21 Kids Birthday Party Ideas for an At-Home Celebration

DIY Sidewalk Paint

This fun kids' activity sounds messy, but it's really not! Mix up batches of homemade sidewalk paint (you only need three ingredients!) in colors that match the party theme, then set the kids loose with tins of paint and inexpensive foam brushes. Because it's made from cornstarch, water, and food coloring, the painted designs will wash right off the driveway or sidewalk when the party is over.

Balancing Act

This quick and easy party game for kids puts their balancing skills to the test! Wrap light boxes in fun wrapping paper ($4, Target) and give each child their own. Have them walk slowly in a circle while balancing the boxes on their heads. Gradually speed up the pace and see who can balance them the longest!

Fun Photobooth

Capture fun party memories with a DIY photo booth. Pool noodles and oversize balls are all you need to strike a pose! Set up the props against a plain wall and let the kiddos choose their own! Fun ideas include sunglasses, pom-poms, and these rainbow shirts. Simply cut colored pool noodles into strips and glue them to poster board in a rainbow shape. Add a ribbon to hang.

Play Croquet

This backyard activity is perfect for older kids. Gather the group and teach everyone how to play croquet, then let kids each choose a mallet from a croquet set. Most croquet sets come with six or eight mallets, so this is a fun game for smaller groups.

Party Limbo

How low can you go? A broom or stick is all you need to set up this fun party activity. Limbo, the classic party game, is perfect for kids. Simply lower the broom with each turn and see which child can go the lowest!

Tie-Dye

Let's tie-dye! Collect each child's shirt size before the party begins, and provide each child with a white cotton tee and a pair of rubber gloves before handing out bottles of dye from a tie dye kit ($10, Target). This activity has the potential to be messy, so plan to do this one outside.

Party Painting

This fun party activity for kids puts their artistic skills on display. Cover a long table with plain paper and set out colorful art supplies like paint, markers, crayons, and more! Give each child a small canvas ($10 for an 8-pack, Target) and let them create their own masterpiece.

Editor's Tip: Choose washable paint for easy cleanup!

Outdoor Can Toss

Don't throw out those used tin cans! A quick coat of acrylic craft paint transforms them into a fun yard game. Simply stack them in a pyramid and let each birthday guess take a toss. They won't take much to knock down, a beanbag should do the trick.

DIY Slime

A slime-making station will be the hit of your next birthday party. Perfect for inside or out, set up a long table with all the supplies it takes to make homemade slime. Give each kid a glass jar and our free printable tags, and you've got a fun party activity that doubles as a take-home gift.

DIY Sidewalk Chalk

Sure, you could entertain a group of kids with regular sidewalk chalk—but for a special occasion, try making your own! Make our DIY sidewalk chalk in shapes and colors that match the party theme for a fun outdoor activity.

Sweet Swimmers

Create a party activity that doubles as a sweet party favor. Set up a bowl of gummy fish candy and give each child a net for "catching." Have them fish for sweets and package them up in a clear bag to take home.

Classic Games

Create DIY game boards, and you've got a fun indoor party activity. Made with simple materials and decorated to fit your theme, these handmade games are fun for kids of all ages. Set them up on a long table for an afternoon of competitive play!

DIY Party Crowns

Construction paper and confetti are all you need to create colorful birthday party crowns. Get our free template and set out all of the supplies each child will need to create their own party hats. Fun embellishments include sequins, tissue paper, beads, and pom-poms.

Handmade Flower Crowns

Perfect for a floral-theme birthday party, these DIY flower crowns are the prettiest party favor we've ever seen. Set up a do-it-yourself station during the party and let each guest create their own. You'll need faux flowers, twine, and glue.

Inspector Party Game

Let the little ones play detective with a fun party game. Give each child a magnifying glass and set out clues to solve a party mystery or complete a scavenger hunt. Have each clue lead to another until the mystery is solved or the item is found!

Fun Frog Masks

Set up a crafting station at your next indoor birthday party. Let each kid create their own take-home animal mask. It's assembled from inexpensive supplies like colorful muffin tin liners ($3, Walmart) and is perfect for that party-time photo booth.

Hop to It

Squares of colorful paper and some tape are all it takes to create this fun DIY birthday party game. Set up a winding path of cut paper and let the kiddos jump from square to square. If anyone steps on the floor, they're out!

Outdoor Tic-Tac-Toe

A shower curtain, tape, and colorful flying disks are all it takes to create this fun birthday party game. Use tape to mark the squares of a tic-tac-toe board. Have players take turns throwing their flying disks onto the board.

Bottle Toss

Hold on to those used bleach bottles—they're the start of a fun kids party game. Cut the bottom off a cleaned bottle and remove the label. Decorate with paint or colorful washi tape ($7 for 10 rolls, Walmart) and use them to play catch!

Birthday Present Stack

Who can stack the highest? This easy game for kids is a total balancing act. Have kids stack alternating boxes wrapped in colorful paper. The player who topples the tower loses. Use boxes in a variety of sizes to make the game challenging.

Cone Relay Race

This indoor relay race is all about speed and teamwork! Give each child an empty ice cream cone and have them pass a small ball. The first team to get the ball to every player without dropping it wins.