Engage the little ones with these creative and budget-friendly activities!
Planning a kids' party can be a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Printable games and crafts are an easy and affordable way to keep the kids entertained while adding a fun, personalized touch to the celebration. Best of all, they’re easy to set up and can be printed at home or at a local printing service.
In this post, we’ll share 10 printable games and crafts that will keep the kids busy and entertained at your next birthday party, all while being easy on the budget!
1. 🎯 Printable Bingo Cards
Bingo is a classic game that never goes out of style, and it’s perfect for kids’ parties. You can easily create a printable bingo sheet with fun images related to your party theme (animals, princesses, superheroes, etc.). Kids can mark off the squares with coins or markers as the caller announces the items.
Tip: Offer small prizes for winners like stickers or extra treats!
2. 🧩 Scavenger Hunt Sheets
Kids love a good scavenger hunt! Create printable scavenger hunt sheets with clues or items that the kids need to find around the house or backyard. These can be tailored to your party theme (such as pirate treasure, safari animals, or princess quest).
Tip: Make sure the clues are easy enough for younger kids to understand, but challenging enough to keep them engaged!
3. 🎨 Colouring Pages
Printable colouring pages are an easy and inexpensive craft idea for kids of all ages. You can find colouring pages based on your party’s theme (like Peppa Pig, Frozen, or dinosaurs), or you can use blank templates for more creative designs. This is a great quiet activity to keep kids entertained before the main event starts.
Tip: Provide lots of crayons, markers, or coloured pencils for the kids to use during the party.
4. ✂️ DIY Paper Masks
Cutting out and decorating printable paper masks is a fun and creative craft activity for kids. You can provide printable masks based on popular characters like superheroes, animals, or even fairy tale characters. Let the kids colour in their masks and add glitter or stickers to make them extra special.
Tip: Provide ribbons or elastic bands to attach the masks to the kids' heads after they finish decorating!
5. 🎯 Pin the Tail on the Donkey (Themed Version)
A DIY Pin the Tail on the Donkey game is easy to adapt to any theme. Print a themed image (such as a unicorn, dinosaur, or animal) and cut out the tails for the kids to pin. Blindfold them one at a time, and let them try to pin the tail in the right spot.
Tip: For extra fun, add a twist — let the kids play in teams!
6. 🖍️ Craft Stick Puppets
Printable craft stick puppet templates are a great way for kids to create their own little characters. Simply print the templates, colour and cut them out, and glue them to craft sticks. Kids can then put on a puppet show or just play with their creations.
Tip: Provide additional materials like googly eyes, yarn for hair, and foam shapes to let them get creative with their puppets!
7. 🎲 Printable Dice Games
Printable dice games are perfect for kids to play in groups. Each die face can represent an action or character from your party theme. When the dice are rolled, the kids perform the corresponding action (e.g., jump like a frog, roar like a lion, etc.).
Tip: If you don’t have a dice, you can create a DIY one using a template and paper or cardboard.
8. 🖋️ Thank You Card Templates
Encourage the kids to express their creativity by having them make thank you cards after the party. Provide printable templates with the party’s theme, and let the kids decorate them with crayons, stickers, or glitter.
Tip: You can use these cards as party favours by having the kids write a short message to the birthday child!
9. 🖼️ Memory Matching Game
Create a memory matching game using printable cards featuring pictures related to the party theme. Kids will take turns flipping the cards to find matching pairs. It’s a great way to exercise their memory while having fun!
Tip: For an extra challenge, make the cards double-sided with different images on each side to increase the difficulty level!
10. 🎨 Themed Paper Chains
Paper chains are a simple and classic craft that’s fun for kids of all ages. Create printable chain links that kids can cut out, colour in, and then link together to create long paper chains. This is a great activity for a large group of kids, and they can use the chains to decorate the party area or take them home as party favors!
Tip: Use party colours or themed images on the paper links for a personalized touch.
Why Printable Games and Crafts Are Great for Kids’ Parties
Convenience: Printable games and crafts are quick to set up, easy to customize, and can be printed multiple times for large groups.
Cost-Effective: You don’t need to spend money on pre-packaged games or expensive supplies. Simply print, cut, and let the kids enjoy the fun!
Endless Creativity: These activities allow for tons of creativity, and you can adapt them to any theme or age group.
🏠 Final Thoughts
Whether you're hosting a birthday party, baby shower, or just a fun gathering, printable games and crafts are an ideal way to keep kids entertained without breaking the bank. They are easy to prepare, cost-effective, and add a fun, personalized touch to your party. These activities can be tailored to your party's theme and are sure to keep the kids engaged from start to finish!