Ages 3–4
Keep games short and simple, with a prize or sticker for everyone. Games where nobody is “out” work best, and a grown-up to help each small group makes it calmer.
| Game | About |
|---|---|
| Egg or treasure hunt with read-aloud clues | 15 minutes |
| Colour and shape bingo (no reading) | 10 minutes |
| Pass the parcel with a small treat in every layer | 10 minutes |
| Simple picture scavenger hunt | 10 minutes |
| Colouring placemats at the table | while they eat |
Ages 5–7
Most children this age love a treasure hunt with rhyming clues and a bit of silliness. Mix lively games with sitting-down ones, and keep teams small.
| Game | About |
|---|---|
| Treasure hunt with rhyming clue cards | 20 minutes |
| Theme bingo with word cards | 15 minutes |
| Pass the parcel with silly forfeits | 10 minutes |
| Scavenger hunt tick-list | 15 minutes |
| Party quiz: how well do you know the birthday star? | 15 minutes |
Ages 8–10
Older children like a challenge and a bit of competition. Code-breaking hunts, team scavenger hunts with points, and quizzes go down well. Nothing too babyish!
| Game | About |
|---|---|
| Escape-style hunt with coded clues | 30–45 minutes |
| Team scavenger hunt with points | 20 minutes |
| Word bingo on bigger cards | 15 minutes |
| Pass the parcel with quick challenges | 10 minutes |
| Design-your-own sheets: a creature, a character or a snack | 20 minutes |
Ages 11 and up
Tweens often prefer hanging out to organised games, so offer a couple of choices and let them run it. A coded escape game, a quiz with friends or a design challenge works well.
| Game | About |
|---|---|
| Escape game with coded clues, played in teams | 45 minutes |
| Quiz about the birthday star, plus would-you-rather | 20 minutes |
| High-score board for a games tournament | as long as you like |
| Design-your-own kawaii snack or game character | 20 minutes |
Ready to print? Choose a party theme, or start with the countdown checklist.