It can be tough to come up with ideas for birthday party activities that will keep toddlers entertained with their short attention spans. You want to ensure the fun birthday party games are age-appropriate and safe, but you also want them to be exciting! Here are 22 fun birthday party ideas to help make your toddler’s next party a hit.
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22 Birthday Party Activities for Toddlers
Scavenger Hunt
This classic birthday party activity can be easily tailored to toddlers. Hide some small toys and household items around the party area and let the partygoers hunt for them!
Make Your Own Party Hats Birthday
This is a great activity for toddlers who love to be creative. You can buy party hat kits or DIY by providing some construction paper, glue, and other decorations, and let the toddlers use a little imagination to make their own party hats.
Musical Chairs
This birthday classic party game is always a hit. The fun music plays, then the music stops, and everyone grabs a seat. Instead of using chairs, use pillows or cushions for a softer landing. And instead of pop music, try using nursery rhymes or children’s songs.
Pin the Nose on Minnie Mouse
This spin on the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” is another great party game. Instead of a donkey, use a picture of Minnie or Mickey Mouse. And instead of tails, use Minnie’s nose or Mickey Mouse ears! Also, check out the Pin the Horn on the Unicorn. There are many options depending on your party theme.
DIY Photo Booth
Set up a simple photo booth with fun props and let the toddlers dress up and take pictures. Not only will this make for a fun dress-up game, but you can print out the photos afterward and send them home as party favors.
Bubbles
What toddler doesn’t love bubbles? Bubble Wands and a bubble machine are a lot of fun and make giant bubbles for the kids to catch. Set up a bubble station and let the little ones blow, pop, and chase bubbles to their heart’s content! You can even add in some colored bubbles for an extra-fun twist.
Bounce House
Rent a small bounce house or inflatable slide for the toddlers to play on. They’ll love bouncing around and burning off some energy! Just be sure to closely supervise them, as bounce houses can be dangerous if not used properly.
Carnival Games
The perfect way to celebrate a kid’s birthday party is to set up some simple carnival-style games like a bean bag toss, ring toss, obstacle course, water balloons, or duck pond. Young party guests will love playing these games and winning prizes!
Birthday Bingo
This is a birthday twist on the classic game of bingo. Instead of numbers, use birthday-themed images like balloons, cake, and presents.
Parachute Games
Parachutes are great for birthday party activities because they can be used in many different ways. Try playing simple games like Pop the Balloon or Ring Around the Rosy with a parachute.
DIY Wands
This is a great activity for toddlers who love to be creative. You can buy wand kits or DIY by providing some pipe cleaners, glitter, and other decorations, and let the toddlers make their own magic wands!
Dance Party
No child’s birthday party is complete without some dancing! Put on some of your toddler’s favorite songs and let them loose to burn off some energy. Top tip, you can even make a game out of it and see who can dance the longest or make the best moves.
Piñata
Toddlers love bashing things, so a piñata will surely be a hit! Just make sure you choose one that’s age-appropriate and safe for toddlers. If you don’t want to use candy, you can fill it with fun prizes like stickers, tattoos, toy jewelry, bouncy balls, and more.
Arts and Crafts
Birthday parties are the perfect time to get creative! Set up a crafting station where toddlers can make their own birthday cards or another fun toddler-friendly art project.
Water Table
Set up a water table with toys and let the toddlers splash and play. Add water beads to create an exciting sensory experience for a fun twist. You can also add small toys they can dig through the beads to find for a mini scavenger hunt.
Decorate a Birthday Crown or Tiara
Throwing a princess-themed party? You can buy birthday crowns or tiaras or make your own and let the toddlers decorate them with glitter, jewels, stickers, and other decorations.
Finger Painting
This is a great activity for toddlers because it’s messy and fun! You can set up a finger painting station with different paint colors and let the toddlers go to town.
Slime Time
Making slime is all the rage these days, and toddlers love it! You can make your own slime or buy pre-made slime and let the toddlers play with it. Just be sure to closely supervise them, as slime can be messy.
Face Painting
Face painting is always a hit with toddlers! They’ll love seeing their favorite characters or animals painted on their faces. Just be sure to use safe, non-toxic paint.
Freeze Dance
Freeze dance or musical statues is a fun and simple birthday party game that’s sure to be a hit with toddlers. Put on some music and let them dance around. When the music stops, they have to freeze in place. The last one standing wins a small prize!
Simon Says
Simon says, let’s play a fun game that’s also a great way to get young children to practice their listening skills. Line the kids up and shout out some silly commands like, Simon says moo like a cow!
Cup Cake Decorating
Want a fun alternative to getting a birthday cake? You can buy pre-made cupcakes or make your own and let the toddlers decorate them with icing, sprinkles, and other decorations. Add a candle for the birthday boy or girl, and enjoy!
Do you have other ideas for a child’s birthday party activities that toddlers love? Share them with us on our Local Anchor Facebook group. And if you’re looking for more birthday party inspiration, check out our blog post on birthday party themes for toddlers. Happy birthday planning!
