Ideas for Party Games for 10- to 14-Year-Olds

Author:
Kerdon
Updated:
Jul 16, 2023 10:53 PM EDT

A treasure hunt can be very exciting for the kids, especially if you have them race against the clock.

Fun Party Games for Birthdays and Other Festivities

I have two teenage daughters. So far, we've held over 30 birthday parties, 10 of which were for kids between 10 and 14. We were always trying to come up with new games for the parties, and so I thought I'd share some of them here.

I'll add to this as we come up with more!

Guess Who?

Get some stickers and write the names of famous people on them. They don't have to be very famous, just people the kids will know. Now stick one sticker on the back of each child, then each child takes a turn to ask questions so that they can guess who they have on their back. Questions can be things like "Am I a girl or a boy?", "Am I a singer?," etc

Watch out for cheating with kids trying to look into mirrors and windows!

Movie Quiz

If part of the party will involve watching a movie, and you want to keep them engrossed, have a short quiz after the movie with some small prizes. For example, if you have watched Pirates of the Caribbean, a question could be "What is the name of Captain Jack Sparrow's ship?"

Treasure Hunt

A treasure hunt requires a little organizing but will keep the kids entertained. You'll need to come up with some clues and print out a clue list. Print the clue list in various orders (so that all kids don't start off with the same clue). Pair the kids into teams. Each clue will lead to an answer that they will have to fill in on a sheet, or perhaps will give them a letter that at the end they will have to unscramble into a word.

For added excitement, make this a race against the clock.

This is like charades, but they have to act out in mime their favorite advert. Split the kids into two teams and award points for the correct answer guessed by either team for each advert.

Mirrorless Makeup

If you don't mind them playing with make up, then get each child to do their own make up but without the benefit of a mirror and using their left (or right, if they are left-handed) hand only. Results can be hilarious.

Alternatively, blindfold one person and get them to do the make up for a second person—even funnier!

Line-by-Line Storytelling

Divide the kids into teams and give each team a storyline (shopping, school, going on vacation, etc). Each team comes up with 10 sentences relating to a story of that type (they don't have to run together as a story). Then get the kids to write the sentences out on separate pieces of paper. Put all the pieces into a bag and then, get the kids in turn to come up and draw out a sentence. They need to read the sentence but do it as a storyteller with feeling, emotion and drama.

Halloween Blood Dunking

Here's a good one for a Halloween party. Instead of dunking for apples in a basin of water, put coins into the bottom of a few inches of water in a basin and add red food dye to the water to turn it blood red. Let the kids put a spoon in their mouths and put their hands behind their backs while they try to lift the coins out of the 'blood' with the spoon.

Or simply let them bob for apples in the red water!

Dress-Up Race

Divide into two groups and for each group put a basket of dress-up clothes (hats, scarves, gloves, etc.,) at the far end of the room or garden.

Comments

Gracie on January 05, 2020:

This were good ideas

Krystal on November 19, 2018:

Im having a birthday on Friday and I found a game and now its gonje

briana on October 16, 2018:

these sound awesome

Stay cool on September 01, 2018:

I agree with u the ' turning 12 ' person.....

Stay cool...

Turning 12 on July 16, 2018:

Non of these ideas are good enough for my party but there's some good ideas for like 8 year olds not 10-14 year olds sorry

JGRob on July 06, 2018:

These could be more for 10 and eleven and less for teens ands twelve year olds.

Alexa Cruz on April 23, 2018:

This was interesting

Emma on April 22, 2018:

um 11 not 1

Lorelei on March 01, 2018:

ok it sounds ok

Shalise on November 30, 2016:

Im having a end of year part on the 10 Dec I'm so exited I will use all these I dears cheers

niketa on April 20, 2013:

der is 1 problm 4 dis d house shud b toooo spacious 2 play dese fun games ..... but dese games r awsum !!!!! :) :D

vamire on October 18, 2012:

put more stuff on

BigSister on August 08, 2012:

I'm having my little sister and her friends stay over tomorrow night (age 10-11, 2 boys & 2 girls). It's sad that some are saying the games are childish. I'm 21 and would STILL have fun playing these games!

I've had these kids stay before and I've found they prefer a longer spread out themes/adventures than an organised game. I did an indoor camping sleepover last year (no outdoor space as I live in an apartment) which they still talk about. I let them put up their tents in my living room (one for the girls, one for the boys) and they LOVED it. They had to eat their cereal in tin pans with plastic cutlery and they had a log fire playing on my laptop.

