21 VBS Game Ideas for Indoors and Outdoors
Key Takeaways
- Creative VBS games help children stay engaged while reinforcing the lessons taught throughout the week.
- Having both indoor and outdoor VBS games allows your program to stay flexible regardless of weather or space.
- Many of the best VBS games require simple, affordable supplies you may already have on hand.
Sometimes thinking of exciting VBS games can be a challenge.
Of course, classic games like duck, duck, goose, musical chairs, and Simon Says are great options. But you already know about those games! You need your games to be much more unique to help the entire program be memorable for the children God has given you.
This is a list of indoor and outdoor Vacation Bible School games and activities that you have probably never heard of that are sure to make your VBS week the most fun thing the kids do all summer!
Indoor VBS Game Ideas
These are indoor games you can use if you don't have enough outdoor space (or if the weather doesn't allow you to go outside). I made sure to focus on fun games that can be played in small rooms so that you can use them even if you don't have a large sanctuary, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Food Pass
Have kids lie in a row, head to toe. Hand one child on one end a medium-sized ball (we used a volleyball, but any object will do. I've seen some churches get messy and use a fruit, like a banana!). Have that child pass the ball using only their feet to the next kid in line.
Fishers of Men
This game is tag with a twist. Half the kids line up along one wall, and the other half line up against the opposite wall. One kid is chosen to be "It" and stands in the middle of the room. On your signal, both sides try to run across the room to the other side without getting tagged. The kid who is "It" tries to tag as many as they can. If a kid gets tagged, they join the kid originally dubbed "It," and a new round begins. The game ends when all the kids who started along the walls have been tagged.
M&M Relay
Line one wall with bowls full of M&Ms, then line the opposite wall with an equal number of empty bowls and give each child a plastic spoon. Each child must hold the spoon in their mouth and scoop an M&M without using their hands, then walk across the room to drop the M&M into their empty bowl without dropping it. The first kid to move all of their M&Ms across the room is the winner!
Kangaroo Hop
This game can be played indoors, outdoors, with individuals, or with teams!
The kids must try to be the first to hop across the room like a kangaroo. But here's the catch: They have to hold a tennis ball (or any other ball you have) between their knees the whole time!
The kids must try to be the first to hop across the room like a kangaroo. But here's the catch: They have to hold a tennis ball (or any other ball you have) between their knees the whole time!
Roll Over-Under
This is a new take on a classic!
I remember playing "Over Under" with a balloon. Two teams line up in a row. The kid at the front of the row passes a balloon behind them over their head. The next kid passes it behind them under their legs. This is repeated until the first team gets their balloon from one end of their row to the other.
Roll Over-Under swaps the balloon for a roll of toilet paper. The first kid begins unrolling the TP, and the next kid continues unrolling it. When the roll gets to the kid at the back of the line, they wrap it around their waist and pass it forward. This is repeated until the first team can unroll the entire roll!
Bucket Pong
Grab 12–20 buckets (preferably 5-gallon buckets) and split them evenly at opposite ends of the room. Place them in a triangle formation with open sides up. Split the kids into two teams and give them each some balls (tennis and wiffle balls work best). Have them take turns tossing balls across the room into the buckets. You can assign point values to each bucket or simply declare the team with the most balls in the buckets the winner.
Snowball Fight
Separate your children into two teams and place them on opposite walls. Give each team an equal number of newspaper sheets. Have the kids crumple the sheets into "snowballs." Play music and let the kids throw their snowballs at the other team. When the music stops, the team with the fewest snowballs on their side wins.
Pool Noodle Ring Toss
It's just like normal ring toss, but on a huge scale! Bend pool noodles into rings using duct tape and toss them onto cones, dowel rods, or other safe targets. Divide kids into teams and rotate turns until all rings are thrown.
Hungry Hungry Humans
Pour ball pit balls into the middle of the room and have kids lie on their stomachs around the edge with laundry baskets. On your signal, kids crawl and scoop balls into their baskets. Once all balls are collected, count to determine a winner.
Obstacle Course
Set up a creative obstacle course using hula hoops, cones, and other available equipment. Add fun rules like balancing objects or hopping through sections. This game can be adapted for indoor or outdoor play.
Outdoor VBS Game Ideas
These games are best played outdoors, and many involve water. Be sure parents know to dress kids in clothes they don't mind getting wet or dirty.
Sponge to Bucket
Set filled buckets on one side and empty buckets on the other. Kids soak sponges and race to fill their empty buckets by squeezing them out. The fastest bucket to fill wins.
Wet Sponge Hot Potato
Kids sit in a circle and toss a wet sponge while music plays. When the music stops, the child holding the sponge wrings it over their head—or a volunteer's!
Wet Sponge Tag
Instead of tagging with hands, the "It" kid tags others by gently tossing a wet sponge. Keep a water bucket nearby to re-soak the sponge.
Water Balloon Tag
Play tag using water balloons instead of sponges. Keep extras ready for quick restarts.
Water Balloon Toss
Partners toss a water balloon back and forth, stepping farther apart each round. The pair with the most successful tosses wins.
Team Skis
Kids strap their feet onto shared boards and walk in sync toward a finish line. This game emphasizes teamwork and communication.
Water Balloon Volleyball
Teams use towels to toss water balloons over a dividing line. If the balloon breaks or hits the ground, the other team scores.
Pool Noodle Frisbee Relay Race
Kids balance a Frisbee on a pool noodle, race to a marker, then pass it to the next teammate. First team to finish wins.
Beach Ball Keepie-Uppie
Teams keep a beach ball in the air without moving their feet. The longest-lasting team wins.
Balloon Keepie-Uppie
Pairs use towels to toss multiple balloons into the air, trying to keep them all off the ground at once. Pure chaos and laughter!
Hoola Hoop Lasso
Kids toss hoop-and-rope lassos around balls and pull them in. The child with the most captured balls wins.
Vacation Bible School Game Ideas for Everyone
The best game ideas align with your VBS theme, helping kids retain biblical lessons while having fun.
Whether you're inside a classroom or outside on the lawn, these VBS game ideas will help create joyful, lasting memories for every child.
FAQs: VBS Games
Most churches plan one to two structured games per day, leaving room for lessons, crafts, and snacks.
Many games can be scaled down for classrooms or fellowship halls by reducing group sizes.
Yes, with supervision and age-appropriate rules. Always prioritize safety.
Briefly explain the connection before or after each game using simple language.
Fun church activities for kids include interactive Bible lessons, craft stations, worship with motions, scavenger hunts, and team-based activities that encourage participation and teamwork.
You can make Vacation Bible School fun by mixing high-energy games with meaningful Bible lessons, keeping activities age-appropriate, using themes creatively, and giving kids plenty of opportunities to move, laugh, and engage with one another.