New Year’s Eve is an exciting event for everyone, especially kids who are thrilled to stay up late and celebrate. But as fun as it is, keeping kids entertained all night until the countdown can sometimes feel challenging. That’s where “Minute to Win It” games come in! These games are quick, easy to set up, and perfect for nonstop fun, keeping the kids engaged and laughing until the new year arrives.
Each of these games is designed to be simple yet thrilling, and they can all be played with common household items. Get your timer ready, gather the kids, and let the countdown to fun begin! Here’s a list of 23 fun-filled “Minute to Win It” games that are perfect for New Year’s Eve with kids.
1. Balloon Pop Relay
Nothing gets kids more excited than popping balloons, and this game takes that to a whole new level! Kids will race to pop as many balloons as they can in one minute. You can add a fun twist by filling the balloons with confetti or small prizes for an extra surprise each time a balloon is popped.
The excitement builds as each child competes to pop the most balloons in record time. For added fun, create different rounds, so each child has a turn to beat their personal best. This game is easy to set up and guarantees a room full of laughter and happy chaos.
2. Cup Stack Challenge
The cup stack challenge is all about balance and speed, and it’s much harder than it sounds! Each child is given a stack of plastic cups to build the tallest tower possible within one minute. The real challenge lies in stacking the cups without letting the tower tumble down.
This game is simple yet addictive, as kids try to keep their balance steady. Watch as the tension rises with each cup placed, and the excitement builds as kids cheer each other on to create the tallest tower.
3. Cookie Face Race
Few things are more fun than using cookies in a game! Each child places a cookie on their forehead and attempts to move it to their mouth without using their hands. The trick? Only facial muscles are allowed!
Kids will find themselves laughing as they try to wiggle the cookie down to their mouths. The first person to get it in their mouth wins, but watching everyone else’s funny faces is just as entertaining!
4. Snowball Toss
The snowball toss brings winter fun indoors, giving kids a challenge that’s full of action. Set up a bucket a few feet away, and give each player a pile of cotton balls or “snowballs” to toss into the bucket as many times as possible in one minute.
The goal is to score as many “hits” in the bucket as possible, which gets harder as time goes on. It’s a fun way to keep kids moving, and it brings out their competitive side while keeping them entertained.
5. Ping Pong Blow Challenge
In the ping pong blow challenge, kids use only their breath to get a ping pong ball across the finish line! Mark a finish line, and each child must blow the ping pong ball from the start to the finish without letting it veer off course.
The task sounds simple, but keeping the ball straight and moving quickly requires skill and patience. Kids will be thrilled to see who can get their ball across the line the fastest, and you’ll enjoy watching their serious attempts!
6. Marshmallow Chopsticks Race
This game tests dexterity and patience as kids try to move mini marshmallows using only chopsticks. Each player has one bowl of marshmallows and a second empty bowl. The objective? Transfer as many marshmallows as possible within a minute.
It’s a great way to test hand-eye coordination and provide a fun challenge that looks deceptively simple. Kids get a real kick out of trying to master this game, and it’s a great game to try in rounds.
7. Junk in the Trunk
Junk in the Trunk is a high-energy game where kids wear a tissue box filled with ping pong balls attached to their waist. Their goal? To shake out as many balls as possible within one minute—no hands allowed!
This game is a hilarious test of rhythm and creativity as kids try to shake the box empty. The whole room will be laughing as kids come up with unique moves to empty their box the fastest.
8. Balloon Keep-Up
Keeping a balloon off the ground sounds easy, but it’s trickier than it looks, especially when you’re racing against the clock! Each player is given a balloon and has to keep it in the air for a full minute using only their hands.
Kids will be hopping and stretching to prevent the balloon from touching the floor. For an added twist, you can increase the number of balloons for each player, which brings out some funny and intense moments.
9. Cup Flip Challenge
In the cup flip challenge, players compete to see who can flip a plastic cup to land upside down the most times within a minute. This game requires focus and a bit of finesse to get the cup to land just right.
Each flip attempt adds to the tension, as players try to beat their own record. It’s a simple game that quickly becomes addictive as kids try again and again to master the flip.
10. Ring Toss
The classic ring toss game gets a New Year’s twist, with players trying to toss rings onto water bottles or other tall objects. The goal is to score as many successful ring tosses as possible within the minute.
This game brings out the competitive spirit and makes kids focus on aiming skills. You can create different point values based on the distance to add to the challenge.
