About birthday parties
A birthday marks the day someone was born, and in many parts of the world it is celebrated with friends, food and games. The details change from family to family and country to country, but a cake with candles, a song and a wish are among the best-known traditions.
Party games have their own long history too. Musical chairs, pass the parcel and treasure hunts have entertained children for generations, and they all appear on these cards. Each square is explained below, which helps younger players and guests who celebrate differently.
Did you know?
The tune of the "Happy Birthday" song comes from "Good Morning to All", written by sisters Mildred and Patty Hill in the 1890s for young children at school.
In a group of just 23 people, there is a better-than-even chance that two of them share a birthday. Mathematicians call this the birthday paradox.
People born on 29 February, leap day, only see their exact birthday on the calendar once every four years.
Piñatas are a much-loved party tradition in Mexico, where they are also broken at posadas, the gatherings held in the days before Christmas.
Some families add one extra candle to the cake, "one to grow on", for good luck in the year ahead.
Words in this puzzle 40
Party list 40 words
- balloon animal
- A long, thin balloon twisted into the shape of a dog, giraffe or sword.
- balloons
- Rubber or foil bags filled with air or helium to decorate the party.
- banner
- A long sign, often reading "Happy Birthday", hung across a wall.
- birthday card
- A folded card with a picture and a message, given to the birthday person.
- birthday song
- The song everyone sings to the birthday person before they blow out the candles.
- bouncy castle
- A big inflatable play area children bounce on. Also called a bounce house.
- bubbles
- Soapy bubbles blown through a little wand.
- cake
- A sweet baked dessert, decorated and topped with candles for the birthday.
- candles
- Small wax sticks with a wick, lit on top of the cake, usually one for each year.
- confetti
- Tiny pieces of coloured paper thrown to celebrate.
- crown
- A ring-shaped headpiece, often worn by the birthday child to show it's their special day.
- cupcakes
- Small cakes baked in paper cups, often topped with frosting.
- dance party
- Putting music on and everyone dancing together.
- face paint
- Special paint for faces, used to turn guests into tigers, butterflies and superheroes.
- friends
- People you like and enjoy spending time with.
- frosting
- A sweet, creamy topping spread on cakes. Also called icing.
- glitter
- Tiny sparkly flakes used in crafts and decorations.
- ice cream
- A frozen, creamy dessert, often served with the cake.
- invitation
- A card or message asking guests to come to the party, with the date, time and place.
- juice
- A drink made from fruit.
- lollipop
- A hard sweet on a stick.
- magic show
- A performance of magic tricks, sometimes by a hired magician.
- make a wish
- Silently wishing for something while blowing out the candles. Tradition says you keep it secret.
- musical chairs
- A game where players walk around a ring of chairs while music plays, and grab a seat when it stops. There is always one chair too few.
- party bags
- Small bags of treats or toys given to guests as they leave.
- party hat
- A paper hat, often cone-shaped, worn for fun at a party.
- pass the parcel
- A game where a gift wrapped in many layers is passed around while music plays. Whoever holds it when the music stops unwraps one layer.
- photo
- A picture taken with a camera or phone to remember the day.
- piñata
- A decorated container filled with sweets or small toys. Blindfolded players take turns hitting it until it breaks open.
- pizza
- A flat, round bread baked with tomato sauce, cheese and toppings.
- popcorn
- Corn kernels heated until they burst into fluffy white snacks.
- presents
- Gifts given to the birthday person.
- ribbon
- A narrow strip of fabric used to tie presents or decorate.
- sack race
- A race where players stand inside a sack and hop to the finish line.
- sprinkles
- Tiny coloured sugar pieces scattered on cakes and ice cream.
- streamers
- Long strips of coloured crepe paper hung as decorations.
- thank-you note
- A short message thanking someone for coming or for a gift.
- treasure hunt
- A game where players follow clues to find a hidden prize.
- trick candles
- Candles that relight by themselves after you blow them out.
- wrapping paper
- Decorated paper used to cover presents so they are a surprise.
A party game that runs itself
Birthday bingo is the easy win of party planning: it needs no equipment beyond pencils, works for any number of guests, and gives the party a calm sit-down moment between running-around games. The 40 squares cover the cake, the candles, the piñata, the party bags and the games, so cards feel like the party itself.
Play it two ways. Called bingo: an adult reads from the caller sheet and children mark their cards. Party spotting: hand out cards at the start and let kids mark squares as things happen, like the candles being lit, someone getting face paint or the bubbles coming out.
Make it about the birthday star
- Change the free square to the birthday child's name (up to 14 letters).
- Edit the title to "Mia's 7th Birthday Bingo" or similar.
- Swap a few squares for party-specific things: the theme, the pet, the special dessert.
- Small prizes work well: stickers, a party-bag upgrade, or choosing the next game.
Ages and printing
For ages 4–6 use 3×3 cards and read squares aloud. Older children manage 5×5 cards on their own. Print on card stock if the cards will double as a keepsake. Names and lists stay in your browser.
Questions people ask
How do you play birthday bingo?
An adult calls squares from the caller sheet while children mark their cards, or children mark squares as things happen at the party. The first full line wins a small prize.
Can I put the birthday child's name on the cards?
Yes. Type their name into the free-square label (up to 14 characters) and edit the title, for example "Ava's 7th Birthday Bingo".
What age is it for?
Readers from about age 6 manage 5×5 cards. For ages 4–6, use 3×3 cards and read the squares aloud.
How many cards should I print?
One per guest plus a few spares. Every card is unique, up to 100 per batch.
What is in the Medium and Hard PDFs?
Each has 20 unique 5×5 cards and a caller checklist. Medium has a free centre square; Hard has none.