30 Fun And Easy Minute To Win It Games For Kids
Minute to Win It Games for Kids are the life of parties. They are easy games to play at parties yet packed with fun and laughter. I am sharing 30 fun-filled One Minute Party Games that you can try to plan games for kids birthday or holidays. These Team Building Games For Kids are even good options as Sleepover Games. You can also use these party game ideas for School Events or Classroom Fun activities. If you are having family gathering you all can enjoy these as family games.
These games have to be completed in 1 minute so you can very well execute them even for a short time parties. You must keep a timer ready or simple use your phone. Player or team who completes the challenge first or scores the most points in one minute is the winner. If there’s a tie, do a quick rematch or play a fun tiebreaker like a dance-off or rock-paper-scissors.
Easy Minute to Win It Games
Cup Stack Challenge
This game is a mix of speed and balance. Each kid gets 10 plastic cups and must stack them into a pyramid and then take them down—all within a minute. Sounds easy? Well, not when those cups start slipping and tumbling.
At my son’s birthday party, one kid was so fast that his tower crashed down THREE times before he finally got it right. The best part? Everyone was cheering him on.
Mom Tip: For younger kids, use fewer cups (6 or 8) so it’s not too frustrating.
Cookie Face
I can’t tell you how much kids love this one—it’s guaranteed laughter. Each kid puts a cookie on their forehead and has to wiggle their face until the cookie lands in their mouth—NO HANDS ALLOWED.
At a school event, we had a group of kids trying this, and one little girl kept making the funniest expressions. Every time the cookie slid off, she’d just giggle and try again. It was SO much fun to watch.
Mom Tip: Use Oreos or another round cookie—they slide better.
Ping Pong Toss
This game is all about aim and patience. Set up plastic cups in a triangle formation (like bowling pins) and have kids bounce ping pong balls into the cups. The goal? Get as many in as possible within a minute.
One time, my nephew got zero balls in for 50 seconds—then suddenly, he got three in a row just before time ran out. The whole room erupted in cheers.
Mom Tip: Make it easier by placing the cups closer or using larger cups for younger kids.
Marshmallow Scoop
This one is hilarious and tricky. Give kids a spoon in their mouth and have them transfer as many marshmallows as possible from one bowl to another—NO HANDS.
The first time we played, the kids kept dropping marshmallows before they even reached the second bowl. One kid ended up just bouncing marshmallows everywhere.
Mom Tip: If it’s too hard, let them use their hands to hold the spoon handle.
Pencil Flip
A simple but surprisingly challenging game. Kids start with one pencil balanced on the back of their hand. They have to flip it into the air and catch it—then keep adding pencils.
At a school event, one boy was SO determined—he made it all the way to 6 pencils at once. Meanwhile, some kids couldn’t even flip one without it flying across the room.
Mom Tip: Start with 2 pencils if kids are struggling with just 1.
Balloon Keep It Up
The goal is simple: Keep the balloon in the air for one full minute using just one hand. But trust me—kids start running, diving, and spinning trying to keep that balloon up.
At my niece’s birthday, we made it harder by adding two balloons—one kid ended up tangled in both.
Mom Tip: For older kids, make them keep two or three balloons up at the same time.
Cup Blow Race
This one is SO FUNNY. Place an upside-down plastic cup on a table and have kids blow air through a straw to push it across to the finish line. Sounds easy, right? Not when your cup keeps spinning the wrong way.
One time, a little boy was blowing SO HARD that his cup just spun in circles. He was laughing so much he could barely keep going.
Mom Tip: Use lightweight cups and have a clear finish line marked with tape.
Team-Based Minute to Win It Games
Oh, team-based Minute to Win It games are my favorite. They bring out team spirit, laughter, and a little friendly competition. These are perfect for school events, birthday parties, or even family gatherings.
Spoon Relay
This one is a classic balance game. Split the kids into teams. Each player gets a spoon and a small ball (like a ping pong ball). They must walk across the room and pass the ball to their teammate’s spoon—without dropping it.
At my son’s birthday, we made it extra tricky by making them walk backward. One little girl was so careful, but right when she was about to pass the ball—plop. It fell. Everyone cracked up, and she was determined to try again.