11. M&M Color Sort
This game is perfect for little organizers! Each child is given a handful of M&Ms and must sort them by color as quickly as possible. The goal is to sort as many M&Ms by color within one minute.
The game encourages focus and fine motor skills as kids race to sort their M&Ms. It’s a calm yet exciting game that still has plenty of action as the kids rush to sort the fastest.
12. Sticky Note Face Challenge
Kids love a funny challenge, and this one is no exception. The sticky note face challenge is simple: kids compete to see how many sticky notes they can stick on their face within one minute.
The sticky notes might slip off, adding an extra layer of difficulty, and kids will laugh at the sight of their friends’ sticky note-covered faces. It’s a lighthearted game with loads of laughs.
13. Penny Stack
In the penny stack game, each player has one minute to stack as many pennies as possible in a single column. It might sound easy, but balancing the pennies without letting the stack fall takes concentration and a steady hand.
The tension rises as kids build taller stacks, and a slight wobble can send the whole tower toppling down. This game is both challenging and exciting, with kids eagerly trying to out-stack each other.
14. Feather Float
Keeping a feather in the air using only your breath sounds simple but is a funny challenge that requires focus. Each child is given a feather, and they must blow it continuously to keep it floating in the air.
This game brings out lots of laughs as kids concentrate hard to keep their feather from hitting the ground. It’s a hilarious game that’s simple to play but tricky to master.
15. Wrap the Mummy
In this hilarious team game, pairs of kids work together to wrap each other like mummies using rolls of toilet paper. They have one minute to cover their partner as completely as possible.
The game ends with a room full of toilet-paper mummies, and the best-wrapped mummy wins! This game is especially fun for group play and is sure to get lots of laughs.
16. Ping Pong Spoon Race
The ping pong spoon race tests balance and patience as kids carry a ping pong ball on a spoon, trying to reach the finish line without dropping it. The winner is the one who makes it the farthest or finishes first within a minute.
This game is a classic balance test, and kids love the challenge of trying to complete it without dropping the ball. It’s also a great way to encourage patience and focus.
17. Puzzle Challenge
For kids who enjoy a mental challenge, this game involves completing a small puzzle in one minute. Each child is given a puzzle with 25-50 pieces and must try to finish it as quickly as possible.
It’s a fun, engaging game that also allows kids to concentrate and show off their problem-solving skills. The player who finishes the puzzle or gets the farthest wins.
18. New Year’s Countdown Toss
In this game, kids toss small objects, like rolled socks or New Year’s party favors, into a bucket placed a few feet away. The goal is to score as many points by landing objects in the bucket within one minute.
This game is perfect for building excitement as kids count down to the new year. The challenge is simple yet engaging, and it’s fun to see who can score the most.
19. Balloon Blow Race
The balloon blow race requires kids to blow a balloon across the room to the finish line using only their breath. The player who reaches the finish line first or gets the farthest wins.
This game brings lots of laughs as kids huff and puff to get their balloon to move. It’s a fun way to keep kids active and entertained.
20. Hula Hoop Contest
The hula hoop contest challenges kids to keep a hula hoop spinning as long as possible within one minute. The player who keeps it going the longest wins.
This classic game is always a hit, and kids love testing their hula hoop skills. It’s a fun way to add a little friendly competition to your New Year’s festivities.
21. Sock Toss
In this game, kids toss rolled-up socks into
a laundry basket, aiming to get as many as possible in the basket within one minute. It’s a simple yet fun way to keep kids entertained.
This game is easy to set up and great for building tossing skills. The added element of racing the clock makes it extra exciting.
22. New Year’s Word Search
For a quieter game, give each child a New Year’s-themed word search puzzle. They have one minute to find as many words as they can, testing their focus and speed.
This game is perfect for kids who enjoy a bit of a mental challenge. It keeps them engaged and offers a nice break from high-energy activities.
23. Party Hat Ring Toss
Finally, the party hat ring toss is a festive game where kids try to toss rings onto cone-shaped party hats placed on the floor. Each hat is worth different points based on distance.
This game is fun, challenging, and brings out kids’ aiming skills as they race to score the highest points. It’s a wonderful way to wrap up your New Year’s games.
Conclusion
These “Minute to Win It” games bring excitement, teamwork, and plenty of laughs to your New Year’s celebration. The quick one-minute format keeps energy high and makes it easy to play multiple games throughout the night. Gather some simple supplies, set up your timer, and prepare to welcome the new year with laughter and unforgettable moments!