They're a little older this year so I've replaced my light bulbs with Ultra Violet bulbs (about £7.99 in the UK), bought them some glow in the dark face paint/ non-toxic highlighters etc and so I'll shut all the blinds and let them loose for glow up hide and seek in the dark. Maybe I'll play some "action/spy" music whilst they're playing to add to the fun.

I'm not sure how some parents would feel about this, but I bought them some cordial in a glass bottle and let them drink from wine glasses last time. I guess it makes them feel a little more grown up. They also like making "mocktails" with fruit juices with little umbrellas & stirrers etc. I'd check with parents before allowing activities like that though

Jessica on July 11, 2012:

Hello, all your party ideas are great!xxx Im turning 13 in a week and im having a hollywood themed party, im inviting 7 girls and it will be at home:) but just wondering do any of you know any good hollywood games?xx Thanks!

lovely:) on June 28, 2012:

Forgot to say i'm turning 12 and i have a fun game for a party i think that girls around 12-14 years of age might like to play a fun game called BEAUTY QUEEN

All you have to do is get maybe some lipstick, blusher & some eye pencil.

Then get your friends to apply all of the make up without looking at a mirror

whoever looks the best or the worst (you can decide) wins a prize.

If you want to have some fun you can go to the mall with the makeup that you just put on!!!!

hope this will be a good game fingers crossed!!

lovely:) on June 28, 2012:

hey everyone i'm having my party soon (in 7 days) and i NEED PARTY GAMES NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it would be great if it had something to do with lollies because i'm having an m&m party and i really want it to be fun!!!!!! i have a few games but i think i need one or two more PLEZZZ ANSWER ME!!

Kerdon (author) from Ireland on June 14, 2012:

Thanks for all the recent comments. It's great to see comments still coming after 2 years.

Kerdon (author) from Ireland on June 14, 2012:

Thanks for all the recent comments. It's great to see comments still coming after 2 years.

jen dennnol on June 11, 2012:

I had no party ideas then i came on here and i was blown away by how great the ideas were

kennedy daniels on June 11, 2012:

they where okay

Bailey on June 03, 2012:

I am ten and turning 11 what do i do i have no plans help me figure some out think u

WoahDereBoi on May 28, 2012:

Great ideas. I like the make-up idea! Very good ideas! WOAHDEREBOI!! :D

ketchup lover on April 24, 2012:

all these were all really helpful. it's my birthday soon and i already have quite a few games to play already but i would like some more.

You could always play the mummy game: buy lots of toilet roll, then break the kids into groups of 2 or 3. start a timer or just look at the clock then let the kids rap each other in toilet roll (like a mummy)then award a prize to the best mummy. hope this was helpful. :D

!!!!!!!! on April 04, 2012:

i need more ideas

Chloe mcshane on March 18, 2012:

Awesome you made my whole party great

Lollipop on March 13, 2012:

Cool ideas jellybeans I'll try them out. Here's some of my ideas-

-have a sundae bar so you get to make sundaes. Put out lollies different types of ice-creams wafers and different flavoured toppings.

-hire a chocolate fountain and have strawberrys and marshmallows to dip

-buy the make your own Bon-Bon things and then fill them with lollies and glitter and hang them on the roof instead of pinatas

-order pizza or make your own

-play the balloon game where you divide into two teams and are each handed a balloon(every player gets one) make a line at the other side of the room or garden. Then when some blows a whistle the first person in line must run to the line with the balloon between there legs when they reach the line they must sit on the balloon to try to get it to pop! When it pops the next person goes and so on

-play limbo except decorate the stick with streamers and balloons to make it more interesting. Put good music on not the boring one that you have every time and gave cool prizes

-you could have a hula hoop contest? Good be fun

-water balloon fight get water balloons,buckets,water sprayers and possibly a hose

Yea that's all I got

JellyBeans on March 13, 2012:

Wow you posted this two years ago and people are still replying.

Cool ideas I think I'll use 1 or 2 some are a bit childish but I like the movie and guess who game. I added a few things to the guess who one though.

Like using clothes to help them guess who they are or if they are a singer play a short bit of one of there songs. Or if an actor a short clip of there movie except a bit with them not in it.

For the movie one you could have like round tables with red table clothes and drinks and snacks to eat while doing it. Also for prizes you could make tropes and spray paint them gold. Oh and you could make it a movie theme party so they could come dressed as there favourite person from the movie.

