We all know birthday parties are mostly for the kids, but hey, the grown-ups deserve some fun too, right?
Let’s ditch the awkward small talk and embrace some playful competition with this list of 18 Birthday Party Games for Parents!
Because let’s face it, while the kiddos are bouncing off the walls with sugar-fueled excitement, the parents are often… standing around politely.
But fear not!
We’re about to inject some adult-sized fun into the party mix.
These games are designed to get parents mingling, laughing, and maybe even rediscovering their inner child (while still maintaining a smidge of grown-up dignity).
Get ready to turn up the parent party vibe with these fantastic game ideas!
1. Parent vs. Kid Challenge Relay Races: Generation Showdown!
It’s parents versus kids in an epic battle of skill and speed! Relay races are classic, energetic, and always a blast to watch (and participate in!).
How to Play: Set up relay races with simple tasks like sack races, egg-and-spoon races, or even silly challenges like running while balancing a book on your head. Divide into parent teams and kid teams (or mix it up!). Let the games begin and see which generation reigns supreme!
Takeaway: Parent vs. Kid Challenge Relay Races are a hilarious and energetic way to get everyone involved, spark some friendly competition, and watch the generations go head-to-head!
2. Parent Limbo: How Low Can YOU Go, Grown-Ups?
Time for the parents to show off their flexibility (or lack thereof!)! Limbo is a timeless party game that’s always good for a laugh, especially when adults try it.
How to Play: Get that limbo stick (or broom handle) ready! Play some upbeat music and let the parents take turns limbo-ing under the bar. Lower it after each round and watch those adult backs bend in increasingly comical ways. Kids will be cheering (and maybe pointing and laughing)!
Takeaway: Parent Limbo is a simple, silly, and surprisingly entertaining game that’s guaranteed to get everyone giggling at the grown-ups’ attempts at flexibility.
3. Parent Dance-Off: Show Us Your Moves, Mums and Dads!
It’s time for the parents to take center stage and bust a move! A dance-off is a fun and energetic way to let loose and get everyone grooving.
How to Play: Crank up the music and let the parents have a dance-off! You can make it themed (80s dance-off, anyone?) or just let them freestyle. Kids can be the judges and award points for creativity, enthusiasm, and of course, the silliest moves.
Takeaway: Parent Dance-Off is a hilarious and liberating game that lets parents shed their inhibitions, show off their (questionable?) dance skills, and entertain the kids in the process!
4. Parent Balloon Stomp – Gentle Adult Edition: Pop with a Purpose (and less stomping)!
Balloon stomp… but make it gentle and adult-appropriate! This adapted version is still fun but less chaotic for the grown-up crowd.
How to Play: Tie balloons to parents’ ankles. Instead of wild stomping, the goal is to gently try and pop each other’s balloons using only feet movements (no running and jumping!). Keep it contained and more about strategic footwork than aggressive stomping.
Takeaway: Parent Balloon Stomp – Gentle Adult Edition offers a fun and slightly active game that’s still silly but more suited to adult energy levels and party decor!
5. Water Gun or Nerf Gun Parent Tournament: Adults at Play!
Time to unleash some playful adult competition with a (safe!) battle! Water or Nerf gun tournaments are a fun way to get parents involved and energized.
How to Play: Set up a designated “battle zone” outdoors. Provide water guns or Nerf guns and safety goggles. Organize mini-tournaments with parent teams (or parents vs. kids, if you dare!). Let them battle it out for bragging rights and maybe a silly trophy.
Takeaway: Water Gun or Nerf Gun Parent Tournament provides a chance for parents to unleash their inner child, get active, and engage in some playful (and safe!) competition.
6. Family Trivia – Parent Edition: Blast from the Past!
Let’s test the parents’ knowledge of their glory days! This trivia game focuses on pop culture from the parents’ youth.
How to Play: Prepare trivia questions focused on pop culture from the parents’ generation – 80s music, 90s movies, historical events from their teenage years, etc. Divide parents into teams or let them play individually. Get ready for some nostalgic head-scratching and “Oh, I remember that!” moments.
Takeaway: Family Trivia – Parent Edition is a fun and engaging way for parents to reminisce about their younger years, test their memory, and enjoy some friendly competition with a nostalgic twist.
