17 Winter Birthday Ideas & Games to Heat Up an Indoor Party

Mitten Match
A trip to the dollar store might be necessary to play this matching game if you don't have enough extra mittens. Once you’ve assembled enough wooly pairs to outfit party guests, hide one-half of each mitten pair in plain sight around the house. Pass the other half out to little hunters, then let them loose to find their match. The game is over once all the pairs have been reunited. Extra points if the guests keep the matched pair as part of their party loot. Get the details from Tales of a Ranting Ginger. 

Hot Snowball
This winter variation on Hot Potato starts with a trip to your local craft store. Dress up a Styrofoam ball or puffy white pom-pom with glitter to make a sparkly snowball, circle up the kids, turn on the tunes and pass the ball around until the music stops. If you’re caught holding the snowball, it’s sideline time for you, baby. Last one left wins!

Bundle Up, Baby
If this game had an inspiration, it would have to be poor Randy in A Christmas Story, bundled tightly in his winter digs. For this game, you’ll need plenty of blustery day clothes—hats, scarves, mittens, earmuffs, snow pants, heavy coats, etc.—if it keeps you warm, use it. Then, gather the tots together and have each one take turns putting on all the winter gear, as fast as they can, while you keep time (or not). Turn this into a big kid game by dividing the kids into two teams that race against each other, as they bundle up a willing teammate.

Ski Ball Jump
Turn an everyday play idea designed by Susie at busytoddler.com into a party-ready game for tots when you see just how many balls each party-goer can launch into the waiting basket below. All it takes is a little DIY know-how, a soft landing for the balls, and of course, toddlers ready to show off their counting prowess during this party game.

Snowy Search and Rescue
This classic sensory activity seamlessly transitions into a full-on toddler game as kids race to dig hidden objects out of the “snow.” Bury tiny objects like puzzle pieces, Duplo bricks, or seasonal doodads under layers of cotton balls or fake snow (a great idea thanks to I Can Teach My Child) in a baking dish or large container. Then have little seekers dig them out using hands, sand shovels, or even spoons. They’ll be delighted with their finds. You’ll be delighted at how easy this game is to run.

Penguin Relay
Consider this relay game the winterized version of an egg spoon race. Divide kids into two teams and put half of each on the end of the playing field and the rest at the other. Kids place a beanbag on top of their feet, papa penguin style. When you say go, each team sends a member shuffling down to the other end, carefully balancing their “egg” on their feet until they reach a teammate on the other side. Transfer the egg to the next player to keep the relay going.

Candy Ball Game
It's a win-win when a game doubles as party favors. Hide birthday trinkets in a plastic wrap ball, pass the ball around the circle, and let guests unwind and find the hidden treasures. If you add the dice-rolling element for older kids, it's just as much fun to watch as it is to play.

Winter Guessing Jar
Keep the wiggles at bay by putting out a guessing jar. Fill it with snowflake buttons, blue and white LEGO, blue and white M&M’s, or any other snowy day combo you can think up. Then invite guests to guess at some point during the party. The coolest part? The jar and its contents can be given away as a prize. 

Snowman Relay
This no-snow snowman relay is perfect for an indoor bash. You’ll need two large felt snowmen and stylish felt accessories to match: a carrot nose, colorful buttons, coal-colored eyes, and even a scarf. Hang the snowmen on the wall, and line your guests in two lines next to the accessories. Each player takes a turn putting on an accessory, and the first snowman ready to lead the parade through the town wins! Construction paper is an alternative for felt for this game.

Ice Castle Construction
The race is on to build the highest ice castle on the block with this Bob the Builder meets Elsa cup stacking game. Little partiers can work in teams on this one, or individual players can go head-to-head. The goal? To stack a tower that outshines your opponent’s in the shortest amount of time. The building materials? Blue Solo cups, of course.

Winter-Themed Charades
Who doesn’t love a good game of charades? This no-prep party favorite can easily be tailored to fit a winter party theme. Write out snowy activities like skiing, sledding and snowball fights, then put them in the jar. Break party guests into groups, then have them act out the scenes for their team. Remember, if the guessers can’t quite figure it out, the other team has a chance to steal.

Snowball targets
Put a wintery twist on an old-school carnival game with target practice. All it takes is plastic water bottles, a few squirt guns and small Styrofoam craft balls. Balance the balls on top of the water bottles, and line them up in a row or use empty overturned boxes to make a few different levels to change up the difficulty. Then it’s as simple as ready, aim and firing the squirt guns at the precariously balanced balls to see how many each player can get down. 

Musical Snowflakes
Musical chairs get a winter makeover with this game. Instead of setting up chairs, use paper snowflakes on the ground in a circle for kiddos to stand on. Then, crank the tunes and have the kids walk the line. Whoever is left without a snowflake when the music stops takes a seat; the last kid left standing wins. Rock a twofer on this game by first having tiny guests decorate pre-cut paper snowflakes at a craft table to use in the game.

Snow Shooters
These adorable snow shooters from Growing a Jeweled Rose are the perfect inspiration for snowy party games. Arm each player with a snow shooter and mini marshmallows, and then have them aim one by one at a long-distance target. Closest ‘mallow wins the sharpshooter award of the day!

Silly Snowmen
We all know grade school kids love to show off their skills, and this game will take a lot of artistic inspiration and concentration to win. It may seem simple at first glance—the kids draw snowmen on the paper plates—but a simple, yet hilarious, twist makes this a party-worthy activity: the kids can’t see what they’re drawing (the plates are on their heads!). Have the kids add all the requisite snowman parts to their masterpiece—three-body balls, a hat, eyes, arms, buttons, and the iconic carrot nose, and then share their creations to choose who wins this creative competition.

Mitten Pictionary
You can find Pictionary at any old party, but this is your party, so it needs to be special. Crank up the laughter on a typical Pictionary game by having guests wear mittens (the thicker the better) while they draw their way to a win illustrating winter words like a snowman, polar bear, and penguins on the board. Want to make it more challenging? Have the little artists don ski goggles.

Snowball Stomp
This snowball stomp idea from Birthday Party Ideas 4 Kids takes a lot of hot air and a lot of space. Blow up white balloons and tie them around each player's ankle so there’s a distance between them and their snowball. Give the “go!” sign, and give them plenty of space to stomp on each other's snowballs. Super fast and super fun, this is sure to be a popular game.

Topsy Turvey Snowman Cups
Your party animals will work up a serious sweat when they divide into two groups and play this cup-turning game. Ahead of time, draw snowman faces on a slew of white solo cups. When they’re ready to play, spread the snowman cups out on the ground so half are upright and half are upside down. Team One’s goal is to make all snowmen upright. Team Two's goal is the opposite; it’s snowman side down for them. Yell Go! and watch the madness unfold. Play for about five minutes before you add up the scores and play again (and again and again!). 

Blizzard
This adorable game found on Coolest Holiday Parties is a flurry that plays like hockey without hard-hitting checking. Instead of a puck, players use a white balloon, and instead of sticks, they use air to propel the “puck” into the other team’s goal (no hands or feet, please!). Paper plate paddles work well for this game. When the buzzer sounds, the team with the most goals wins!