Guess how many jelly beans are in the jar game and announce the winner at the end. Or change it to some other Lolly.

Pinatas can be fun if you like that sort of thing sometimes people just don't like to admit it.

Maybe you could have a theme and make games around that.

Theme ideas are

Hawiian

Glow in the dark(wait you said that)

Lolly/candy

Spa

Beach

Fancy dress-you can go wild with these

Book series

Hollywood

Movie

You could play guess how many JellyBeans are in the jar and announce the winner at the end.

Or change the lolly to something else.

Jenifer Barrios on March 10, 2012:

Cool Beans I'll try them out

Pretty girl on March 08, 2012:

I am not so keen on these types of games- a bit babyish.

Than u for trying though.

Funkymonkey on March 08, 2012:

Thanx! These games will be great 4 my 10th b day slumber party!

-------------- on March 07, 2012:

Yeah ok! But I'm trying to think of something to make up for not going to bowling alley !

Try think of some more make-up games 11 years is the age of make-up and fashion!

Thanks for your help though!

willie on March 03, 2012:

i think it is an ok idea but probly for young kids

Sarah on March 03, 2012:

these ideas don't help me at all for my quadruplets

(Emerson Reese, Dylan Bryce, Kohen Ian, Sarah Jane.

Sitharaa on February 28, 2012:

Great ideas

Megan on February 24, 2012:

I'm turning 13 soon and I think some games like musical chairs are for about 5-11 year olds but things like hide n seek never get old lol. but thank you for the ideas :) I think I'm going to have an awesome party.

thanks!!!

Kerdon (author) from Ireland on February 18, 2012:

Thanks everyone for all the recent comments, keep all those ideas coming!

emily on February 17, 2012:

The amazing race party is a good idea. I did that for my 13th party but at the end we were all sweaty and gross!!!! it was a boy girl party (well 2 boys and like 15 girls) the most laid back team won! best advice worn people if there is going to be running (sum people didn't wear the right shoes good luck

shanae on February 14, 2012:

i love it

kira on February 13, 2012:

truth and dares

write 20 dares on an old beach ball. chuck the ball around the circle when the music stops you must pick the dare which is nearest to your left thumb.

Ivy on February 12, 2012:

Ok I like the games I put before but I was wondering if there is any other really fun games for 5 girls 12 years old??? For anybody I was hopeing that the games you would have to include a prize and also for my party I need space fillers its from 1-10 pm we are going swimming sledding and watching a movie! That's all so I am hopeing for your device

Ivy on February 11, 2012:

These are all great games but I think 11-14 year old girls will like these games. The first game is nail polish race- it is where you have all the girls come around a table then pick out a colorful nail polish then start the music start passing the polish around when the music stops the person holding it paints one nail the person who paints all 10 nails first wins

PS. If the girl holds it for more than 3 seconds has a penalty and will skip the next chance they can paint there nail

The next game is cool whip

You fill bowls for each person in the party with whipp cream then put a gum ball in each one when you say go all the girls hav to stick their mouth in the Bowl the first girl to get the piece of gum without their hands and starts chewing wins

PS. Make sure they actually have gum in there mouth

You can also play ding dong ditch or prank call boys(crushes)

Freya on January 26, 2012:

Great ideas can't wait to try them out !!

.Random chick on January 24, 2012:

im having a sleepover tomorrow i need games for the 3 of ur please help us

Millie on January 23, 2012:

I have no ideas for my birthday, bbut my sister had this WICKED party with a chocolate party. Games were guess the M&Ms in a jar, stack the biscuits (sit in a circle take turns to roll dice and stack that many biscuits. GO round circle until pile falls. That person's out, game restarts) and pick up malteasers with straw. But the best was chocolate making (very easy but messy, buy sylicone moulds, melt some chocolate and let the kids pour the cocolate in the moulds. Put them on a tray and put them in the fridge. They should set before the end of the party. The kids loved it, and still talk about it 1 year on!!!)

angrybirdsrock! on January 19, 2012:

My birthday party is saturday and i need fun game ideas!! 6 10 and 11 year old girls are coming!!!! and it can't be outside and i have a small house!!!! HELP!!!!!

asdf on January 15, 2012:

this is for the one with the boys and stuff i think you should to spin the bottle or a beach party or go to the movies something tht girls and boys BOTH like

hope this is help you :)

sadia zaheer on January 14, 2012:

like of dress up games sooooooooo hehehehe

Heyy on January 14, 2012:

HI IM PUTTING IT IN CAPS BECAUSE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT( I'm the one that posted the one with the icons????) ANYWAY IT'S MY 11th AND ALL MY PARTIES WERE DISATERS they (were a sleepovers????) AND SO THIS YEAR IM PLANNING ON DOING IT WITH BOYS TO SO MABYE A POOL PARTY BUT NOT THE BORING OLD BOWLING STUFF OR MINI GOLF ETC. HONESTLEY JUST NEED SOMETHING EXTRODINARY AND FUN!! ???????????????????????????????????? I like sports to ?

