‘One Minute to Win It’ Quick Party Games for Kids
It’s a 60-second countdown from start to finish in any of these “one minute to win it” games!
These games are easy to set up and can be played with people of all ages. Download this free printable to start playing with your friends and family.
Some of our favorite Minute-To-Win-It games include:
1. Stack Attack
All you need is paper cups and a timer for this friendly competition. Start the clock and see how high each player can stack their cups in 60 seconds. If the stack falls, you have to start again. If playing in teams, you can add a challenge by incorporating colored cups. Mix two or three colors of cups in a pile and ask the players to sort and stack the cups in one minute to win it!
2. Memory Match
Extend the fun of Memory Match from Skillmatics by playing the game with a new set of rules. This game can be played in teams or by a single player. Each player takes a board with the Memory Match tiles placed face down. The person that finds the most cards to complete their board the fastest, within a minute, is declared the winner.
3. Backward ABCs
This simple game is more challenging than it sounds! Grab some paper and pens. Ask everyone to write the alphabet beginning with Z and moving to A. The first person to successfully write the alphabet backward wins!
4. Anagrams
With countless phrases to choose from, anagrams are a great brain teaser. Pick a word, for example, “Listen.” You can set a limit of making 4-6 letter words and players can share worlds like “silent,” “list,” and “tinsel.” Give everyone one minute to complete this activity and see the words flow. Whoever crafts the most words at the end of the minute wins; you can also use an anagram generator to find new words for the game.
5. Cookie Face
If you’re ready for some laughs and not taking yourself too seriously, the “cookie face” game is sure to bring some fun! Place a cookie on everyone’s foreheads and start the timer. In one minute, their goal will be to get the cookie into their mouths without using their hands. The winner gets bragging rights, but of course, everyone gets to eat their cookie!
6. Chopstick Pick-Up
Picture credits: happymomhacks.com
If you have some chopsticks, paper plates and candy - you have the “recipe” for this challenge. Place 15 pieces of candy on a plate for each player, with an empty plate next to it. Now, start the timer. The goal is to pick up the candy using chopsticks and transfer them to the other plate in under one minute. If you have younger kids, use marshmallows (easier to pick up) and use smaller candy for older ones.
7. Hold the Dice
Grab some dice and popsicle sticks to offer up a hilarious challenge. Ask each player to hold a popsicle stick in their mouth. Once the timer starts, they’ll be challenged to stack a set number of dice on the end of the stick. If the dice tumble - they start over. The player who finishes the tower the fastest, wins the round!
8. Defy Gravity
Picture credits: happymomhacks.com
Give two balloons to each player and ask them to “keep them in the air.” There are two variations to this game. In option one, make a rule that they can only use one hand to keep the balloons in the air. In option two increase the challenge by telling them no hands are allowed!
9. Guess in 10
Adapt the gameplay of Guess in 10 by creating a “minute to win it” challenge. Divide the players into two teams and select one person from each team to give their team clues about what’s on each card. The players can use phrases or old-fashioned charades to describe the card. The team that guesses the most correctly - wins!
Remember these games for your next family game night!