How to Make Bowling More Fun for Kids

Bowling is fun all on its own, but we all know keeping younger children’s attention isn’t always the easiest thing in the world. With a little creativity, you can add a twist to the classic game and keep your kids entertained for hours. Try these tricks for making your kids bowling birthday the best fun ever!

Bowling is a great idea for a birthday party. It’s a nice indoor activity that can involve food, fun and temperature control for those hot days. While a regular round of bowling is always a good time, you can make it extra special by adding in a few games. Have guests participate in a contest or tournament and award prizes for things like highest score, most “creative” throw, or whatever else you think up. You can get trophies or print certificates. You can go as elaborate as you want. The point is to have fun and shake up the rules a little bit!

Kids love being goofy, and that’s definitely something to encourage. For a wacky round of bowling, have your kids throw the ball in a different weird, wacky way each frame. That might include throwing it backwards, having two kids hold and throw one same ball at one time, or have a big kid or adult stand in front of them and roll the ball between their legs.

This way the game isn’t about skill or competition, just fun and creativity. Kids that don’t know how to bowl won’t be intimidated when everyone has to follow the same made up “rules.” Whatever throws you think of, always make sure they’re able to be performed safely and within bowling lane rules and regulations.

This is a good way to keep kids occupied between each of their turns. Create a challenge that needs to be completed in the time it takes the ball to roll down the lane. These need to be quick and simple challenges obviously. A few examples might be naming as many US states as possible, counting backwards from 100, list all their favorite Disney movies. Give them a point for however many names or numbers they say correctly.

Whoever has the most points at the end might get a prize or just good old bragging rights. This is another great way to keep all of your kids engaged, no matter how good they are at bowling, or even how interested they are in it.

This is a good game for slightly older kids (and adults) that combines a fun-filled round of bowling with an interactive game of bingo. You can find bowling bingo cards online, or make up your own. Print a typical bingo sheet filled with numbers 1-10, mixing in bowling events such as “strike,” “spare,” “split,” and “gutterball.”

Give each participant (or team if you have a large group) a different sheet. As the events occur, each person or team crosses off the appropriate block. When someone gets 7 pins, cross out the 7. If someone bowls a spare, they cross out spare, and so on. Just like regular bingo, when someone makes a line they yell out “bingo” and they’re the winners.

Bowling is the most fun when everyone has a great time. No matter your age or skill level, adding some of these fun activities to your next trip to the lanes will make sure everyone leaves with a smile. To learn more about our birthday packages check out our website or come check us out in person!