LEGO Building Birthday Party Games or Summer Camp Activities

This party was for my eight-year-old twins. They each invited 7 boys from their class, and it turned out great when we played team games. It was an outdoor party, and although it rained throughout, it didn’t matter because we had a tent set up with two tables inside.

We had two parties—one on Friday after school for their school friends, and a second one on Saturday for church friends. Both parties were two hours long, but we didn’t have enough time to play all the games because the kids couldn’t stop building! Each party was different, but I’ll only share what worked best.

Main Game: LEGO Building

Building with LEGO was the best part of this birthday party. LEGO Building Birthday Party Games are great as summer camp activities too.

First Party:
I used Freestyle LEGO using two boxes of LEGO Basic Bricks Deluxe #6177 ($25 each), along with 10×10 baseplates ($5 each), and the LEGO City Set #5611 ($1 each from clearance). It came out to around $10 per child.

Second Party:
We used Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium LEGO Creator Set #66208 from Amazon ($29, also available on eBay), which was cheaper than buying individual Creator kits (approx. $4 per kid). The #66208 set was definitely easier to manage, and the activity was less competitive. Also can use the LEGO Classic Creative Vehicles Set for building cars and set up racing ramp to play “who can build the fastest car” racing game.

Games We Played at Both Parties

Supplies: Basic Lego blocks to build simple house, Block box or plastic container for each person to hold lego pieces and take home as party favor.
Otional Supplies: Desk bell, Treasure box to hold prizes, Party favor – Building Blocks Sets, )

Memory Game
Build a Tower
Build a City
Pass the Gift
Pass the LEGO
Scavenger Hunt
Piñata

Party Details & Tips

I left a tub of markers and pencils on the table with printed word searches and mazes for early arrivals. Kids also decorated CD labels with their names.
Set up an area for prizes such as erasers, pencil, balls, tops, gums, water guns etc… I found so many small toys around the house from Mcdonald’s that we didn’t even know we had and used them for prize.
I made a small, simple house using LEGO pieces—same design for all 14 houses, but each one featured a different primary color, mixed with secondary colors and a third accent color like yellow, white, or black. All houses followed the same pattern, just with different main colors, so it would be easier to remember later.

Each house was placed in a color-coded ziplock sandwich container filled with about 50 extra LEGO bricks in matching colors (totaling 70–80 pieces). I picked out one LEGO piece that matched the main color from each container and set those aside until it was time to play.
During the game, each kid picked a LEGO piece. Based on the color they picked, they received the corresponding color-coded container. Once everyone had their container, I gave them 1 minute to study the house inside. Then they had to break it apart and were given about 2 minutes to rebuild it. The first person to correctly finish their house—with the exact color pattern—was the winner. They received a small trophy labeled “Best Memory” and got to choose a prize from the prize table.
Have kids break apart the house they built and mix with the other lego. I gave everyone 10”x10” green lego baseplate (can be cut in half if on budget) and gave them 3 min to build the tower. Every one can build it high but not high and strong. So the tallest wins but it had to with stand my lite shake. The winner got a trophy that said “The tallest builder” and got a chance to pick from the prize table.
Kids broke apart the tower and put it back in the container. Each got a box of Lego City Set #5611with the instruction. I extracted the Lego man from each set and set aside the man for the Scavenger hunt. The fastest builder wins and received the Trophy that said “Fastest Builder” and got to pick a prize from the table.
Each put what they built which was a city dumpster and put it on the lego baseplate. As a theme they had to build the town around the dumpster. We picked the Town as a theme so we can utilize the Lego City Set #5611. Gave them 15 min to build but they didn’t want to stop so gave them 15 min extra time. While they build took pictures of each kid with their creation. Once finished building, labeled each with kids name and put aside so they can take their creation home as a party favor. This is only an option as it is an expensive favor but it made everyone so happy!!! (Tip: Put away each container with left over pieces as kids want to take those home too)
Blow up 2 set of balloons filled with mission message ahead of time. Divide the kids into teams and have kids step on the balloons to get the message out. Once they found their message all went in different direction for Scavenger hunt. As it was all boys I had to be creative in hiding the message. Some had to clime the trees. (Tip: make sure teams are separated enough so they only pop the team color balloons. It gets very confusing if someone pops other teams balloon.)
Fit in snack time in between and simple games such as “pass the gift”. I wrapped a small box of puzzles 7 times and had everyone sit in circle and sang songs. Kids got creative with the song and made their own, and when the song ended, the kid holding the gift unwrapped the gift. The last one to unwrap the gift kept the puzzle as a prize.
Pass the LEGO Game: Set up 2 buckets and line up teams behind each bucket. Give every one plastic spoon, give first person cup of small legos and start the race. I gave them 2 min and have them pass the legos with spoon to spoon and into the buckets. The team with most legos in bucket wins the game & the team got to pick the game prize.
Let anyone who didn’t get a prize pick one from the prize table, and end with cake.
Friday wasn’t their actual birthday, so I picked up a tray of cupcakes from BJ’s for $5. I sprinkled small LEGO pieces on top as decoration, and the kids collected the LEGOs afterward as party favors. (The cupcakes looked very festive with the LEGOs, and the kids loved it!)

Lastly, I made a DVD music video from the pictures I took and the video my husband recorded during the party. We also added a short thank-you message from the kids. The DVD served as a thank-you card. I used the CD labels that the kids decorated earlier—great party reminders and perfect keepsakes!
Tip: Have kids decorate the labels separately and avoid placing them directly on the DVD, as DVDs may not record properly if scratched or if labels are uneven.

PARTY TIPS

Have an activity ready to go as soon as guests arrive.
Make sure the games don’t get too competitive—kids can get into arguments.
Ensure everyone “wins” something.
End with cake!
Take pictures of each child with their creation to include with the thank-you gift.

