25 Fun and Easy Minute To Win It Games For Kids of All Ages

If there’s one thing kids love, it’s games! If you’re looking for brain breaks, icebreakers, team-building activities, field day games, or just ways to fill the last few minutes of class, Minute To Win It games are the answer. These 60-second games involve common items found around the classroom. Whoever finishes the game first is the winner. Our list of 25 Minute To Win It games for kids features some hilarious and challenging games that will definitely be a hit with your class.

1. Chopstick Pickup

Plates with candy corn and chopsticks on them

Split your class up into teams and give them each two paper plates, a set of chopsticks, and 20 pieces of candy or another small item like math manipulatives. Whoever moves the candy from plate to plate fastest is the winner! The real challenge will definitely be figuring out how to hold the chopsticks. Great for building fine motor skills!

Source: Happy Mom Hacks

2. Scoop the Snowballs

Kids picking up foam balls from the floor, as an example of minute to win it games for kids

One player from each team has to scoop cotton balls into a bowl while blindfolded. Whoever scoops the most cotton balls within 60 seconds wins the game. Watch as the chaos unfolds!

Source: Kitty Groups

3. Cereal Box Puzzle

Cereal box cut up and re-organized

This one is sure to puzzle your students! Arrange the cut-up pieces of the cereal box into the right formation in the allotted time to win this game. 

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Source: Happy Mom Hacks 

4. Cup Stack

Red solo cups stacked in a pyramid

Unstack then restack the pyramid of cups in under a minute! Bonus points to anyone who sings the Cup Song during this STEM challenge.

Source: Happy Mom Hacks

5. Human Ring Toss

Kids tossing pool inner tubes, as an example of minute to win it games for kids

This is one of those Minute To Win It games that’s perfect for phys ed class, field day, or as an extra-special outdoor activity. It’s just like regular ring toss but with a fun twist! You can also use Hula-Hoops instead of pool rings.

Source: Kid-Friendly Things To Do

6. Donut on a String

Kid eating donut off a string 

Tie donuts (or snack of choice) to a string and try to eat it with no hands! For an added challenge, try it blindfolded.

Source: Pinterest: Rebecca Lotz

7. Dice Stack

Kid balancing dice on a Popsicle stick, as an example of minute to win it games for kids

Kids place a Popsicle stick in their mouths and try to balance five or six dice on the end of the stick for three seconds. It’s more challenging than it looks!

Source: Math With Meaning

8. Pom-Pom & Straw Challenge

Kid blowing fuzz balls with a straw 

Use the straws to blow pom-poms across the finish line! Try to get as many across as possible to win. 

Source: Paging Fun Mums

9. Stack It Up

Child stacking pennies, as an example of minute to win it games for kids

Students move 25 pennies into a stack using only one hand!

Source: Happiness Is Homemade

10. Baby Rattle

Child rattling homemade rattle

Fill a 2-liter bottle with items of your choice (gum balls, candy corn, beads, etc.) and tape it to another bottle. Kids try to fill the empty bottle in under a minute.

Source: YouTube: Outscord

11. Ping-Pong Tic-Tac-Toe

Kid playing ping pong tic tac toe, as an example of minute to win it games for kids

Use trays that will fit a Ping-Pong ball to play a fun spin on tic-tac-toe! The first player or team to get three in a row wins. 

Source: Happiness Is Homemade

12. One-Handed Bracelets

Bracelet made of pipe cleaner and cheerios

Another one-handed challenge, this Minute To Win It game uses a pipe cleaner and cereal to make “bracelets” while building fine motor skills. Trying to form the pipe cleaner into a circle using one hand is definitely a challenge! 

Source: Teach Mama

13. Yank the Cards

Mini solo cup game, as an example of minute to win it games for kids

Setting up plastic cups with pieces of card stock in between, players will yank the cards out, causing the cups to fall into a tower. Each time a player makes a mistake, they must reset until all the cups fall into each other. This game is a blast!

Source: Kid-Friendly Things To Do

14. Worm Diving

Work getting dipped into bowl of pretzels

Moisten a gummy worm and tie it to the “fishing line.” Dive that worm into a bowl of pretzels, and then eat the pretzel without using your hands. A delicious yet challenging game. 

Source: Playtivities

15. Blow It to the Other Side

 Girl blowing ping pong ball off of soda can

Blow the Ping-Pong balls from one soda can to the other in this Minute To Win It game. So frustrating yet so much fun!

Source: YouTube: Outscord

16. Suck It Up

Child sucking up chocolate candies with a straw

Using a straw and some chocolate candies, move as many candies as possible to an empty plate. Bonus: Kids get to eat the candy at the end! 

Source: Runde’s Room

17. Wrapping Presents

Children wrapping presents

Just like wrapping presents, only with a twist. Each team of two has one person using only their right hand, and the other using only their left hand to wrap the present. First team to wrap the present, put a bow on it, and address it to someone wins! 

Source: I Think We Could Be Friends

18. Keep the Balloon Up

Kid bouncing balloons in the air

This game is a children’s party classic, and adding the time element makes it that much more exciting! Work in teams or individually to keep the balloon up for 1 minute.

Source: Happy Mom Hacks

19. Traffic Yam

 

Kid moving a potato across the floor using a spoon, as an example of minute to win it games for kids

Using a sweet potato and a spoon, players must move the potato down the line of painter’s tape and back. This one will definitely bring on some laughs!

Source: Play Party Plan

20. LEGO Tower

Legos stacked up like a tower 

Kids build a tower of LEGO as tall as they can, only with a catch: They can only use their hands to touch one brick at a time, so holding the tower still is not allowed! Prepare for lots of crashing LEGO towers!

Source: Kids Craft Room

21. Sticky Note Challenge

Kid getting covered in sticky notes, as an example of minute to win it games for kids

Stick as many Post-its as possible on your partner in a minute or less! 

Source: Paging Fun Mums

22. Speedy Bowling

Kid tossing a bowling ball at pins

Set up pins (empty soda bottles or cans work too) at the end of a table, and give each student five balls to knock them over in the allotted time! 

Source: Style Craze

23. Cup and Coin Stacking

Coins being stacked on cups

Stack coins on the edge of eight cups, and don’t let them fall in!

Source: Kid Pillar

24. Bottle Flipping

Hand holding bottle cap

Younger students are sure to love this game. The popular water-bottle-flipping challenge was made into a Minute To Win It game—what fun!

Source: Wiki How

25. Paper Toss

Rolled up paper balls next to trash can

Ball up pieces of paper and attempt to shoot them into a recycling bin. The twist is, you have to throw the paper blindfolded! This is a perfect way to clean up paper and scraps in the classroom.

Source: Kid Pillar 

If you like these Minute To Win It games, check out these 35 active math games and activities for your little learners.

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Looking for brain breaks, icebreakers. or just ways to fill the last few minutes of class? Minute To Win It games are the answer.