Organising a kids party can be a lot of fun, but it can also feel daunting keeping the kids entertained every moment. When the weather doesn't cooperate or you're looking for some indoor fun, hosting an indoor children's party is the perfect solution! 

To ensure a party filled with laughter, excitement, and memorable moments, we've compiled a list of the top 10 indoor children's party games. Get ready to turn your local community hall into a hub of entertainment and let the festivities begin!

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1. Musical Chairs

A classic game that never fails to entertain, musical chairs will get the kids on their feet and it gets competitive fast! Set up chairs in a circle, one less than the number of participants. Play some lively music and have the children walk around the chairs. When the music stops, they must quickly find a seat. Remove one chair each round, and the child left without a seat is eliminated. The last child sitting wins!

Pro tip: when the kids are eliminated from the game, keep them involved by letting them help choose the music for the active players, so they don’t get distracted and take the attention away from the main game.

2. Pin the tail on the donkey

In this game, blindfolded players take turns trying to pin a tail on a donkey poster. Give the player a spin or two, blindfold them, and let them place the tail where they think it should go. The player with the closest placement wins. Keep it fun and award a prize to the winner. You could use sticky back tape on the tails to ensure no sharp objects are used.

Pro tip: You can create a poster to work for any themed party. Pin the princess hat on the princess, pin the mask on the superhero, pin the tail on the dinosaur, ect.

3. Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Create an exciting indoor scavenger hunt by hiding clues or objects throughout the venue. Each clue should lead the children to the next one, ultimately leading them to a hidden treasure or surprise. Make the hunt more thrilling by incorporating a theme or story, such as a pirate adventure or a superhero mission. A quick search online will give you lots of inspiration for hunt ideas.

Pro-tip: hide treats with the clues to keep the kids motivated to keep searching.

4. Indoor Bowling

Transform your venue into a bowling alley with a simple indoor bowling game. Set up empty water bottles or plastic cups in a triangular formation at the end of the room. Give each child a lightweight ball, such as a soft toy or a foam ball, and let them take turns rolling the ball to knock down the pins. The child with the highest score after a few rounds wins the game!

Pro-tip: Let each child have two throws, then determine the winner for each round. That way, the game moves on quickly and the kids will each get a turn quickly.

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5. DIY Obstacle Course

Create a thrilling DIY obstacle course using furniture, crepe paper, ribbons, hula hoops, and any other safe objects you can find around the community hall. Set up challenges like crawling under tables, weaving through a maze of crepe paper, and balancing on a line of tape. Time each child as they navigate through the course, and the one with the fastest time becomes the champion!

Pro-tip: Take some masking tape and scissors with you to your venue so that you can cut your resources to size when setting up your obstacle course.

6. Simon Says 

A classic game that never gets old, Simon Says is a fantastic way to keep children engaged and entertained. Designate one person as "Simon" and have them give commands starting with "Simon says." The children must follow the commands only when "Simon says" is mentioned. If a command is given without "Simon says," anyone who follows it is out. The last child remaining becomes the next "Simon."

Pro-tip: Shout out the commands really fast to get the kids’ attention and make the game really competitive.

7. DIY Arts and Crafts 

Let their creativity flourish with a DIY arts and crafts station. Set up a table with various art supplies such as coloured paper, markers, stickers, glitter, and glue. Provide templates or ideas for the children to create their own masterpieces. This activity not only keeps them engaged but also allows them to take home their artwork as a party favour!

Pro-tip: You can make your craft party themed. Here are just a few ideas: decorating princess hats, pirate hats, superhero masks, dinosaur print making with paints and small dinosaur toys, the possibilities are endless.

8. Egg and Spoon Race 

Another classic game that can be modified for indoor play is the egg and spoon race. Use plastic eggs or ping pong balls and provide each child with a spoon. Mark a start and finish line and have the children balance the egg or ball on the spoon while racing to the finish line. The first child to cross the finish line without dropping their egg or ball wins the race!

Pro-tip: Have an adult to supervise to ensure children don’t trip or fall into each other when they are focused on their eggs and spoons.

9. Grandmother's Footsteps

Grandmother's Footsteps is a classic game that is easy to play and perfect for all ages. It is a game where one player acts as the "grandmother" and the others try to tap her shoulder without being caught. Players move when the grandmother isn't looking, freeze when she turns around, and the first to tap her shoulder becomes the next grandmother.

Pro-tip: Remind children to only tap “grandmother gently on the shoulder”. We don't want the player to get tapped roughly in the excitement of the game. Again this game can lean itself to any party theme, where “grandmother” can become the Princess, Superhero, Dinosaur, ect. 

10. Stand Up/ Sit Down If…

Similar to ‘Simon Says’ but in this game "Stand Up If... Sit Down If...", players follow instructions to either stand up or sit down based on certain criteria. For example, Stand up if you are wearing red, Sit down if you had toast for breakfast this morning. Keep alternating between "Stand up if..." and "Sit down if..." instructions for a set number of rounds or until only one player is left standing. The last person standing after a round of instructions is the winner. 

Pro tip: To make the game more engaging, encourage players to come up with creative and unique criteria for standing up or sitting down. Or if this is challenging, you can also write out a few suggestions for children to use. 

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Party games are a great way to fill a few moments during a kids party in those quiet moments while you’re waiting for all the guests to arrive or after the kids have eaten. You can find some great party locations on Sharesy in school or church halls or community centres, which make the perfect blank canvas for your next party or event.

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Photo 1 by NIPYATA! on Unsplash

Photo 2 by micheile henderson on Unsplash