5th Birthday Party Games for Girls

Have you ever been planning your daughter’s 5th birthday party and you realize you going to need more than just cake and balloons? Well I have. Just three weeks before my niece’s party last year I was desperately googling “games for 5 year old girls” at 11 PM because I suddenly panicked that fifteen little girls would show up and I’d have nothing for them to do.

5 year olds may have the attention span of a goldfish but they also have incredible imaginations. They aren’t babies anymore who are happy to stack blocks for an hour but they’re also not quite ready for complicated board games or sports.

What you should be aiming for is where everything is magical, everyone wants to be a princess or a fairy (or both), and the word “unicorn” solves about 70% of your problems.

After hosting, attending and surviving more 5th birthday parties than I can count I’m pretty confident I know what works. I’m talking about games that keep kids engaged, stop them having meltdowns and (hopefully) give you five minutes to drink your coffee while it’s still warm.

So I’m going to take you through a whole range of games that are just right for 5 user old girls. From simple ones that anyone can do to more imaginative games that will engage them.

Game Ideas by Type

Themed Play Games

Five year olds can be royalty one minute and woodland creatures the next. Theyre imaginations are wild. And these games don’t need much in the way of setup too even though they’re more magical and imaginative.

Royal Freeze Dance

This one’s a classic with a twist. You play music (anything upbeat works, but if you want to stick to the theme then go with a Disney soundtrack), and the birthday girl gets to be the “queen” who yells “freeze!” when she wants. Everyone has to stop moving immediately.

What makes it so fun? They have to freeze in silly shapes – like a hopping frog, a galloping unicorn or a flower growing from the ground.

I love this game because it’s mayhem but in a sort of controlled way. The kids think they’re just dancing and being goofy but you’re actually teaching them to follow directions and control their bodies.

Plus you can rotate who gets to be the queen which means everyone will feel special, not just the birthday girl. The sillier the freeze poses the more fun and laughter it will get and hearing a group of 5 year olds crack up is better than any fancy entertainment you could hire.

Fairy Scavenger Hunt

Fairy Garden Birthday Party Scavenger Hunt – 1 Stand and 48 Game Pieces

Hide small items around your yard or house. Things like plastic gems, silk flowers, toy fairy wings, colorful ribbons, just anything sparkly you can find at the dollar store.

Give each item a “magical power” by making simple cards that say things like “This gem gives you the power of kindness” or “These wings let you fly in your dreams.” Kids collect the items in small bags or baskets and each thing they find gives them a sticker or stamp on a collection card.

Why I really like this game is because it isn’t competitive. Every child finds treasures, everyone gets magical powers and nobody feels left out.

Princess Says (Like Simon Says)

Same idea as Simon Says but you use actions related to a theme that 5 year old girls want to do. “Princess says curtsy!” “Princess says twirl like a ballerina!” “Princess says ride your unicorn!” “Princess says wave your magic wand!”. What makes it work is mixing in actions they know with silly ones they’ll find funny.

When someone messes up make it light and fun of it rather than “you’re out.” Maybe they become a royal advisor or a pet dragon instead. You want them to be having fun and no tears.

Magic Wand Freeze Tag

Magic Pink Fairy Wand with Fern

One child is the fairy who has a magic wand (any stick with ribbons or a dollar store wand works). They “freeze” other players by tapping them with the wand. But the twist is another player is given a sparkly scarf or ribbon and can “unfreeze” the frozen players by waving it near them.

This will burn up energy like crazy, which is exactly what you want in the middle of the party when the sugar is probably starting to kick in. The role switching keeps everyone involved and the magical part of it makes it feel special rather than just regular “tag”. Just make sure you’ve cleared enough space so nobody crashes into your furniture or each other.

Craft Style Game Stations

These are great because they work in different ways: they’re an activity, they create party favors and they give kids something to to do when they need a break from running around.

Decorate Your Own Tiara or Wand

Foam Princess Crowns and Tiaras for Birthday Party Favors

Buy foam cutouts from the craft store (they’re only about $1 each) and set up a station with stickers, markers, plastic jewels, glitter glue (if you’re brave but I usually skip the glitter because I’m still finding it in my carpet from 2019), and any other bits you can find. Each kid decorates their own tiara or wand to take home.

