15 Birthday Party Activities for Kids: Fun Ideas for Home, Halls and Gardens

Planning a children’s birthday party is exciting, but keeping a group of energetic children entertained can sometimes feel like the biggest challenge. Whether you’re hosting a party at home, in a village hall, a soft play centre or outdoors, having a selection of fun kids party activities will help create a celebration to remember.

From classic party games to creative crafts and energetic challenges, there are plenty of ways to keep children smiling from the moment they arrive until it’s time to go home.

If you’re looking for children’s party entertainers, party venues, face painters, bouncy castles, party suppliers or kids’ party activities near you, Club Hub UK makes it easy to find local businesses across the UK.

In This Article

1. Classic Party Games
2. Treasure Hunt
3. Arts and Crafts Station
4. Dance Party
5. Balloon Games
6. Obstacle Course
7. Party Sports Challenges
8. Science Party Activities
9. Outdoor Party Games
10. Party Entertainers
11. Face Painting and Glitter Tattoos
12. Build Your Own Party Bags
13. Food Decorating Activities
14. Quiet Party Corner
15. Choose Activities for Different Ages

Why Party Activities Matter

The best children’s parties are those where everyone feels included and has something fun to do.

Well-planned activities can:

• Keep children entertained
• Encourage teamwork
• Help children make new friends
• Build confidence
• Create memorable experiences
• Reduce boredom between food and cake

Having a mixture of active and quieter activities also helps cater for children with different personalities and energy levels.

1. Classic Party Games

Traditional games remain popular for a reason.

Some favourites include:

• Pass the Parcel
• Musical Statues
• Musical Chairs
• Duck, Duck, Goose
• Simon Says
• What’s the Time, Mr Wolf?
• Sleeping Lions

These games require very little equipment and are suitable for a wide range of ages.

2. Treasure Hunt

A treasure hunt adds excitement to any party.

Hide clues around your venue that lead children to a final prize or party bag.

You can adapt the difficulty depending on the children’s ages, making it suitable for both younger and older party guests.

3. Arts and Crafts Station

A craft table gives children the chance to get creative while providing a calm activity between games.

Ideas include:

• Decorating party hats
• Friendship bracelets
• Painting wooden shapes
• Colouring competitions
• Decorating biscuits
• Making masks

Children can often take their creations home as an extra party favour.

4. Dance Party

Create a playlist of children’s favourite songs and let everyone dance together.

You could include games such as:

• Freeze Dance
• Dance competitions
• Follow the Leader
• Limbo

Music helps create a fun atmosphere and encourages everyone to join in.

5. Balloon Games

Balloons are inexpensive and incredibly versatile.

Try activities such as:

• Balloon races
• Keep the balloon off the floor
• Balloon volleyball
• Balloon popping challenges
• Balloon relay races

Always supervise younger children around balloons.

6. Obstacle Course

If you have plenty of space, create an obstacle course using cones, hoops, tunnels and beanbags.

Children can:

• Crawl
• Jump
• Balance
• Throw
• Run

Obstacle courses are ideal for burning off energy.

7. Party Sports Challenges

For sporty children, organise mini competitions such as:

• Football penalties
• Beanbag throwing
• Basketball shooting
• Relay races
• Tug of war

Award small certificates or stickers to celebrate everyone’s efforts.

8. Science Party Activities

For children who enjoy discovering new things, simple science experiments can be a huge hit.

Ideas include:

• Making slime
• Fizzy volcanoes
• Bubble experiments
• Rainbow colour mixing
• Floating and sinking challenges

These activities combine learning with plenty of fun.

9. Outdoor Party Games

If the weather is kind, take the party outside.

Popular outdoor activities include:

• Sack races
• Egg and spoon races
• Parachute games
• Water balloon games
• Giant garden games
• Scavenger hunts

Outdoor parties give children lots of space to run and play.

10. Party Entertainers

Hiring an entertainer can take the pressure off parents while creating an unforgettable experience.

Popular choices include:

• Magicians
• Children’s entertainers
• Princess performers
• Superhero characters
• Puppet shows
• Circus performers
• Bubble entertainers
• Music and dance hosts

Professional entertainers often tailor their performances to different age groups.

11. Face Painting and Glitter Tattoos

Face painting is always a favourite at children’s parties.

Popular designs include:

• Butterflies
• Tigers
• Superheroes
• Rainbows
• Dinosaurs
• Flowers

Glitter tattoos are another fun option that children can enjoy throughout the day.

12. Build Your Own Party Bags

Instead of preparing party bags in advance, let children create their own.

Provide a selection of:

• Stickers
• Pencils
• Small toys
• Colouring sheets
• Bubbles
• Healthy treats

Children enjoy choosing their own goodies to take home.

13. Food Decorating Activities

Turn snack time into an activity.

Children could decorate:

• Cupcakes
• Biscuits
• Mini pizzas
• Fruit kebabs

This combines creativity with a tasty treat.

14. Quiet Party Corner

Not every child enjoys loud games.

Consider creating a quieter space with:

• Colouring
• Story books
• Building blocks
• Puzzles
• Sensory toys

This helps ensure every child feels comfortable and included.

15. Choose Activities for Different Ages

Children enjoy different activities depending on their age.

For toddlers, simple singing games, bubbles and sensory play work well.

Preschool children often enjoy crafts, dancing and imaginative games.

Primary-aged children usually love treasure hunts, sports challenges, science activities and team games.

Choosing age-appropriate activities helps everyone have a fantastic time.

Find Children’s Party Suppliers Near You

Planning the perfect party is easier when you have the right suppliers.

With Club Hub UK, you can search for:

• Children’s entertainers
• Party venues
• Soft play centres
• Face painters
• Balloon artists
• Character appearances
• Bouncy castle hire
• Party decorations
• Party caterers
• Party activity providers

Simply enter your location to browse trusted children’s party suppliers across the UK.

Make Every Celebration Special

The best children’s parties aren’t about spending the most money—they’re about creating happy memories with fun activities, laughter and time spent together.

Whether you’re organising a small family gathering or a large birthday celebration, choosing the right games, entertainment and activities will help create a party children will remember long after the last slice of cake has been eaten.

Looking for help planning your next celebration? Club Hub UK makes it easy to find children’s party entertainers, party venues, activity providers, party suppliers and family-friendly businesses across the UK, helping you organise a stress-free and unforgettable party.