10 Exciting Carnival Party Games For Kids Under 6

Planning a carnival-themed party for preschoolers and young children can be a delightful challenge. To make your celebration unforgettable, we’ve curated a collection of unique, fun-filled carnival party games that are sure to keep little ones entertained and excited.

Last Updated: October 7, 2024  |  10 min Read

Find detailed breakdowns for each game, including the benefits they offer, the intensity level of physical exertion, age appropriateness, suggested playtime, number of players, and the materials needed.

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1. Circus Star Charades

Objective: Correctly guess the circus act being mimed by a player.

Setup: Prepare a set of cards with simple circus-themed actions (e.g., juggling, walking a tightrope, clown dancing, lion roaring). Free download hereunder.

How to Play: The first child takes a card and acts out the circus star role without speaking. The other children must guess what they are pretending to do. The child who guesses correctly can go next.

2. Animal Cracker Hunt

Objective: Find and collect the most hidden animal crackers.

Setup: Hide animal-shaped crackers or cookies in small containers around the party area.

How to Play: Children are given small bags and must find as many hidden animal crackers as they can within a set time. After the game, they can enjoy the crackers as a snack!

3. Trapeze Artist Toss

Objective: Toss soft “trapeze” toys through hoops to score points.

Setup: Hang hula hoops at different heights. Use small plush toys with streamers attached to act as trapeze artists.

How to Play: Children toss the plush toys through the hoops. Each hoop is worth different points depending on its height or distance. Players take turns to see who can score the most points.

4. Ringmaster’s Balloon Parade

Objective: Guide a balloon through an obstacle course without touching it.

Setup: Create a small obstacle course with cones or pillows. Each child gets a balloon (or shares one in small groups).

How to Play: Children must guide the balloon through the obstacle course by blowing or fanning it with a piece of cardboard. The goal is for the children to make it through without touching the balloon.

5. Elephant Stomp

Objective: Pop as many balloons as possible using only your feet.

Setup: Fill small balloons with air and tie them to strings (long enough to dangle from the children’s feet).

How to Play: Each child has a balloon tied to their ankle. They must stomp on each other’s balloons while protecting their own. The last child with their balloon unpopped is the winner. Make sure to use small, safe balloons for preschoolers.

6. Balloon Buddy Relay

Objective: Complete the relay course without dropping the balloon.

Setup: Have pairs of children, and each pair gets one large balloon. Create a starting line and a finish line about 15 feet (4.5m) apart.

How to Play: The pairs must place the balloon between their bellies or backs and walk together without using their hands to hold it. They must make it to the finish line and back. If the balloon drops, they start over. The team that completes the relay first wins!

7. Popcorn Pop Relay

Objective: Carry as much popcorn as possible from the starting point to a bucket using a saucepan.

Setup: Prepare a large bowl of popcorn and place it at the starting point. Each child is given a small plastic saucepan. For each team, place a bucket at the other end of the yard or room to collect the popcorn.

How to Play: In a relay-style race, each child must scoop popcorn into their saucepan and carefully carry it to the bucket. The goal is to fill the bucket with as much popcorn as possible. The team that has the most popcorn in their bucket by the end wins. If any popcorn falls while running, it can’t be picked up and is lost!

8. Circus Cannonball Roll

Objective: Roll soft “cannonballs” into a target area for points.

Setup: Use small soft balls (like foam or plush) as the cannonballs. Mark out a target area with chalk or tape on the ground, with different zones worth varying points.

How to Play: Children take turns rolling their cannonball towards the target. The goal is to land the ball in the highest-scoring zone.

For added fun, you can give each zone a circus-themed name, such as The Lion’s Den, Elephant Alley, Clown Car Chaos, Trapeze Target, The Strongman’s Circle, Ringmaster’s Zone, Acrobat Arena, Juggler’s Jackpot, The Cannon Zone, or Big Top Bullseye.

9. Big Top Parachute Fun

Objective: Work together to keep balls bouncing on the parachute.

Setup: Use a large parachute and several small, lightweight balls or stuffed toys.

How to Play: The children gather around the parachute and hold the edges. They toss a few soft balls or toys on the parachute and work together to keep them bouncing in the air without letting them fall off.

10. Mystery Box of Circus Wonders

Objective: Correctly guess the object hidden inside the mystery box.

Setup: Create a “mystery box” by cutting a hole in a cardboard box, large enough for a child’s hand to fit through. Fill the box with small circus-themed items like toy animals, juggling balls, or cotton candy props.

How to Play: Each child gets a turn to reach inside the box and guess what object they’ve touched. You can make it silly by using strange textures or funny items that aren’t circus-related to keep them guessing.

Final Thoughts about Carnival Party Games

With these carnival-themed games, your party is sure to be a hit with preschoolers and children up to the age of 6.

By balancing icebreakers, active challenges, and calming activities, you’ll keep the excitement high while giving kids a chance to wind down when needed.