These epic outdoor solutions will keep children entertained for hours so adults can enjoy the day, too.
From toddlers to teens, we’ve got all ages covered!
Pool Painting
Make art outside for a colorful backyard birthday party idea!
Credit: Joe Polillio
Tape your paper to the bottom of a plastic kiddie pool.
Dip balls in paint and drop them into the pool.
Have each artist swirl the pool to create their design.
Credit: Kim Lowe
Popcorn Drop
This easy relay race game can work at a birthday party of any size.
We think it’s most fun with four to eight players.
First, you’ll need to make two pairs of shoe cups.
Credit: Douglas Merriam
Use a pushpin to poke holes in the bottom of clear plastic cups.
Push a wide rubber band through the holes to create a strap.
To play, split the birthday party guests into two teams.
Credit: David Roth
The first player straps cups on their shoes and fills them withpopped popcornfrom a bag at the starting line.
Then the player hustles to a basket on the other end of the lawn.
After the player dumps out the popcorn in the baskets and races back, the next player follows suit.
Credit: Kinzie Riehm
The race is over when one of the bags of popcorn is empty.
Measure the popcorn in the baskets to see which team got the most in.
Bubble Wrap Hopscotch
back up your bubble wrap and get hopping!
Credit: Laura Doss
Kidsand adults!will love popping the bubbles with this backyard birthday party idea.
First, cut bubble wrap into nine rectangles.
Then, use a permanent marker to give each a number from one to nine.
Credit: Helen Norman
Toppling Tug-of-War
Put a party-worthy twist on tug-of-war by elevating the outdoor game for older kids.
First, players stand on upended milk crates 6 to 12 feet apart.
Then have players pull or relax a rope to force their opponent off the crate.
Credit: Joe Polillio
Add a few gym mats for safety.
Outdoor Word Game
This party game is F-U-N!
Engage kids with this challenging outdoor spelling game.
Credit: Kinzie Riehm
To play, each player gets ten letters.
The first player spells a word on the ground.
Then, the next player must build off that word.
Credit: Tony Demin
The player with the fewest letters at the end wins!
Frisbee Toss
Aim and toss!
Cut a rectangular hole on both sides of a cardboard box.
Credit: Andy Lyons
You want the hole large enough to fit your Frisbee comfortably.
Decorate the box with colorful tape, paper, or paint.
Grab a bunch of Frisbees, and off you go!
Credit: David Tsay
Get the most Frisbees to land inside the box by aiming for the hole.
Silly Sack Race
Kids want to move!
This fun game for kids will burn pent-up party energy and get lots of laughs.
Credit: Sabrina Helas
Decorate plain burlap potato sacks with felt cutouts to suit the party theme.
Use fabric glue, or fusible web and an iron to adhere the shapes to the sacks.
Give each child a potato sack.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Line the kids up in a grassy area.
Keep the path clear to prevent injuries.
Clothespin Tag
Combine playground tag and flag football in this easy birthday party game idea.
Credit: Laura Doss
Let each child decorate a clothespin with markers, craft foam, and googly eyes.
Then, clip the decorated pin on the back of each child’s shirt.
When you say “go,” the kids can venture to snatch other clothespins without losing their own.
Credit: Carl Tremblay
The child with the most clothespins at the end wins that round.
Disk Tic-Tac-Toe
Supersize tic-tac-toe is perfect for an outdoor birthday party.
Flying disks and a shower curtain transform into an easy backyard birthday party idea for kids.
Credit: Sabrina Helas
Use duct tape to block out squares on a shower curtain liner.
Use more tape to mark which disks are Xs, or use color to divide the teams.
Players stand behind a throw line and follow the rules of tic-tac-toe.
Credit: David Roth
If the disk lands off the board or in an occupied square, the player can throw it again.
Be careful of tiny toesthe tower will fall at the end of the game.
Pool Prize Search
The coolest backyard birthday party ideas on a hot summer day involve water.
Credit: David Roth
This wet-and-wild game gives kids a great excuse to get soaked.
Fill an inflatable pool with water.
Hide a weighted ring or other treasures at the bottom of the pool.
Credit: Andrew Greto
Fill the pool with inflatable balls and toys to make it difficult to see the bottom.
Have a few kids wade around the pool looking for the hidden treasure.
Provide them with goggles, or make it more challenging by allowing them only to use their feet.
Credit: Andy Lyons
Add a twist by blindfolding the contestants.
Have kids wade through the pool using only their feet to discover the underwater treasures.
Encourage the onlookers to shout out advice.
Credit: Ronald Andren
check that to supervise so everyone stays safe.
Star-Shape Bubble Wands
Set up a star-spangled outdoor bubble station with these easy DIY bubble wands.
Simply twist wire or wire hangers into desired shapes.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
We love the star.
Next, fill shallow baking dishes with bubble solution and get blowing!
This fun game for kids doubles as aDIY party favor.
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
Send each guest home with a wand and a small bottle of bubble solution.
Build-Your-Own Boat Races
Create a fleet of fun sailboats with just a few simple supplies.
Cut pool noodles into 13-inch sections with angled ends.
Credit: David Tsay
Adhere two together with electrical tape.
Create a mast and sail with a wooden skewer and a triangle of washi tape.
