on their phones and have a phone photo scavenger hunt and other games that involve kids using their phones.
#10. Don’t Do This Birthday Party Activity: Open Gifts
Do This Instead: Group Scavenger Hunts
If it’s been a while since you hosted a birthday party for kids, no one opens the gifts at the party anymore. (Plus, it’s really boring for guests and then kids get all bummed about the things they don’t have. Yawn.)
Instead, have a group scavenger hunt with fun clues and cool prizes that kids can share!
MORE FUN BIRTHDAY PARTY THEMES NOT EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING: Throw A Silent Disco Dance Party At Home
Don’t be lame. Have fun with these alternative ideas for kids birthday party activities!
