Birthday Party Activities

Scavenger Hunt Scavenger hunts are a great birthday party activity and can be played by almost any age group.  There are many variations on how to set up and play a scavenger hunt and we have all of our favorites listed.  A Scavenger Hunt takes teams of kids (or adults) around the neighborhood looking for items from their item list.  Teams race to find the funny items and whoever finds all of their items first wins. We've listed lots of fun varieties of scavenger hunt  activities for birthday parties which include neighborhood hunts (2 free lists to print out!), 8 mall scavenger hunts, animal shelter helper, holiday and nature scavenger hunts.   FREE lists to print out!    Karaoke This may be the only birthday activity a group of tweens or teens needs for their birthday party!  (Except lots of food!) Find some fun CD's and let the kids take turns singing to their favorite music.  Usually the worse you are at singing the more fun it is, so everyone can have a good time!  Tip: Check eBay for used Karaoke machines and CD's.

Mystery Dinner Fun and crazy birthday idea for older kids.  The kids order dinner off of a cryptic menu are served dinner - but don't know what they have ordered until the food arrives.  Crazy fun and kids love it!   Directions and sample menu for the mystery dinner party.  Fashion Show One of our girls favorite activities!  Collect a large box full of all kinds of fabulous items such as boas, tiaras, wigs, capes, fancy dresses, high heel shoes, sunglasses, hairpieces, long necklaces and big earrings.  Tape off a long "runway" or use an outside walkway to walk down.  Let them dress up and walk down the "runway" to fun music.  Take pictures with a digital camera or video tape them so you can make them a CD or DVD of their birthday show. So you think you can dance party For your birthday party rent or purchase videos on how to country line, hip hop, ballet, belly dance, hula etc. then have the kids learn how to dance.  After the lesson take pictures or videos for everyone to enjoy!  (Tip: check Ebay for used videos and DVD’s)
Making Birthday DVD's Set up a video camera at the birthday party and let the craziness begin!  Have the kids put on a talent show or lip sync to their favorite songs.  Teens and tweens love to be in front of the camera and this is a super way to have them show off.  Edit the tape and make a DVD for everyone to take home with them.
Petting Zoo Hire a small petting zoo to come to your backyard and set up all sorts of animals for the birthday party.  There are fun activities for all the birthday party guests!   Some even have miniature pony rides that can set up in your backyard!  Fun for all types of birthday themes - cowboy, western, barnyard, animal lovers, etc.
Pillow Cases Great activity for birthday sleepovers!  Buy new pillowcases and wash them before the party.  Set out fabric paints and permanent markers to decorate the pillowcases.  Have everyone sign each other's on the back with the date of the birthday party.
Piñata One of the best activities for a birthday party!  They now come in every shape and color that you can imagine so finding one to go with your party birthday theme is easy!  Check our Piñata Page for full details on this fun activity!
Pony rides Pony and miniature horse rides add excitement to a birthday party.  They can complement almost any birthday party theme - cowboy, western, animal lover, zoo, Cinderella, circus, parade etc.  The horses can be decorated to fit your theme with colorful ribbons in their tails and manes and some will even paint them pink and give them a horn to look like a unicorn or my little pony.  Check for availability in your area on the Internet or phone book.  Pricing varies throughout the US - pony rides average around $175 for 1 pony for 1 hour and about half of that for additional ponies or hours.
T-shirts This is a fun activity and birthday party gift for kids to take home.  Buy T-shirts (I've used  Hanes T-shirts in a package or bought them as low as $2 each at craft stores) and wash and dry them before the party.  Set out fabric markers and fabric paints to use for decorating the shirts.  Iron on letters are fun in all sorts of styles. Mix and match different styles to spell out their name or a funny saying.  Tip: Use large grocery sacks, cardboard or poster board to place inside the shirt so the paint doesn't bleed through to the back of the shirt.  Teens and Tweens really enjoy making and wearing these shirts!
Scrapbooking This is a good activity for birthday sleepovers or a longer party so the kids can print out pictures.  Give each party guest a scrapbook.  Set out scrapbook items so they can create a page about their friends and the birthday party.
Tye Dye T-shirts Fun to do at birthday parties.  Tye Dye kits can be found at craft and discount stores or you can buy Dye in little boxes at the grocery store in the laundry section.  Wash and dry shirts before the birthday party.  Give each guest a shirt and a bunch of rubber bands and have them take sections of the shirt and wrap rubber bands around it until the band is tight.  Explain to them that everywhere there is a tight rubberband the shirt will stay white.  Follow directions  package, rinse out shirts and hang to dry outside.
Funky Flip Flop Craft - Making funky flip flops is a great party activity, craft and party favor!  Girls of all ages love them ... kids, tweens and teens!  Get full directions and pictures on our funky flip flop craft page. Party Crafts for Birthday Parties Directions and instructions for making these fun birthday crafts for a birthday activity - tutu skirts, picture frames, hats, flip flops and more!

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Birthday Party Ideas for Kids