7. “Name That Tune” – Parents’ Playlist Edition: Music Memory Lane!
Time to crank up the tunes from the parents’ past! Music is a powerful trigger for memories and good times.
How to Play: Create a playlist of popular songs from the decades the parents grew up in (70s, 80s, 90s – depending on the parent group!). Play snippets of songs and have parents guess the song title or artist. Teams or individuals can play. Prepare for some serious sing-alongs and “remember this?!” moments.
Takeaway: “Name That Tune” – Parents’ Playlist Edition is a musically engaging and nostalgic game that brings back memories and gets parents tapping their feet and singing along to their favorite tunes.
8. Pop Culture Trivia – Parents’ Era Showdown: Prove Your Pop Culture Prowess!
Who’s the pop culture guru among the parents? Time to settle it with a trivia showdown!
How to Play: Focus trivia questions even more specifically on pop culture from the parents’ youth – iconic movies, TV shows, celebrities, trends, fashion, and gadgets from their era. Teams or individuals can compete to see who remembers the most.
Takeaway: Pop Culture Trivia – Parents’ Era Showdown is a fun and competitive game that tests parents’ pop culture knowledge from their younger days and often sparks hilarious “I can’t believe I remember that!” reactions.
9. Photo Booth – Parent Edition: Silly Shots & Grown-Up Giggles!
Let the parents have their own photo booth fun! Set up a photo booth area just for the grown-ups with props and backdrops that cater to adult humor.
How to Play: Create a separate photo booth area (or designate a time for parents to use the main photo booth). Provide props that are funny for adults – oversized glasses, silly hats, funny signs with adult-themed jokes (keep it clean!), maybe even some inflatable instruments or ridiculous costumes.
Takeaway: Photo Booth – Parent Edition allows parents to let loose, be silly, and capture some fun, grown-up-themed photo memories of the birthday party.
10. “Would You Rather?” – Adult Party Edition: Hilarious Dilemmas for Grown-Ups!
Time to ponder some truly hilarious “Would You Rather?” scenarios tailored for parents!
How to Play: Prepare a list of “Would You Rather?” questions that are funny and relatable to parenting experiences or adult life in general. Examples: “Would you rather have a toddler again or a teenager?”, “Would you rather only be able to communicate through emojis or only through song?”, “Would you rather have the ability to teleport but only to boring places or have the ability to read minds but only of squirrels?”. Go around the circle and have parents answer and explain their (often hilarious) choices.
Takeaway: “Would You Rather?” – Adult Party Edition is a simple yet incredibly funny conversational game that sparks lighthearted debate and often reveals surprising and relatable parent perspectives.
11. Parent “Two Truths and a Lie” – Get to Know the Grown-Ups!
Let’s help the parents mingle and learn surprising things about each other! “Two Truths and a Lie” is a great icebreaker for adults.
How to Play: Have parents gather in a circle. Each parent takes a turn sharing three “facts” about themselves – two true and one believable lie. The other parents guess which statement is the lie. It’s a fun way for parents who may not know each other well to interact and find common ground.
Takeaway: Parent “Two Truths and a Lie” is an excellent icebreaker that encourages parent mingling, sparks conversations, and helps parents learn fun facts about each other in a playful way.
12. “Advice for the Birthday Child” – Parent Wisdom (and Humor!)
Let the parents impart their (often hilarious) wisdom to the birthday child! This game is sweet, funny, and creates a lovely keepsake.
How to Play: Provide cards or paper and pens. Ask each parent to write down a piece of advice (serious or funny!) for the birthday child for the year ahead or for life in general. Collect the cards and read them aloud (choose to read only the funny ones or a mix). You can give the cards to the birthday child as a sweet and funny memento.
Takeaway: “Advice for the Birthday Child” – Parent Wisdom (and Humor!) is a heartwarming and amusing game that allows parents to share their thoughts, offer encouragement, and create a memorable keepsake for the birthday kid.
13. Baby Photo Guessing Game – Parent Edition: Who’s Who in Baby Pics?
If the parents mostly know each other and their kids’ baby photos, this is a hilarious trip down memory lane!
