Keeping a group of excited kids entertained is one of the trickiest parts of any party. Here are five tried-and-tested activity ideas that actually work — no professional entertainer required.
1. Tear-Off Activity Pads
Set up a colouring and activity station with themed tear-off pads and let kids work through puzzles, dot-to-dots, and colouring pages at their own pace. It's brilliant for mixed age groups — younger kids can colour while older ones tackle the puzzles. Best of all, they take the pad home as their party bag gift, so there's no extra cost. Our Kidoodle activity pads come in a range of themes to match your party perfectly.
2. Pass the Parcel (With a Twist)
A classic that never gets old — but level it up by putting a small activity or silly challenge in each layer instead of just sweets. "Do your best dinosaur roar", "teach everyone a dance move", or "tell a joke" keeps every unwrapping moment fun for the whole group, not just the child holding the parcel.
3. Treasure Hunt
Hide clues around the garden or house leading to a final prize. Tailor the difficulty to the age group — simple picture clues for under 5s, rhyming riddles for older kids. Split into teams for larger groups and give everyone a small prize at the end so nobody goes home empty-handed.
4. Craft Station
Set up a table with simple craft supplies — foam stickers, googly eyes, plain bags or boxes to decorate, pipe cleaners, and glitter glue. Kids love making something they can take home, and it keeps them occupied for a surprisingly long time. Theme the craft to your party — decorate a dinosaur mask, design a superhero cape, or make a unicorn headband.
5. Musical Statues or Freeze Dance
Needs nothing but a phone and a speaker. Play music, kids dance; pause it, everyone freezes. Anyone who moves is out — but keep eliminated kids involved by making them the "judges". Works brilliantly for ages 3–9 and burns off all that party energy before cake time.
Looking for activity ideas that double as party bag gifts? Our tear-off activity pads are designed to do exactly that — keep kids entertained at the party and beyond. Browse the full range at kidoodle.shop.