Insert the ship’s mast and sail between the pieces of tape.
Credit: Andy Lyons
Have each child sail their boat and see which goes the farthest.
A scavenger hunt is an outdoor birthday party idea that encourages a bit of learning.
Arm each child or team with a list and a treasure box or bag.
Credit: Ray Kachatorian
Offer tools such as binoculars, magnifying glasses, and disposable cameras to inspire close observation.
Set a time limit, and let them explore.
Then, display the kids' finds for the remainder of the party.
Credit: David Roth
Pickup Bottle Game
Bring the carnival home!
This classic game is perfect for small-space outdoor areas like a patio.
Sweet Scavenger Hunt
The hunt is on during this outdoor game for kids!
Credit: Kim Lowe
Ahead of party time, hide small toys and objects for kids to find.
Arm each child with a galvanized pail and let them start searching.
The first child to find 10 items winsand gets to keep their prizes!
Credit: Adam Albright
Water Balloon Toss
It’s time to aim!
This competitive outdoor game for kids is perfect for teams of two.
To play, give each child a bucket of filled water balloons.
Credit: Adam Albright
Next, set out hula hoops and assign each hoop a points amount.
The player with the highest score wins!
Use colorful duct tape to decorate 15-ounce metal cans.
Credit: Ray Kachatorian
Give each birthday party guest three tries to knock down all the cans.
No leaves in sight?
Use rope or grass clippings and sticks to form the maze.
Credit: Michael Partenio
Have kids run together through the maze, or use a stopwatch to time each child.
Water Gun Game
Make a splash at your child’s summer birthday party with a water game.
Using only water, the teams must race to move their bucket to the other end of the line.
Credit: William Geddes
Make this fun game for kids even wilder.
Foam Racket Game
Little ones will enjoy this fun twist on badminton.
Use homemade foam rackets to keep the colorful balloon off the ground.
Credit: Robert Holland
Flower Tic-Tac-Toe Game
Nature is calling for a game of tic-tac-toe.
Set up simple tic-tac-toe boards with small twigs or wooden dowels on your lawn.
Alert parents about your plans for an outdoor party and ask about their children’s allergies.
Credit: Robert Holland
double-check to have silk flowers on hand, just in case.
Cut large squares from sturdy poster board, and tack them to the ground in a checkerboard pattern.
Use plant stakes or other stakes with rounded tops for safety to keep the poster board squares in place.
Credit: Sabrina Helas
Or chalk up your driveway to create the board.
Make oversized beanbags or use two colors of Frisbee disks for the checkers.
Have kids take turns moving their pieces across the board using the same rules as a game of checkers.
Set up teams to involve everyone in the fun.
you’re free to use large square flooring tiles to make the board.
Inexpensive tiles are available at home improvement stores.
Flashlight Tag
Tag, you’re it!
Keep kids entertained with this evening outdoor birthday party idea: A game of flashlight tag.
Wild Wheels Obstacle Course
On-the-go kids will love wheeling and squealing on this obstacle course.
Arrange orange cones or other soft items in your yard or a nearby park to create the course.
Include curves, turns, and small hills, depending on the ages and abilities of your racers.
Fuel the kids' excitement by timing each racer as they pedal to the finish line.
To make the course more challenging, set up stations where children stop to perform tasks like blowing bubbles.
Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
Pumpkins aren’t just for the porch!
Make the most of the autumn harvest with this easy outdoor game of tic-tac-toe.
Cone Run
Who’s the fastest of them all?
Set up an outdoor course and find out!
The player who completes the obstacle race course the fastest wins the game.
Icy Art
Beat the summer heat with this cool kids' birthday party game.
Freeze water in containers of different shapes and sizes to create an assortment of ice blocks.
Pumpkin Ball Toss
Got leftover jack-o'-lanterns?
Put them to good use with our pumpkin toss game!
In the end, the player with the most sticks wins.
Add a challenge to the game by assigning each player a color.
The first player to successfully remove all the sticks of the assigned color wins the party game.
Outdoor Dice Game
All it takes is a few dice to get the party started!
Outdoor Art Class
Have a little Picasso on your hands?
Set up all the materials kids will need to paint or draw outside in a space surrounded by nature.
Let each child create art inspired by flowers, plants, and nature.
Try making homemade sidewalk chalk paint and letting the kids decorate your driveway.
Flying Disc Toss
Set up a fun game of DIY disc golf right in your backyard!
To create this outdoor game for kids, hang an oversized hula hoop from a branch or clothesline.
Try a fun take on the classic game of catch.
Have each player throw the disc through the hoop.
The first one to complete ten shots wins!
Squirt Bottle Tag
Beat the summer heat with a game of squirt bottle tag.
The child who stays dry the longest wins.
Paper Airplane Toss
This summer craft for kids doubles as a fun outdoor game!
Have each child create their own paper airplane using construction paper and tape or glue.
Once the planes are completed, head outside and see which ones take flight.
The paper plane that goes the furthest wins.
Pool Noodle Croquet
Keep the kids entertained with this inexpensive backyard birthday party idea.
Create an oversized version of one of our favorite classic summer gamescroquet.
To make, use wooden dowels to stake pool noodle arches into the ground.
Make the arch tall enough so an inflated beach ball can pass under it.
