Thinkabara

🎉 Games for 5-year-olds

Google Classroom

Five-year-olds can wait their turn, count to ten and remember a rule or two, which opens the door to games with structure: someone hides and someone seeks, someone closes their eyes and everyone guesses. At 5, kids also start to enjoy a small memory and attention challenge: what vanished from the table, who made that sound, what's in the bag.

Imagination is at its peak. Games that ask kids to invent, like a pet that doesn't exist, a new move or a short story, do especially well, as long as the adult gives a clear starting point rather than asking 'what do you want to make up?'. Light competition fits now, but a team win or a shared record is better than ranking first to last.

How to choose: if the kids don't know each other yet, open with a circle game where each child speaks in turn. If they have extra energy, add a short race like the Egg and Spoon Race. To finish, a seated game like What's Missing?. A game at 5 usually lasts 5-10 minutes, and three of them fill half an hour.

Our top picks

  • 👜 Mystery Bag: Feeling without looking sharpens the senses and makes the whole group laugh. The prep is an opaque bag and a few things from home.
  • 🔍 What's Missing? (Kim's Game): A quiet memory game 5-year-olds can now manage: 30 seconds to look, close your eyes and spot what's gone.
  • 👂 Who Made That Sound?: Perfect for circle time or a party: someone makes an animal sound or a laugh, and the guesser with closed eyes says who it was.
  • 🏃 Egg and Spoon Race: A classic race that builds body control, with ping-pong balls instead of eggs. Drop it and you simply start again.
  • 🐉 Invent an Imaginary Pet: A chance for 5-year-old imagination: invent an animal with a name, a sound and a favorite food, and draw it too.

All 36 games

Picture RevealAges 5+ · 2-30 players · 5-15 minIf I Were an AnimalAges 5+ · 4-25 players · 5-10 minChallenge WheelAges 5+ · 4-20 players · 10-20 minFour CornersAges 5+ · 8-30 players · 10 minWho Switched Places?Ages 5+ · 6-25 players · 5-10 minMy Favorite ThingAges 5+ · 4-25 players · 5-10 minMystery BagAges 5+ · 4-20 players · 10 minInvent an Imaginary PetAges 5+ · 3-20 players · 10-15 minWho Made That Sound?Ages 5+ · 6-25 players · 5-10 minCup Tower ChallengeAges 5+ · 2-20 players · 5-10 minChallenge DiceAges 5+ · 3-20 players · 10-20 minSpeed Ball PassAges 5+ · 8-25 players · 5-10 minWhat's Missing? (Kim's Game)Ages 5+ · 3-20 players · 5-10 minEgg and Spoon RaceAges 5+ · 4-20 players · 10 minThe Mirror GameAges 5+ · 2-20 players · 5-10 minWhat's Changed?Ages 5+ · 4-25 players · 5-10 minThe No-Instrument OrchestraAges 5+ · 5-25 players · 5-10 minSock BasketballAges 5+ · 2-20 players · 10 minAdd-a-MoveAges 5+ · 4-20 players · 5-10 minShrinking IslandAges 5+ · 5-20 players · 10 minFold-and-Draw MonstersAges 5+ · 4-20 players · 10-15 minSwitch Places If...Ages 5+ · 8-30 players · 5-10 minFreeze DanceAges 4+ · 4-30 players · 5-10 minKeep the Balloon UpAges 4+ · 2-20 players · 5-10 minName and MotionAges 4+ · 5-30 players · 5 minHot and ColdAges 4+ · 3-20 players · 5-10 minScavenger Hunt at HomeAges 4+ · 2-15 players · 10-15 minDance SwitchAges 4+ · 4-30 players · 10 minCopy MeAges 4+ · 4-20 players · 5-10 minPass the ParcelAges 4+ · 6-20 players · 10-15 minSimon SaysAges 4+ · 4-30 players · 5-10 minRed Light, Green LightAges 4+ · 5-30 players · 5-10 minMusical Chairs With No One OutAges 4+ · 6-20 players · 10-15 minTic-Tac-ToeAges 4+ · 2-30 players · 5-15 minWalk Like a...Ages 3+ · 4-30 players · 5-10 minColor HuntAges 3+ · 3-30 players · 5-10 min

Questions and answers

What is the difference between games for age 4 and age 5?

At 5, kids can wait for a turn and keep one or two rules in mind, so you can add memory, guessing and circle games. At 4 it's better to stick to copying and movement games where everyone plays at once.

Which games suit a kindergarten birthday party?

A circle opener (Who Made That Sound?), a movement game (Four Corners or the Egg and Spoon Race) and a calm closer (What's Missing?). Stick to games with no elimination, so every guest plays to the end.

How many 5-year-olds can one adult run a game with?

One adult can comfortably manage 8-12 kids in a circle game. For a bigger group, add another adult or split into two groups that play side by side.