When my daughter turned 11 recently, I was on a mission to make her birthday party special. But let’s be real—keeping a bunch of preteens entertained indoors is no small feat. While I brainstormed party games for her and her friends, I also borrowed ideas from other birthday parties she’s attended (because why reinvent the wheel?).

Spoiler alert: The games were a hit! So, if you’re looking for fun indoor games that kids will enjoy (and remember fondly), here’s a list based on my party experience and her friends’ party adventures.

kids party games

Odd-Even

This one was a crowd-pleaser at our party. The kids stood in a circle, and my daughter got to play the boss. She called out one number ( odd or even) and the kids had to say next numbers in the sequence. A wrong number or hesitation? Out they went!

Why It’s Fun: It’s a mix of focus and fun, and kids love the little challenge.

Pin the Tail

Hang a donkey poster on the wall, blindfold one player at a time, and give them a few spins before they try to stick a paper tail as close to the donkey’s rump as possible! Of course, it doesn’t have to be a tail or a donkey – we’ve gotten creative and played “Pin the Mermaid Flower on the mermaid head” according to our theme.

Get imaginative and customize it to fit your party theme.

Musical Chairs

Ah, the good ol’ musical chairs. We pushed the furniture aside, arranged chairs in a circle, and let the music do the magic. The kids were giggling and racing to grab seats like their lives depended on it.

Space-Saving Hack: Use cushions instead of chairs if your party room feels cramped.

Freeze Dance

This game turned our living room into a mini dance floor! The kids danced like they were on a reality show, and when the music stopped, they froze in hilarious poses.

Messymom Tip: Joining in on the dance will earn you the “Cool Parent” badge for the day.

Pass the Parcel

This one’s always a favorite. I wrapped a small gift in multiple layers of colorful paper. As the music played, the parcel went around, and each time it stopped, the person holding it unwrapped a layer. The excitement built with every layer until the final prize was revealed.

Treasure Hunt

This one was my personal favorite. I hid little goodies around the room and gave the kids clues to find them. Watching them solve riddles and scramble to find the treasures was so much fun!

Simon Says

Simple, classic, and always a hit! “Simon says clap your hands,” “Simon says jump twice,” and so on. Of course, the trick was throwing in commands without Simon’s permission to trip them up.

Messymom Pro Tip: Sneak in “Simon says sit quietly” when you need a breather.

Storytime Freeze

This game worked perfectly to wind things down. I started a story and paused at a dramatic moment. The kids then took turns adding their own twists. Let’s just say their creativity blew me away!

Guess the Candy Count

A friend’s mom played this game at her party, and it was genius! She filled a jar with candies, and the kids had to guess how many were inside. The closest guess won the entire jar (cue big smiles!).

Obstacle Course

We created a mini obstacle course using pillows, chairs, and a hula hoop. It wasn’t Pinterest-perfect, but the kids loved crawling under chairs and jumping over imaginary lava.

Craft Corner

This isn’t exactly a game, but it kept the kids occupied when they needed a break. I set up a table with stickers, markers, and glitter (yes, I regretted the glitter later), and they made their own bookmarks and party hats.

Balloon Pop Relay

At a friend’s party, the kids had a blast with this one. They had to sit on a balloon to pop it, then run back to tag the next player. The squeals of laughter were contagious.

Safety Tip: Choose soft balloons to avoid any frustration (or accidental tears).

Cup Stack

I placed 10 cups in each corner on table and challenged the kids to stack them up within a time limit. The twist? They could only pick up one cup at a time from any corner.

Birthday Trivia

This was such a fun way to spotlight my daughter. I asked questions like “What’s her favorite color?” and “What’s her favorite snack?” The kids loved answering, and my daughter enjoyed being the center of attention.

Memory Game

Place 15 items on a tray and show it to the kids for 20 seconds. Remove the tray and ask them to write down the items they remember. The one with the most correct answers wins.

Balloon Balance Challenge

In this exciting game, one child starts by tossing a balloon into the air. While the balloon is floating, they must quickly stack paper cups (or any other thing as per your wish) one by one. As soon as the balloon starts coming down, they need to toss it back up and continue stacking. The goal is to keep the balloon from touching the ground while building the stack as high as possible. If the balloon touches the ground, the turn ends. The player with the tallest stack wins.

Wrap up

Planning games for an indoor birthday party doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a little creativity and some tried-and-tested ideas, you can turn your party room into a hub of laughter and excitement. Whether it’s odd-even fun, a treasure hunt, or freeze dance chaos, these games will ensure the kids leave with big smiles.

So, go ahead, pick your favorites, and let the birthday fun begin. And hey, don’t forget to sneak a slice of cake for yourself—you deserve it.

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