How to Play: Ask parents to bring a baby photo of their child (or use photos from previous parties if you have them). Number the photos and display them. Parents try to guess which baby photo belongs to which child. Prepare for some “OMG, is that REALLY [child’s name]?!” and lots of baby-photo-induced laughter.
Takeaway: Baby Photo Guessing Game – Parent Edition is a nostalgic and hilarious game that brings back baby memories and often results in funny comparisons and “they haven’t changed a bit!” moments.
14. Parent Helpers in Kids’ Obstacle Course Relay: Join the Kid Fun!
Parents become part of the kid games and get in on the action! Incorporate parents into the kids’ relay race for added fun and teamwork.
How to Play: When you set up a kids’ obstacle course relay, designate a specific part of the relay for parent participation. Maybe parents have to do a silly walk, a funny dance, or complete a mini-challenge as part of the team’s relay race.
Takeaway: Parent Helpers in Kids’ Obstacle Course Relay is a fantastic way to directly involve parents in the kids’ games, making it fun for everyone and blurring the lines between kid and adult fun.
15. Parent “Judges” for a Kids’ Talent Show: Adults in the Audience!
Give parents a fun role in the kids’ talent show and let them be the judges! Parents get to be entertained and engaged.
How to Play: If you’re having a kids’ talent show, designate the parents as the “judges.” Give them silly scorecards or paddles to rate the kids’ performances (mostly for fun, not serious judging!). Parents can provide funny commentary and encouragement to the kid performers.
Takeaway: Parent “Judges” for a Kids’ Talent Show provides parents with a fun and engaging role in the kids’ entertainment, making them part of the show and keeping them amused and involved.
16. Parent Volunteers for “Minute to Win It” Game Demos: Show ‘Em How It’s Done (or Not!)!
Let the parents demonstrate the “Minute to Win It” games for the kids… often with hilarious results!
How to Play: Before the kids try each “Minute to Win It” game, have a few parent volunteers demonstrate how to play. Parents demonstrating often leads to funny fails and exaggerated attempts, which is highly entertaining for the kids (and the other parents!).
Takeaway: Parent Volunteers for “Minute to Win It” Game Demos adds an extra layer of entertainment to the kids’ games, as parents often bring their own brand of silliness and competitive spirit to the demonstrations.
17. Parent “Commentary Team” for Kids’ Games: Play-by-Play Hilarity!
Turn the kids’ games into a televised sporting event… with parent commentary! This is all about adding a layer of humor and entertainment for the adults watching.
How to Play: Choose a few outgoing parents to be the “commentary team” for the kids’ games (like relay races or obstacle courses). Give them microphones (toy mics are fine!) and let them provide funny, over-the-top sports commentary as the kids play. Think silly sports announcer voices, exaggerated excitement, and running jokes.
Takeaway: Parent “Commentary Team” for Kids’ Games elevates the entertainment value for the adult audience, turning even simple kids’ games into a hilarious spectator sport with witty parent commentary.
18. “Parent Mingling Bingo”: Connect & Chat with Bingo Prompts!
For a more relaxed and social game, encourage parent mingling with Bingo! This helps parents who don’t know each other well to strike up conversations.
How to Play: Create bingo cards with squares containing prompts that encourage parents to talk to each other – “Find someone who also loves coffee,” “Find someone who has kids the same age as yours,” “Find someone who lives in your neighborhood,” “Find someone wearing blue,” etc. Parents mingle and find other parents who fit the prompts and get them to sign their square. First to get bingo wins (bragging rights or a small prize!).
Takeaway: “Parent Mingling Bingo” is a relaxed and social game that encourages parents to connect, chat, and get to know each other in a low-pressure, fun way.
Wrapping it Up: Party Time for Everyone!
So there you have it – 18 awesome birthday party games designed to bring the parents into the party fun!
Remember, the goal is to create a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere for the grown-ups too.
Choose games that fit the style of your party and the personalities of the parents.
A little bit of playful competition, a whole lot of laughter, and maybe even a rediscovered inner child – that’s what makes a truly great birthday party for everyone!
Now go forth and throw a party where the parents have just as much fun as the kids!