Mom Tip: For younger kids, let them hold the spoon with their hands. For older kids, make them hold the spoon in their mouth for extra challenge.
Cup Pyramid Race
Each team gets a stack of plastic cups. The first player runs to a table and builds a pyramid (3-2-1 formation), then rushes back to tag the next teammate. That player must take it down and rebuild it. The first team to finish wins.
At a school event, one team’s cups kept falling just as they finished—the whole room was screaming, “GO, GO, GO.” The pressure made it even more fun.
Mom Tip: For younger kids, use fewer cups so they don’t get frustrated.
Straw Race
Each team gets a straw and a small lightweight object (cotton ball, pom-pom, or piece of tissue paper). Players must blow through the straw to push the object across the table. Then they tag their teammate to go next.
At a family picnic, we used M&Ms instead of cotton balls—and guess what? Some kids accidentally sucked them up instead of blowing.
Mom Tip: Use a flat, smooth surface like a plastic table so the object moves easily.
Pass the Hula Hoop
All team members stand in a line holding hands. The goal? Pass a hula hoop from one end of the line to the other—WITHOUT letting go of hands.
Watching kids duck, twist, and wiggle to get through the hoop is HILARIOUS. One time, my nephew got stuck in the middle of the hoop and just stood there laughing until his team pulled him through.
Mom Tip: Make it harder by adding two hula hoops going in opposite directions.
Mummy Wrap
One kid in each team is the “mummy”, and their teammates must wrap them up in toilet paper as fast as possible. The first team to completely wrap their mummy wins.
We played this at a Halloween party, and by the end, some kids looked more like spaghetti than mummies—but they had a blast.
Mom Tip: Use crepe paper instead of toilet paper if playing outside—it won’t rip as easily in the wind.
Challenging 1 Minute Games
Lets check some challenging & skill-based games. These games test focus, coordination, and a little bit of luck—and they bring out some of the funniest moments.
Stack Attack
Each kid gets 36 plastic cups and has to stack them into a perfect pyramid and take it down—all in one minute.
At my nephew’s birthday, one boy was so fast… until one tiny cup slipped—CRASH. Everyone gasped, but he just laughed and rebuilt it even faster.
Mom Tip: If 36 cups feel like too much, start with 21 for younger kids.
Shoe Kick
Each kid stands on one foot, flicks their shoe off their other foot, and tries to launch it as far as possible. Whoever kicks their shoe the farthest wins.
At a school event, one girl kicked her shoe straight up in the air, and it landed right back on her foot. Everyone lost it laughing.
Mom Tip: Play outside or in a big room so no one gets a shoe to the face.
Noodle Pick-Up
Each kid gets a long spaghetti noodle in their mouth and must pick up six pieces of penne pasta—without using their hands.
One time, my son was so focused that he looked like a statue while carefully sliding the pasta onto his noodle. But then… snap. His spaghetti broke. The whole team cracked up.
Mom Tip: Use fettuccine instead of spaghetti for younger kids—it’s stronger and won’t break as easily.
Water Bottle Flip
Ohhh, this one drives kids crazy with excitement. They have one minute to flip a water bottle and make it land upright as many times as possible.
My niece practiced for WEEKS before a party—when she finally landed one on the first try, she screamed so loud we thought she won the lottery.
Mom Tip: Fill bottles one-third full—too much water makes flipping impossible.
Sticky Note Face
Each kid starts with a stack of sticky notes and must stick as many to their face as possible in one minute. No hands allowed after placing.
At a family game night, my husband thought he had 20 sticky notes on—but when time ran out, half had fallen to the floor. The kids couldn’t stop laughing.
Mom Tip: Use super sticky notes or press them down hard so they don’t fall off too quickly.
Snack-Based Minute to Win it Games for Kids
Kids Love candy and snack-based Minute to Win It games because they get to eat the treats afterward
Skittles Sort
Each kid gets a pile of Skittles and must sort them by color using only one hand—all in one minute. Whoever sorts the most wins.
At a birthday party, one boy got so into it that he started tossing Skittles into different piles like a Skittles explosion. Meanwhile, another kid was so careful, placing each one down like it was a treasure.
Mom Tip: For younger kids, let them use both hands. For older kids, use chopsticks for extra challenge.