DECORATIONS

We used Building Block Birthday Party Decorations, primary colors for decorations—blue, red, and yellow streamers. We had yellow tablecloths, primary color napkins, and plates instead of busy Logo design plates. I downloaded and printed LEGO posters from LEGO.com (Agents, Coast Guard, and Castle themes) and hung them around the patio and walls.

I also used LEGO store shopping bags—cut out the LEGO logos and pasted them on the tablecloths. We hung bunches of green and yellow balloons and lined up large plastic LEGO bricks along the driveway as a welcome display as well as 4×6 box blocks

ACTIVITIES

We held a LEGO building contest. I made enough award certificates on the computer so every child got one (e.g., Most Creative, Tallest, Most Colorful, etc.). I took pictures of each child with their creation to include in the thank-you cards.

We also had a “Guess How Many LEGOs” game with a container full of bricks, and of course, the piñata—filled with LEGO building block-shaped fruit gummies, bright-colored candies, and LEGO bricks.

SCAVENGER HUNT

In a confined area (indoors or outdoors), hide an assortment of LEGO bricks. Let the kids search for them.

For younger children: count the number of bricks each child finds.
For older children: assign point values to different colored bricks. Or we use the mini figures:

Scavenger TEAM RED
Mission #1
You’ll find a Lego HAT under the biggest white shell by the front door of the house. Retrieve the HAT and return to your station. Distribute one to each team member’s container and wait for your teammates. HURRY!

Mission #2
You’ll find a Lego HEAD near the large basketball hoop. Collect the HEAD and return to your station. Distribute one to each team member’s container. Then wait for your teammates. TIME IS TICKING!

Mission #3
You’ll find a Lego CHEST where the postman drops the mail. Collect the CHEST and return to your station. Distribute one to each team member’s container. Then wait for your teammates. WHAT ARE YOU STANDING HERE FOR?! Your team is waiting!!!

Mission #4
You’ll find Lego LEGS on the driveway. Look for the giant red Lego. Return to your station and distribute one LEG to each team member’s container. SCOOT!!!

Mission #5
Your teammates found the Lego man, but he still needs tools. Obtain the SHOVELS by the big tree in the center of the front lawn (you might have to climb the tree). Bring them back to your station and distribute them to your team. Have everyone attach the tool to one hand of the Lego man. NOW GET GOING!

Mission #6
While your teammates search for the Lego man, you need to find the Lego man’s GARBAGE CAN. It’s in the dog house. Collect the CAN and return to your station. Have your team attach it to the Lego man’s other hand. Your mission is almost complete!

Mission #7
While your team looks for the garbage can, you need to find the LID.
Where could it be? (Hint: Look for the blue garbage can and lift the lid.)
Retrieve the LID and return to your station. Have everyone complete the Lego man by placing the LID on the garbage can. WOW, MISSION COMPLETE!!!
Wait—one more thing! Collect all the completed Lego men in one container (be careful not to break any!) and ring the bell to announce your team has FINISHED!!!

Scavenger TEAM BLUE
Mission #1
You’ll find a Lego HAT under the biggest white shell in front of the house, between the red and yellow tulips. Retrieve the HAT and return to your station. Distribute one to each team member’s container, and wait for your teammates. HURRY!

Mission #2
You’ll find a Lego HEAD near the large basketball hoop. Collect the HEAD and return to your station. Distribute one to each team member’s container, then wait for your teammates. TIME IS TICKING!

Mission #4
You’ll find Lego LEGS on the driveway. Look for the giant blue Lego. Return to your station and distribute one LEG to each team member’s container. SCOOT!!

Mission #5
Your teammates found the Lego man, but he needs tools! Get the SHOVELS by the big tree in the center of the front lawn (you might have to climb the tree). Bring them back to your station and hand them out to your team. Have everyone attach the tool to one hand of your Lego man. NOW GET GOING!

Mission #6
While your teammates look for the Lego man, you need to find his GARBAGE CAN. It’s in the dog house. Collect the CAN and return to your station. Have your team attach it to the Lego man’s other hand. Your mission is almost complete!

Mission #7
While your team searches for the garbage can, you need to find the LID. Where could it be? (Hint: Look for the blue garbage can and lift the lid.) Retrieve the LID and return to your station. Have everyone complete the Lego man by placing the LID on the garbage can. WOW, MISSION COMPLETE!!!
Wait—one more thing! Collect all completed Lego men in one container (be careful not to break any!) and ring the bell to announce that your team has FINISHED!!!

PIÑATA

I made a LEGO piñata using a square box with a clothes hanger inside to create a hook. I taped and glued four foam coffee cups on top, then wrapped everything in red tissue paper to make it look like a LEGO brick. Leave the bottom open until you’re ready to fill it with candy. Then, print out two LEGO logos and stick them to the sides.

Or just get it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Blindfold-Birthday-Supplies-Building-Decoration/dp/B0CJ9DZ9G3

SEE IF YOU CAN…

Play a quick challenge game:

Balance a LEGO on the back of your hand.
Throw a LEGO up, clap, and catch it.
Ask the kids for more ideas!
Do this before playing “Brickmaster Says” to get them engaged.

BRICKMASTER SAYS

Play like “Simon Says,” but LEGO-themed!

BAKE A LEGO CAKE

The easiest option is to buy a LEGO cake mold from LEGO.com, but baking was a lot of fun too! You can turn any cake mix into a LEGO cake:

Bake a rectangular or square cake
Bake 4 or more cupcakes
Turn the cupcakes upside down and place them on the cake as LEGO studs
Frost everything with colorful icing—add blue, green, red, or yellow food coloring to white frosting for a LEGO look.