This is fantastic because it’s basically impossible to mess up. There’s no wrong way to stick gems on a crown.

Every kid creates something unique, feels proud of it and you’ve solved the problem of what goes in the goodie bags. Also it keeps them sitting still and focused for at least 15 to 20 minutes, which is a break you’re definitely going to want and need.

Cupcake Decorating Challenge

Give each child a plain cupcake and set out bowls of toppings: sprinkles, mini gummies, icing in squeeze bottles, edible glitter, marshmallows, whatever you want.

Let them go wild decorating their own cupcake. You can give out silly awards like “most colorful”, “tallest icing tower”, or “sparkliest creation”, but make sure everyone gets some kind of recognition.

Warning: this always gets messy. Put down a plastic tablecloth, have the wet wipes ready and accept that frosting will end up everywhere. But the kids love it and it doubles as a snack, so you’re being efficient.

Coloring Castle Corner

Print out princess, unicorn or fairy coloring pages (free templates are everywhere online) and set them up in a quiet spot with glitter crayons, markers or colored pencils. Add some appropriate background music or have someone tell quiet stories while the kids color.

This should be your go to activity for the kid who gets overwhelmed by loud games or that need a break. It’s also great for early arrivals who show up before everyone else.

Not every child wants to be running around constantly, and that’s okay. This gives them a calm option that still feels like it’s part of the party.

Simple Active Games

You need games that let kids move and burn energy without turning into Lord of the Flies.

Pass the Unicorn

Cute Stuffed Uicorn Toy

This is like musical chairs but way less stressful. Kids sit in a circle and pass a toy unicorn (or any stuffed animal) around while music plays.

When the music stops whoever’s holding the unicorn has to do a fun task: twirl three times, roar like a lion, sing “Happy Birthday”, hop like a bunny, whatever you want. Then the music starts again.

The main difference from musical chairs is that nobody gets knocked out. Everyone keeps playing the whole time.

There are no tears or fights about who was sitting first, just the silly tasks and lots of laughter. This is the kind of simple change that makes a huge difference in keeping everyone happy over the whole party.

Rainbow Ring Toss

Colorful Plastic Sport Ring Toss Game Set for Kids

Set up rainbow colored cones (or even just colored construction paper) and give kids rings to toss onto them. Each color is worth different points or tiny prizes – stickers, temporary tattoos, small erasers etc. And no one feels bad because everyone can keep trying until they succeed.

Just make the game forgiving enough that everyone wins something, because at 5, participation really should come with rewards.

Bubble Pop Race

Blow a bunch of bubbles, shout “go!” and see who can pop the most in 30 seconds. That’s it. That’s the whole game. And kids go crazy for it.

I cannot overstate how effective bubbles are at parties. They’re cheap, they’re magical to 5 year olds and they create some of the most memorable moments without any effort. Plus bubble solution washes off easily, so even when kids inevitably get it all over their party clothes you aren’t the villain.

Parachute Play (If You Have One)

Parachute Kids Play 12 Feet with 12 Handles for 8 12 Years

If you can borrow or buy a kids’ play parachute, do it. Kids hold the edges, lift it up and down, shake it to make “waves,” run underneath it, hide under it – they just love it and will do any and everything with it. There’s something about the bright colors and the whooshing sound that draws them in.

Quiet Games

About an hour into any party you’ll probably notice the energy starts to either spike or crash completely. You need games that calm things down a little before cake time.

Storytime and Stuffed Animals

Get everyone in a circle, take out a picture book (birthdaynthemed, princess stories or magical creature books all work great), and let kids bring their favorite toy to cuddle while they listen. Use different voices for characters, ask simple questions etc.

This works because it shows a transition. The party’s not over but we’re shifting gears. Kids get to sit, rest and reset without the fun hasn’t felt like it’s ended. Plus a good story can hold their attention way better than you’d expect.

Sticker Bingo

Create simple bingo cards with pictures of animals, sparkles, flowers, or party themed images. Instead of chips or markers kids use stickers to mark their matches. Have small prizes for everyone because again, at 5, everyone needs to feel like a winner.

You can find free printable bingo cards online or make your own in about ten minutes. The sticker part makes it feel special and crafty instead of something from just a game and kids get to keep their decorated bingo cards as a bonus memory from the party.

