If you’ve ever hosted a kids’ party, you know there’s a fine line between “fun and festive” and “utter chaos.” So when I planned Mallory’s Toy Story birthday bash, I wanted to create a way for guests to enjoy the activities at their own pace — without me having to run around explaining every game 43 times while also cutting up fruit and keeping toddlers from climbing into the gift bags.

Enter: the Toy Story Mission Log.

A Self-Guided Adventure (So I Could Breathe)

I designed a “Mission Log” booklet that listed five themed activities stationed around the house. Each activity had a matching sign on the wall, making them easy for kids (and parents) to find. Beside each sign was a Toy Story stamp  hanging on a string, so kids could mark their progress in their log as they completed each mission. Every stamp featured a different Toy Story character, which made the whole thing feel official.

Did they have to complete all five games to get a prize? Technically yes.
Did I actually check their logs? Absolutely not.

They were between the ages of 1 and 5. Nobody needs a performance review at a birthday party.

Guest Arrival Activities (AKA: Let’s Avoid Chaos Right Away)

Before guests even cracked open their Mission Logs, I had a few self-directed activities ready to go as soon as they walked through the door. These served two purposes: 1) They kept kids entertained and engaged from the second they arrived, and 2) They gave everyone a chance to explore the party setup without feeling awkward or unsure of what to do.

Here’s what I had waiting for them:

Toy Scavenger Hunt

Right inside the door was a table with printed Toy Story scavenger hunts and pencils. Kids could grab a sheet and search the party area for tiny Toy Story figures I had hidden all around. It was a great way to encourage them to explore the different themed spaces, and gave a sense of purpose to all the party “touring.” Plus, it helped avoid the classic moment of standing around thinking, “Now what?”

Toy Story Scrabble

On the main table (aka Andy’s bed), I set up a real Scrabble board and seeded it with the word “MALLORY.” I added extra tiles to the game so there’d be plenty to go around.

Coloring & Activity Pages

I had a couple of small kids’ tables set up with crayons and printed activity pages personalized with Mallory’s name and Toy Story graphics (purchased from Etsy). It was an easy, low-mess way to entertain younger kids — and a nice calming activity to balance out the high energy from the rest of the party.

Mission Breakdown: 5 Self-Guided Toy Story Games

Once guests had warmed up with the arrival activities, it was time to dive into the main event: completing their official Toy Story missions.

Mischievous Monkeys

Inspired by Barrel of Monkeys, this game challenged kids to see how many monkeys they could hook with one hand. I hung a command hook on the wall and set out a bucket of jumbo monkeys from Amazon — these were larger than the standard size and way easier for little hands. Older kids had to use one hand, while toddlers were allowed both. It was simple, low-mess, and fun to watch.

Bo Peep’s Missing Sheep

I used inflatable sheep balloons and a Bo Peep staff toy (no longer made, sadly) to create a sheep-herding challenge. I set up a freestanding baby fence in the kitchen and the kids had to guide the sheep from one side to the other using the staff (or their hands if they were under 3). We even had a whiteboard leaderboard for the fastest herders — older kids helped run this one!

Mixed-Up Potato Head

My mom helped me make this larger-than-life felt Mr. Potato Head, sewn onto a piece of yellow felt and glued to foam board so I could hang it on the wall. I printed and laminated oversized face pieces and added velcro to the back. The challenge? Kids put on a blindfold and tried to assemble the face without looking. The results were equal parts ridiculous and amazing.

Green Army Men Shoot Camp

This was a simple target game with a military twist. I strung yarn across a wide doorway and hung 10 foam plates with different point values (DIY printables glued on). The plates were clipped in a way that made them swing when hit — no breakage, just wobble. Kids tossed soft foam golf balls at the targets, and while the point system existed… no one really used it. My nephew helped retrieve balls between turns so it ran smoothly.

Planning your own Green Army Men shoot camp?  Download my printable 🎯 target signs — the same ones I used in our Toy Story party!  Simply print, cut, and glue them to some disposable white plates.

👉 Click here to download the FREE 4-page PDF

The Claw

If you’ve read my Pizza Planet blog post, you already know all about this rocket-shaped claw machine I made from a clear storage bin. Kids stood on a stool behind it, used a grabber to fish through the ball pit balls, and selected a prize. After completing all five missions, they could return for a second turn to grab a second toy. I made sure we had enough hidden prizes to go around.

The Prize System (AKA: Everybody Wins)

At the end of the party, each child received a Toy Story-themed gift bag with an adorable “World’s Smallest Toy” inside.  I didn’t verify stamps or enforce any kind of rules — the goal was fun, not stress.

There are plenty of World's Smallest Toys out there to collect.  Here's some links to help you find a few I actually purchased as favors for this party:
   ➡️ World's Smallest Etch-a-Sketch
   ➡️ World's Smallest Lincoln Logs
   ➡️ World's Smallest Tinker Toys
   ➡️ World's Smallest Care Bears
   ➡️ World's Smallest Glo Worm
   ➡️ World's Smallest Barbie
   ➡️ World's Smallest Uno
   ➡️ World's Smallest Hot Wheels
   ➡️ World's Smallest Lite Brite

Why It Worked

This mission log system was honestly one of the smartest things I’ve ever done at a party. It gave structure to the chaos, made every corner of the house feel intentional, and let the kids explore at their own pace while I focused on being the host. Most importantly? It helped bring the whole Toy Story world to life.

Here are the other party posts in this series — each one packed with ideas:

➡️ Walk through Andy’s Room with this DIY transformation guide
➡️ Make your own Pizza Planet with our step-by-step tutorial
➡️ Check out the Candy Land-inspired cake we built from scratch