Hello on January 14, 2012:

I have a summer birthday. Last 3 years I did. Sleepover (all a disaster) so this year I'm hoping to come up with some other ideas maybe a pool party?? I'm turning 11 anyone got any ideas?!?!

PLEEEEESE COMMENT SOON!!!????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Erin on January 13, 2012:

Thanks for the ideas my 13th will be awesome

roselleta on January 12, 2012:

i need some help to think about what my best friend and i can do if it helps we are both 11

sophiepembroke on January 10, 2012:

these games are great but i kind of need more mi partys on staurday so hurry up and put up more games

Alana on January 07, 2012:

These games ar not very bright cause we've played them all but thanks anyway. Good luck try more games though

Kaylee on January 04, 2012:

Great Ideas! My daughters party is in april and we were thinking of doing like The Amazing Race with 4 teams and all of these games I found on sites! Thanks to all of the help with these!!!!!!

domino black and white bedside table on December 27, 2011:

boow how

Jennifer on December 24, 2011:

Good Ideas

emily w on October 29, 2011:

thank you so much its 7:00pm and i have been looking fo fun games to play until 4:00 and know i am done because i found you website and i got great ideas thx!!!

sue on October 27, 2011:

make a pass the pacel and instead of a prize put paper saying something funny eg imitate a mad teacher

Emmery on October 24, 2011:

Maybe you could do night games! That would b soooo fun!

Roisin on September 26, 2011:

Thanks a MILLION=)

im having my 11th soon So ill chance the mmakke-up thingy! ! =D

KAYLA on September 22, 2011:

Im having a hollaween party and i thought that everyone would be really board but now im SAVED..... thanks soooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cow on September 12, 2011:

i am 12 and i have some ideas you could do

nail polish game:you all sit on the floor in a a circle 1 person picks a color and spins it the person that it points to paints one nail that color then they pick a color ..and so on

very fun game!!! hope i helped :)

bubbles on September 12, 2011:

thanx 4 the ideas they have really helped:)

Nicole on September 04, 2011:

im turning 12 soon and like some people were saying, these games seem pretty childish but i saw on anouther website someone posted about a gummie bear game, where you have 2 teams and 1 person from each team has a bowl of gummiebears with a little bit of water and they are timed for about 1 min. or more or less and the rest of the teams get into 2 lines and 1 at a time each person try's sticking a gummie bear on the the persons face and when the time runs out 1 person from the opisite team counts how many gummiebears is on the persons face and whoever has more wins and gets to pick a prize :) simple,cheap,and easy!

Katie on August 28, 2011:

cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!********************

dee on August 21, 2011:

luv the dress up game

Kerdon (author) from Ireland on June 30, 2011:

Thank you all for your recent comments.

Sonya Finnigan on June 19, 2011:

Thanks everyone for some great ideas, my daughter is having her 13th this Saturday. here's one for you...

Flour Tower

You will need:

A pudding basin to use as a mould

Flour

A coin

A knife (plastic will do)

A plate

A packet of small candy (sweets) such as M&Ms or Smarties - optional

How to play:

Start by filling the pudding basin with flour, pressing down as tightly as you can until the basin is packed really full. Put the plate on top and then invert the whole thing and lift the basin off, leaving (hopefully!) a tower of flour on the plate. Carefully balance the coin on top.

Call the children forward one at a time and let them take a tiny slice off the flour "cake", trying not to disturb the coin. You may decide to reward each successful slice with a sweet. The child whose slice make the coin topple must pay a forfeit: they have to retrieve the coin from the plate with their teeth, keeping both hands behind their back. If you warn the children in advance they will love to watch this happening!

