Top 10 Go-To Games for Kids Ministry

Sometimes you just need a great game. Something easy to explain, quick to set up, and guaranteed to get children laughing, moving, and connecting. Whether it’s Sunday school, midweek programs, holiday clubs, or a special event, these kids ministry games are tried-and-true winners you can pull out any time.

This list comes from our friends at TenFour Ministries, and we couldn’t resist sharing it with you. These games require little to no prep, work for a variety of group sizes, and can be adapted for different ages or themes.

1. Ladders

Resources: None

How to Play:

1. Have the children form pairs and sit on the floor with their legs stretched out in front of them, feet touching their partner’s.

2. Arrange the pairs closely together, leaving a small space between each—about the length of an adult’s foot. This will resemble a ladder.

3. Assign each partner a number.

4. Call out a number. The two children with that number race up the ladder, around the outside, back to the bottom, and into their space.

5. The first to sit down earns a point for their side of the ladder.

6. Tally scores at the end and announce the winning side.

Tip: Adapt the game to any theme by assigning categories instead of numbers.

2. Wink Murder

A timeless favorite that’s incredibly easy to set up, Wink Murder requires no resources, making it perfect for spontaneous fun! While the concept might sound a bit dark, kids absolutely love this game. If you prefer a lighter theme, feel free to adapt it!

Resources: None

How to Play:

1. Ask the children to form a circle.

2. Select one child to step outside the room. They will be the detective.

3. While the detective is away, choose one child to be the murderer.

4. Invite the detective back and have them stand in the middle of the circle.

5. The murderer eliminates players by winking at them. When winked at, a player must dramatically fall to the floor.

6. The detective tries to identify the murderer, with a maximum of three guesses.

7. After the detective guesses, restart with a new detective and murderer.

3. North, South, East, West

Resources: None

How to Play:

1. Designate four points in the room as North, South, East, and West.

2. Call out a direction, and children run to that area.

3. Increase difficulty by shouting combinations like “Northwest” or “Southeast.”

4. Add extra commands for variety:

   • Climb the Rigging – Jog in place while moving arms as if climbing.

   • Scrub the Deck – Bend down and pretend to scrub the floor.

   • Submarine – Lie flat on the floor with legs in the air.

   • Captain’s Coming – Stand at attention and salute.

   • Captain’s Girlfriend – Wave your hand while saying “oooOoooOoo.” (a personal favorite!)

4. Splash

Resources: None

How to Play:

1. Gather the children into a wide circle.

2. Choose one player to stand in the center.

3. The center player points to someone in the circle and says “splash!” while pretending to toss a big bucket of water at them.

4. The chosen child ducks quickly to avoid the “splash.”

5. The two players standing on either side of the ducking child must turn toward each other and yell “splash!” while making a big splashing motion.

6. The player who is slower to react must sit down.

7. Continue until only two players remain.

8. For the final showdown, the last two stand back-to-back. Choose a special word, like "splash" to signal the action. When this word is called, they turn around and "splash." For every other word spoken, they take a step away from each other, turning around again when the special word is announced.

9. First to splash on the special word wins.

5. Clumps & Shapes

Resources: None

How to Play:

1. Ask the children to run freely around the room.

2. Shout out a number and children must form groups of that size.

3. The last to join a group is out.

4. Continue until only a small group remains.

Tip: For variety, call out shapes (square, triangle) or objects (car, washing machine) for the children to create with their bodies.

6. Wall Sit Challenge

Resources: Wall space

How to Play:

1. Find a clear wall area.

2. Have children sit against the wall or hold a squat position at a 90-degree angle with their backs flat.

3. See who can last the longest.

4. Eliminate participants until the last person standing wins.

7. Musical Body Parts

Resources: Music

How to Play:

1. Play music while children move or dance.

2. When the music stops, shout out a body part.

3. Children must race to place that body part on the floor (e.g., knee, arm, nose, head, belly, bottom).

4. Keep going until you’re ready to end the game.

Tip: The sillier the body part, the more kids will love it!

8. Crab Soccer

Resources: Ball

How to Play:

1. Players sit on the floor, then push up onto all fours with their stomachs facing up.

2. Move around the room in this “crab” position.

3. Kick the ball toward your team’s goal to score.

4. Keep track of points until a winner is declared.

9. Drop It! Catch It!

This game is a fun mix of listening skills and quick reactions, ensuring plenty of laughs and surprises!

Resources: Ball

How to Play:

1. Gather children in a circle.

2. Choose one player to stand in the middle with a ball.

3. The player in the middle throws the ball to others while shouting “drop it” or “catch it.”

4. If they say “drop it,” the receiver must catch the ball.

5. If they say “catch it,” the receiver must drop the ball.

6. Anyone who reacts incorrectly is out.

10. The Floor Is Lava

Resources: Mats or newspaper sheets (1 per child)

How to Play:

1. Divide children into teams of three.

2. The goal: cross the room using only mats/newspapers without touching the floor.

3. Two children can stand on the same mat while passing the extra one forward.

4. Work together to move across without falling into the “lava.”

5. The first team to cross wins.

Special thanks to our friends at TenFour Ministries for sharing these fantastic ideas with us!