Gummy Bear Chopsticks
Each kid must pick up gummy bears using chopsticks and transfer them from one bowl to another—no fingers allowed.
At a family game night, my daughter couldn’t stop giggling because her gummy bears kept slipping away. Meanwhile, my nephew had a strategy—he squished them a little to help them stick to the chopsticks. Smart move.
Mom Tip: Use marshmallows for beginners, as they’re easier to pick up. For pros, use tiny jelly beans.
Oreo Stack
Each player has one minute to stack as many Oreos as possible without them falling over. The tallest tower wins.
At a sleepover, one kid built a tower of eight Oreos—but right at the last second, BOOM. It collapsed. The whole room screamed and laughed at the same time.
Mom Tip: Make it harder by having them build on their forehead.
Straw Suck Up
Each player uses a straw to suck up small candies (like M&Ms or mini marshmallows) and transfer them to another plate. Whoever moves the most wins.
At a school event, one girl sucked up an M&M so fast that it flew right into her eye. She laughed so hard she couldn’t finish the game.
Mom Tip: Use Smarties or Skittles for younger kids (they’re lighter). For a challenge, use jelly beans.
Marshmallow Tower
Each player gets toothpicks and marshmallows and must build the tallest tower possible.
At a family BBQ, my son made a tower so wobbly it looked like it was dancing. Meanwhile, my niece built a solid base first, and hers stood strong. She won easily.
Mom Tip: Bigger marshmallows work best for younger kids. Older kids? Give them mini marshmallows for an extra challenge.
Action-Packed Minute to Win It Games
These action-packed Minute to Win It games are perfect for high-energy kids. These games get everyone jumping, running, shaking, and laughing—which means lots of fun and maybe a little chaos (in a good way.).
Hopping Hoop
Each kid must hop on one foot while trying to land a small ball into a hula hoop on the floor. They keep going until they make it in or time runs out.
At a school event, one kid got so focused that he kept hopping even after the timer went off. Another kid accidentally landed inside the hoop instead of the ball.
Mom Tip: For younger kids, let them hop on two feet instead of one.
Paper Plane Fly-Off
Each player folds a paper airplane and has one minute to see whose plane flies the farthest.
At a birthday party, one kid made a super fancy plane with extra folds—and it crashed straight down. Meanwhile, another kid barely folded hers, and it glided across the room. Lesson learned: Simple is best.
Mom Tip: Use colored paper so each kid knows which plane is theirs.
Sponge Water Relay
Kids must soak up water with a sponge, run to the other side of the yard, and squeeze it into a cup. The team that fills their cup the fastest wins.
At a summer party, one boy squeezed the sponge over his head instead of the cup—he got soaked but had the best time.
Mom Tip: Play this outdoors and on a hot day—it’s a great way to cool off.
Lego Tower Challenge
Each kid gets a pile of Legos and must build the tallest, most stable tower in one minute.
At a sleepover, my nephew rushed too fast, and his tower collapsed in the last five seconds. Another kid took her time and won with a perfectly balanced tower.
Mom Tip: For younger kids, let them use Duplos or wooden blocks.
Pom-Pom Blow
Each kid gets a pom-pom and must blow it across the table using only a straw. First to the finish line wins.
At a playdate, my son blew too hard and sent his pom-pom flying onto the floor. Another kid took tiny, steady breaths and won.
Mom Tip: Use cotton balls if you don’t have pom-poms.
Tissue Box Shake
Kids strap an empty tissue box filled with ping-pong balls around their waist and must shake all the balls out in one minute.
At a birthday party, one boy shook so hard he spun in circles. Another kid figured out a side-to-side shuffle was the fastest way.
Mom Tip: Use an old belt or ribbon to tie the box around their waist.
Balloon Pop Race
Each kid gets a balloon and must pop it—but they can only use their hands, feet, or by sitting on it.
At a backyard party, one girl sat on her balloon, but it wouldn’t pop. She ended up bouncing up and down until she finally got it.
Mom Tip: Blow up the balloons ahead of time so they’re easier to pop.
Sock Race
Kids must put on as many pairs of socks as they can in one minute.
At a family game night, my son got 10 pairs on but couldn’t stand up afterward because his feet were too big. We laughed SO hard.
Mom Tip: Use big, stretchy socks so they’re easier to pull on quickly.
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