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Cheap Indoor and Outdoor Party Games for Kids

Have a barbecue or birthday party coming up? Here are some great ways to entertain (and wear out) your little partygoers

Published on: May 14, 2025

Cheap Indoor and Outdoor Party Games for Kids

kids running around playing games outside
Photo:
iStock

Party on!

Throwing a kids’ party doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, the best kind of fun is often the simplest, filled with laughter, a little mess and plenty of movement. Whether you’re setting up a backyard bash or keeping the fun inside, we’ve gathered playful, budget-friendly games and activities that are big on excitement and low on stress. Think classic favorites like an egg and spoon race, a sandbox treasure dig, or trying to eat a doughnut dangling from a string (you are going to want a camera nearby for this one). 

Click through to see all the party fun, or jump straight to the activity you just have to try today: 

Up first: Potato-sack race

More games and activities for families: 

Editor’s note: This article was originally published several years ago and was most recently updated on May 12, 2025, by ParentMap’s associate editor, Kari Hanson, with a thorough fact-check and new details. 

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