Need some toddler party games?

Most of the toddler party games on this page are great free toddler games. Toddlers have the most fun playing the games when they're not competitive. I would recommend explaining and practicing party games at home. Most of them could even be done with just you and your toddler.

I (Claire) have found toddler party games to be good rainy day activties. Then when he's in the middle of the hub-bub of a party (his or someone else's) he'll at least find the games familiar.

Here's some good children's birthday party games especially chosen for toddlers.

• Dancing - even one year olds enjoy dancing
• Musical bumps - two year olds can manage this when taught how
• Musical statues - best for three year olds or maybe older two year olds
• Bubbles - are great fun for all young children
• Action rhymes work very well as young children's birthday party games
• Circle games are good group games
• Ring-a-Ring-of-Roses is the best circle game for toddlers. It can also can be done with just you and your toddler.

  Ring-a-ring-of-roses,
  A pocket full of posies,
  A-tissue, A-tissue,
  We all fall down.
  

  Actions: Hold hands and walk around in a circle then crouch. Check there's plenty of space behind the toddlers because they will drop suddenly and may end up lying down. I've never seen a child be injured with this game though.
  

  ....A good add on to get them up quickly and in a fun way;
  Fishes in the water,
  Fishes in the sea,
  We all jump up with a 1, 2, 3!
  

  Actions: Crouch tapping the floor and spring up on three.
  Don't forget to repeat this as many times as requested. Toddlers love repetition!

• The Farmer's in His Den (or dell)- this toddler party game needs quite a lot of children (3 years or older) and space.
  Just like many children's songs and rhymes there's a few versions... here's a shorter one - good for younger children.

  Organize the children so they are standing in a circle holding hands around one child.
  Everyone walk around while singing:
  

  "The farmer's in his den,
  The farmer's in his den,
  E - I - addy - O,
  The Farmer's in his den.
  

  The farmer wants a wife,*
  The farmer wants a wife,
  E - I - addy - O,
  The farmer wants a wife."

  Stop and the 'farmer' chooses a 'wife' and she/he stand in the middle too.

  Everyone else joins hands and walks around singing:
  

  "The wife wants a child,
  The wife wants a child,
  E - I - addy - O,
  The wife wants a child."

  Stop and the 'wife' chooses a child to join them and off you go again;

  "The child wants a dog,
  The child wants a dog,
  E - I - addy - O,
  The child wants a dog.

  The 'child' chooses a 'dog' who goes into the circle.

  If there are just a few children and the 'dog' is a confident child you could use this verse;

  "We all pat the dog,
  We all pat the dog,
  E - I - addy - O,
  We all pat the dog."

  OR you could have the children clap instead. This is my favourite version especially if there're lots of children;

  "We all clap the dog,
  We all clap the dog,
  E - I - addy - O,
  We all clap the dog."

  * the word wife could be replaced by husband if a girl is the farmer

• Balloon play - batting them up in the air. We use it as the last toddler party game while waiting for parents to come (if they didn't stay) and then the toddlers can take their balloon home. Remember to have spare balloons to replace those that pop.
• Also free play works wonders for toddler birthday parties too. Patricia did that for the first three birthdays of her girls and everyone was happy.

Have a great time with these toddler party games. All the best for your toddlers special day!

Like to know which gifts are best for toddlers?

Through my years for childcare I've seen MANY toys and sadly rather a lot of them are useless, to be frank. Would you like to find out which toys I have found to both entertain and educate toddlers? Check out our summary of learning styles and developmental areas in which toys should facilitate on our Toddler Learning Toys page.

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