Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Birthday Bingo: Free Printable Game for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Birthday Bingo is a free printable game for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Children tick off nine party words as they spot them at a birthday party, from candles and balloons to singing and the party bag. The first player to tick all nine shouts Bingo. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is a bingo card with nine party words on it: candles, balloons, cake, present, card, party hat, singing, games and party bag. It is ready to cut and play. Each child gets a copy and keeps it with them at the party. When they spot one of the words, they tick it off. Children read the words, look carefully and take part in a shared game.
- Candles
- Balloons
- Cake
- Present
- Card
- Party hat
- Singing
- Games
- Party bag
How the game works
Get a copy each
Every player needs their own copy of the card and a pencil. One player, or several, can play for as long as the party lasts.
Read the words first
Before the party starts, read the nine words together. Children play better when they already know what they are looking for.
Tick as you spot
When a child sees or hears one of the words at the party, they tick it on their card. Singing counts when the singing happens.
Shout Bingo
The first player to tick all nine words shouts Bingo. Then everyone can swap cards or start a new round.
Why play bingo at a party?
Bingo is a simple game that children pick up quickly. Each player has a card, watches for matches and ticks them off. At a birthday party this turns the whole event into something to look out for. Children who might feel shy or restless have a job to do, and it gives them a reason to look around the room and join in.
The words on this card are ones children already know from birthdays. That makes it a friendly way to practise reading short key words. Children link each written word to something real that they can see or hear. Reading a word and then spotting the real thing helps new words stick, and it keeps the reading relaxed and playful.
If real candles are lit at your party, an adult lights them and looks after them, and children stay back. This game only asks children to spot candles. It never asks them to light or handle them.
Fun facts about birthdays
- Many party hats are shaped like a cone.
- Helium is a gas that is lighter than air, which is why some balloons float up to the ceiling.
- A balloon is stretchy, so it gets bigger as air goes into it.
- Birthday cards often have a picture on the front and a message inside.
- In many homes, people sing a birthday song while the cake is brought out.
Skills and curriculum link
- Reading key words
- Looking carefully
- Turn taking
- Listening
- Joining in a shared game
Ideas to talk about while you play
- Party wordsTalk about where each word might appear at a party. Some words are things you see, and some are things you hear or do.
- SpottingAsk your child how they know when they have found a word. Pointing and saying it out loud helps them check.
- Sharing a gamePlaying together means waiting, listening and being pleased for the winner. Talk about how that feels.
- Birthdays at homeAsk how your family celebrates. Different families have different traditions, and children enjoy comparing them.
Key words
- BingoA game where you tick things off your card. The first person to tick everything calls out Bingo.
- CandleA stick of wax with a wick. Candles are often put on a birthday cake. Adults light them.
- CardA birthday card. It is a folded piece of paper with a picture and a message that you give to someone on their birthday.
- Party hatA hat that people wear at a party. Many party hats are shaped like a cone.
- Party bagA small bag of treats that guests are given to take home from a party.
- SpotTo notice something by looking or listening carefully.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
- Cut out the bingo card if you wish. Give each player their own copy and a pencil.
- Read the nine words aloud together before the party starts, so everyone knows what to look for.
- At the party, tick each word when you spot it. The first player to tick all nine shouts Bingo.
- Check the notes on page 2 afterwards. Come back to the game at another party, because a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read the words together before the party starts. Point to each word, say it and let your child say it back. Then ask them to think of where they might see or hear each one, so the words feel familiar before the game begins.
To stretch confident children
Add three extra squares of your own and write the words. Children might choose things such as a guest, a photo or a song. Check the spelling together, then play again with the longer card and see who finishes first.
Make it a game
Take turns to call out one of the words, and see who spots it first. The caller can also describe the word without saying it, for example by giving a clue about what it looks like or what it does.
Talk about it
- Which word on the card do you think will be easiest to spot? Why?
- Which word might be hardest? What could you listen for?
- What is your favourite thing at a birthday party?
- If you could add a new square to the card, what would it be?
- How could we play fairly if two people tick the last word together?
- What would you put in a party bag?
Take it off the page
Make a birthday card
Fold a piece of paper in half. Draw a picture on the front and write a message inside for someone you know. Check the spelling of the key words together.
Party planner list
Pretend you are planning a party. Write a list of things you would need, such as the words from the card, and say why you chose each one.
Word hunt at home
Look around the house for things that match the words on the card, such as a card or a bag. Say each word aloud when you find something that goes with it.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child and read the words together before the party. Let them hold the card and do the ticking. If they get excited, remind them that spotting and ticking carefully is part of the fun.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It can also support a class party or a topic on celebrations, and the stretch idea works well for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Home educators can use it for a birthday in the family, or as a gentle reading and listening activity. Print a copy for each child. Older brothers and sisters can write their own extra squares and act as callers.
Where this fits in
Before this game, children meet everyday words they see in books, signs and labels. They learn to sound out simple words and recognise common ones by sight. Looking carefully, listening and taking turns are skills they practise throughout Key Stage 1.
After this game, children can try other printable games that ask them to read words, look closely and play fairly with others. They might make their own bingo cards for a different topic, such as a trip, a season or a walk, and write the key words themselves.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Birthday Bingo for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can join in with help reading the words, and older children can use the stretch idea to make their own squares.
- What will children practise?
They look carefully, read key words and join in a shared game. They also practise listening and taking turns. These are useful skills for reading and for playing well with others.
- How do I use it?
Each player gets a copy of the card. Read the nine words together first. At the party, players tick each word when they spot it. The first player to tick all nine shouts Bingo.
- What if it feels too hard?
Read the words together before the party starts. Say each word aloud and let your child repeat it. You can also play as a pair, with the child ticking and the adult helping to read.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or friends, or use it at more than one party.
- How long does it take?
It depends on your party. Children tick words as they spot them, so play lasts for as long as the party does. Keep rounds short and play a second game if everyone is still keen.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add their own colour if they like, but they do not need to for the game to work.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.