Fun Zoom Birthday Party Ideas for Kids

Here are some fun Zoom birthday party ideas for kids that will give your little one the chance to have their cake and eat it, too.

Fun Zoom Birthday Party Ideas for Kids

For adults, another trip around the sun is oftentimes overlooked, but for kids, it’s a wildly different story. After all, a birthday only happens once a year, and a year for a kid is an eternity. As social distancing continues to be the norm, more parents are turning to video chat platforms like Zoom to host virtual birthday parties for their kids.

Just as you can corral your children around a computer to attend virtual school, it is possible to create a Zoom birthday party that is both interactive and fun — and you don’t have to be that uber-creative parent who doubles as a party planner. Here are some fun Zoom birthday party ideas for kids that will give your little one the chance to have their cake and eat it, too.

Choose a Theme

Costumes are almost as good as candy when you’re a kid (and, honestly, when you’re an adult, too.) Get all your birthday attendees excited by introducing a theme and encouraging everyone to dress up.

Aladdin, Toy Story and, of course, Frozen are all top of kids’ minds this season. But make it even easier on other parents, and have a “Halloween in spring” themed party.

Stream a Film

Of course, if the birthday party is planned around a specific movie, one of the easiest activities you can suggest is streaming a film.

All you have to do is download the Netflix Party extension in Chrome, which allows for everyone to watch it at the same time and even has a chat room for kids to share thoughts, like, “How can Woody and his friends possibly have more to do in a fourth movie?”

Set Up Karaoke

If it’s Aladdin, Frozen or some other musical theme you’re considering, you could also plan a karaoke party. In fact, there are lots of karaoke tracks on YouTube.

Zoom makes it easy to share your computer screen so that everyone can follow along and sing to their hearts' content.

Learn a Dance

So, you think you can dance? Similar to setting up karaoke, you can throw a dance party by creating a playlist for kids to dance along.

Better yet, you can find an age-appropriate music video, share it via Zoom, and stop and play different segments so everyone can learn the dance moves. If it’s a particularly complicated dance, you can always send it to everyone beforehand to learn on their own and then bust some serious moves at the Zoom birthday party.

Organize a Scavenger Hunt

Come up with a list of household items for kids to hunt for throughout their house or in their backyard. Set a timer to make it a race, and then give a prize to whoever finds the most stuff the fastest.

(Make sure to check with other parents that there are no safety hazards that may get in the way of this activity.)

Play Games

There are lots of games available online, but Playing Cards makes it easy to play simple card games virtually. Think Go Fish and Crazy Eights.

Get even more high tech with Jackbox Games, which makes it easy to play a wide variety of games, using your phones or tablets as controllers.

Plan a Virtual Field Trip

There are tons of virtual tours available right now. Want to tour the grounds of Versailles for a princess-themed birthday party? Or what about a safari-themed party, where you can opt for a walking or boating safari that’ll take you to the African bush to spy on elephants and hyenas?

All of these can be done virtually. Just send a link to your tour, and invite your guests to choose their own adventure.

Get Some Extra Help

Sky Zone, typically known as a trampoline party company, has become the go-to virtual birthday party helper. The company is offering free virtual birthday parties of about 15 to 20 minutes, during which they’ll lead party guests through games, active play and even singing “Happy Birthday.”

It’s become so popular that there’s currently a waitlist.

Hire a Magician

This will cost you a bit more, but, yes, you can hire a virtual magician, puppeteer or dancer to entertain your virtual audience.

Several entertainers are taking to Zoom to show off their talents at an hourly rate.

Paint It Out

Does your kid like to paint? Then, check-in with some of your local art studios to see if they host virtual paint nights via Zoom.

Or you can organize a painting party on your own by choosing an object like Mickey Mouse and having everyone paint him. Amazon has several canvas options available for you to get your guests.

Put Your Culinary Skills to the Test

Similar to hiring a magician, you can have your kids put their culinary skills to the test by organizing a virtual cooking class.

There are several cooking classes available, but Culinary Artistas specializes in all things kids from virtual birthday parties to even summer camps.

Grow Some Flowers

Perhaps, gardening is more your family’s thing. For this activity, you’ll need to get some colorful pots, dirt and flower seeds for your guests. You can even get super creative by asking virtual birthday party participants to paint or draw on a pot.

Then, grab the dirt, and plant the flower seeds, and you’re in business.

Get Talented

Are your kids and their friends super talented? Like do karate, know how to play the guitar or have a go-to gymnastics routine talented?

Then, think about hosting a virtual talent show. All the kids get a spot to show off their talents, and friends and family can cheer them on.

Practice Martial Arts

Speaking of karate, yes, there are virtual karate classes you can organize.

Action Karate specializes in virtual birthday parties with trained instructors that will lead the group in martial arts lessons and games.

Solve a Murder Mystery

Night of Mystery offers everything you need to host a virtual murder mystery party for kids aged 8 to 12 years old.

The company has a Wild West party that’s kid-friendly with fun characters like Mayor Wyatt Wilson and Bandit Dirty Dawg. There are character descriptions, scripts and even accusation sheets. All you need to do is encourage costumes and a bit of creativity for a good time.

Time for Trivia

While kids haven’t yet had the opportunity to partake in a trivia night at the local watering hole, trivia is fun whatever your age.

You can use online trivia websites like this generator to come up with questions for your party and then have participants type in their answers in Zoom’s messaging system.

Throw a Slumber Party

Yes, your tween may be upset that you can’t have an in-person slumber party, but what about a virtual one? Have all your guests grab their sleeping bags, maybe login to Netflix for the virtual film streaming.

Or better yet, have some nail polish and some hair accessories for a night at the spa.

Drive-by Birthday Party or Parade

OK, maybe your family is trying to avoid screens at the moment. So, this idea will require some serious cooperation from your fellow parents, taking the kids off Zoom and into your front yard.

Plan a specific time, and organize a time for your child’s friends to drive by to wish a happy birthday from an appropriate distance. Make it fun with music, balloons and banners — just maybe warn the neighbors first that things are about to get a little rowdy!

Create a Video Reel of Birthday Wishes

This one isn’t necessarily Zoom-specific either. In fact, lots of companies offer video messaging, but Tribute does a really good job of allowing you to invite people to create Happy Birthday video messages for your child.

Then, you simply drag and drop the videos in whatever order you want to compile a heartwarming tribute.

Have People Send Letters

If you want to keep it old school, you can ask people to send letters — remember those? — with a similar thoughtful message.

Get really creative by asking for drawings, pictures or other handmade artwork to make into a memory box for the birthday boy or girl.