Pin the Crown on the Princess / Horn on the Unicorn

The classic party game, but made to for your theme. You can DIY this so easily – just print a large princess or unicorn, cut out crowns or horns, blindfold kids (or just have them close their eyes), spin them gently and let them try to place the piece in the right spot.

Kids find this hilarious because watching each other try to pin things while dizzy is the funniest thing at 5. It’s also short enough that it doesn’t lose their attention.

Sample Party Game Flow

Here’s a realistic schedule for a two hour party that accounts for how kids behave in real life:

Time	Activity
0:00–0:15	Welcome and Free play (kids arrive at different times so let them ease in)
0:15–0:30	Royal Freeze Dance (gets everyone moving together)
0:30–0:45	Craft station: Decorate tiaras or wands (calms the energy and makes party favors)
0:45–1:00	Fairy Scavenger Hunt (active but controlled)
1:00–1:15	Snack time and decorated cupcakes
1:15–1:30	Pass the Unicorn game (good for when they’re digesting good)
1:30–1:45	Storytime or Sticker Bingo (good for calming down)
1:45–2:00	Birthday cake and goodie bags (the grand finale)

Can you see the rhythm? Active, calm, active, snack, gentle active, quiet, cake. You’re managing the energy levels like a DJ manages a dance floor.

This isn’t random to by chance – it’s a strategy to make the party work. And yes, you’ll need to be flexible because kids are unpredictable, but having this structure keeps you from panicking.

Extra Ideas & Tips

• Give the birthday girl a special helper wand so she can lead some games. This makes her feel important without making other kids jealous – she’s the “game leader” and everyone will respect that role.
• Add music wherever possible. Background music during crafts, freeze dance music, anything. Kids respond to audio cues and it fills any awkward moments of silence.
• Avoid long explanations. Show the kids how the game works once, let them copy you and then get out of the way to let them get on with it. Five year olds learn by doing, not by listening to rules.
• Mix sit down and stand up games to keep the energy balanced. Too much running around and someone crashes. Too much sitting and they get antsy.
• Give every child a mini prize or favor. Stock up on stickers, small erasers, temporary tattoos, bubbles – anything from the dollar store works. At 5, going home without anything while others got prizes is devastating.
• Have a specific “calm down” space with books or quiet toys for any kid who gets overwhelmed. Not every child likes the mayhem of parties and that’s completely normal.

What to Avoid

• Games with only one winner. Games where most kids “lose” will lead to tears and drama. If you have to have winners make sure everyone wins something.
• Anything that ends in crying. Musical chairs, elimination games, contests where kids compare themselves are a bad idea. Save the competitive stuff for when they’re older and can handle it emotionally.
• Overly complicated crafts. No glue guns, no sharp scissors, no projects that needs adults to help for every single step. If you can’t let them do it mostly on their own then it’s too advanced.
• Assuming they’ll entertain themselves. They won’t. Even with toys everywhere kids need structure and activities at parties. Free play is great in small doses but you definitely still need a plan.
• Scheduling too much. If you have a timeline you are trying to stick to remember that it probably won’t go as planned. Kids need bathroom breaks, someone will spill something, one child will need a band aid for a non existent injury. Be prepared.

Low Cost Party Favor Ideas

Since we’re on the subject, these are some good party favor ideas without breaking the bank:

• Bubbles (classic, cheap, everyone loves them)
• Beaded bracelets (you can buy them in bulk)
• Sticker sheets (never fails)
• Fairy dust jars (glitter in small containers with ribbon – takes 5 minutes to make in bulk)
• The tiara or wand they decorated (this is why craft activities are so good)
• Small coloring books (easy to get from the dollar store)
• Temporary tattoos (kids go wild for these)

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a thousand dollar budget or professional entertainers, to throw a great birthday party for 5 year old girls. What you need is a few really good games, a loose schedule, be ready when things go slightly off plan and the ability to have fun alongside the kids.

The games I’ve shared here aren’t fancy or complicated. They’re the ones that have consistently worked across lots of parties, different group sizes, different themes and even when I forgot half my supplies and had to improvise.

So choose a few games from this list, throw on some music and trust that it will work out. And when it’s all over and you’re exhausted well pour yourself a glass of wine, look at the happy photos, and remember: you just gave a 5 year old one of their most memorable birthdays. That’s pretty amazing.