Buttons on June 17, 2011:

Im doin' truth or dare , by the way im 11, back to the games and hind'n go seek in the dark, scary stories , pool, water balloons

hope you got some ideas from this, hope you like this!!! :)

Barbara on April 08, 2011:

last minute party decisions for party,

Thank You ,This was a life saver

Gossy on March 31, 2011:

great my kid had a great day :) thank

Azraa on March 21, 2011:

i love ur ideas

thnks a bunch

Amzzzzz on March 05, 2011:

hi my 13th birthday is this week and am soooooooooooooo excited thanx 4 sharing those gr8 ideas we will have sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much fun :)

Katiiee on February 26, 2011:

Thanks 4 the ideas but some of them r a bit chilidish like ":D." said !!! Any others ???

Katiiee

Emily Elizabeth on February 24, 2011:

WOW Great ideas i would have never thought of something like this!!!!! way to go!

youandme on February 17, 2011:

me and me friend r having a party with boys and girls these are g8 ideas thanks x

jas on January 28, 2011:

These ideas are great and it isn't a game but to make a party more fun why not have a dress code ,like everyone has to have some gold or polka dots in their outfit!

*smiley face* on January 24, 2011:

thanx so much! having my party soon!

peeta on January 24, 2011:

i am turning 12 i need other party ideas not outside party ideas just like small inside things for a girl party please help!!

Kerdon (author) from Ireland on January 22, 2011:

Thanks everyone for the nice comments.

Mini Me on January 22, 2011:

These party games are GREAT! Thanx a bunch xxx I am having my 13th soon and this has given me lots of ideas on how to entertain my guests! I love the mirrorless make-up idea! :)

nun yua on January 20, 2011:

i have an idea. what about flash light tag (must be palyed at night in the house)

Kimmay on January 17, 2011:

grr ihave my party coming up (13) what games i was thinking like the makeup game and hessian sacks game

chloe on January 14, 2011:

rent a hotel and have a hummer/limo!:D

hannah on January 11, 2011:

what do you do if you have 40 people coming?

:) on January 07, 2011:

my birthday is 2day and im turning 12 has any1 got sum good games tht u can play it teams?

:D. on January 07, 2011:

Im sorry but, im turning 13 and all these games are like a little bit childish...

lauren on January 07, 2011:

my party is tomorrow and i need some games im going to be

10 thanks

Curizma on January 01, 2011:

My Birthday party is on monday. I am turning 12. And i really need some games for 2 more 11 year olds. its an indoor pool pary then a sleepover. I NEED SOME GAMES FAST!!!!!

LauraUSMC on December 22, 2010:

Thanks! We are planning a New Year/Birthday party for the entire 7th grade class (we have a small school) and I love the idea of the Guess Who? and Dress Up Games (using the birthday kids as mannequins)

Some of us moms were struggling with what to do for our winter kids' birthdays this year and decided to combine them into a New Year party.

Jenny on November 28, 2010:

great ideas perfect for this party 11 year olds are hard to entertain. theese games hopefully will work. wish me luck

me on November 22, 2010:

merligh on November 14, 2010:

great ideas

kit on October 28, 2010:

charlie that is in a girls giude book

Jess on October 26, 2010:

These were sooo cool games! They have really helped! I am have my 10th birthday sleepover on Friday night and only had a few games:

Splat were you all stand in a circle and one person stands in the middle and has to shout splat to a random person in the circle. The one they point at has to duck and the 2 either side have to shout splat and point at eachover and whoever points last have to sit down.

I also have signs, were everyone sits in a circle and makes up a sign (could be clapping or anything) and then 1 person stands in the middle and has to guess who has got the sign when they guess they've got to say the name and then they'll sit down and swap.

I hope these help a bit!! ... :) :P

Kerdon (author) from Ireland on October 14, 2010:

Thanks Sarah, Phoebe, Sherri, Kristi and Emily. glad to have helped.

Emily on October 11, 2010:

My 10th birthday party was awsome:] :] :] !!!

kristi on September 30, 2010:

these are realy cool party games now i no what to do at my sisters party the games were all up to me so thanks a lot.

SHERRY on September 04, 2010:

I LOVED THE IDEAS THANX SO MUCH!!!

phoebe on August 25, 2010:

i am going to be 12 and have some 13 year old girls coming it is going to be a big laugh. my mum is paying for a lilo and i am going to surprise all my friends by taking them to my house and then a limo turns up and we go to my grandads and party with a disco and lots of cool games i love the ones you surgested and i am looking forward to using them thanks my fav of all was the maltiser game it is going to go swell thanks!!!!!lol