Hosting a kids’ Christmas party, a classroom celebration or a family night? This list gives you 45 simple Christmas games for kids. With a short description for each so you can scan, set up in minutes and keep the fun rolling.
I grouped them by vibe (zero prep, printables, active, minute-to-win-it, classroom, outdoor) and added budget-friendly props you can easily buy if you need to.
A little pacing tip for you: rotate every 7 – 12 minutes. Alternate active games with calmer, sit down ones and keep a quiet corner ready with coloring and soft carols.
READ: Over 20 Magical Christmas Activities for Toddlers
Quick supplies you’ll use again
Inflatable reindeer antler ring toss — instant crowd-pleaser and photos.
Inflatable reindeer antlers
Indoor plush snowballs — safe throwing, relays, tag.
Indoor Snowballs
Jingle bells (bulk) — relays, craft prizes, sound cues.
Bulk jingle bells
Mini candy canes — hook games, fishing, prizes.
Mini candy canes
Shatterproof ornaments — spoon races, stacking, counting.
Shatterproof ornaments
Painter’s tape — makes lines, goals, hopscotch, “chimneys.”
Painter’s tape
Holiday Bingo / Charades / Pictionary sets
Christmas Bingo
Zero prep party starters (ages 1 – 7)
READ: 30+ Christmas Baby Announcement ideas + FREE editable …
- Jingle freeze
Kids dance with a jingle bell. When the music stops, they freeze. Great arrival activity, burns wiggles and sets a happy tone. - Pass the parcel (Holiday edition)
Wrap a small prize in many layers; kids pass the parcel to music, unwrapping one layer when it stops. Add stickers or jokes to each layer so everyone wins a little something. - Christmas would you rather?
Call out choices (“Hot cocoa or candy canes?”). Kids move to one side of the room to vote. Fast icebreaker, zero mess. - Guess the ornament count
A jar of mini ornaments becomes a quiet focus game. Kids write their guesses; closest wins a small prize.
Mini ornaments - Santa Says
“Simon Says,” but festive: “Santa says touch your hat,” “Santa says ho-ho-ho.” Perfect for mixed ages and quick listening practice. - Name that carol (kids version)
Play 5 – 10 seconds of a well-known carol. Kids guess the title by raising hands or holding up picture cards. Keep it upbeat and short. - Holiday High five hunt
Give each child a card with a festive emoji or word. They mingle to find their match and high-five. Easy energy and gentle interaction.
READ: 120 Greatest Family Christmas Activities that work for everyone
Printable and sit down games (ages 8 – 15)
- Christmas picture Bingo
Icon-based boards work for pre-readers; pull cards or small ornaments as markers.
Christmas Bingo cards - Roll-a-snowman
Kids roll a die to earn snowman parts (1 = body, 2 = head…). First to complete wins. Great fine-motor drawing practice. - Pin the nose on Rudolph
Blindfold, spin gently and try to stick the red nose in place. Keep the line short and the spins soft for littles.
Pin the Nose Rudolph
- Holiday I-Spy placemat
Print a picture-packed sheet and give crayons. Ideal for transition times (snack, late arrivals) and for kids who need calm. - Christmas Memory match
Turn over two cards to find pairs of elves, gifts, snowflakes. Start with fewer pairs for 3 – 5s and add difficulty for older kids. - Christmas Pictionary (Kids pack)
Kids draw “gingerbread house,” “sled,” “stocking” on dry-erase boards; teams guess. Low noise if you swap shouting for silent hand raises.
Kids Dry-Erase Boards - Holiday Mad libs Jr.
Fill in simple nouns and verbs to create silly seasonal stories. Then read aloud for laughs. Great language play without sugar hype. - Christmas word hunt
Two tiers: picture-based for pre-readers and word search for older kids. Time box to keep it snappy (3 – 5 minutes).
Active Indoor Games (ages 16–25)
- Reindeer Antler ring toss
One child wears inflatable antlers; others toss rings to score. Adjust throw lines by age to keep it fair. - Snowball scoop relay
Teams scoop plush snowballs with a ladle and carry them to a bin. Gentle movement, huge giggles. - Ornament spoon race
Balance a shatterproof ornament on a spoon and walk a taped path. Add a zigzag for older kids. - Chimney toss
Tape a square “chimney” on the floor. Kids toss beanbags or small wrapped cubes into it. Score zones keep it exciting without chaos. - Jingle bell hopscotch
Make a hopscotch grid with painter’s tape; toss a jingle bell to mark the square. Improve balance and counting in one go. - Gift stack builder
Stack empty wrapped boxes as high as you can without tipping. Cooperative version: “build the tallest tree together.” - Candy cane limbo
Use a long candy cane prop or ribbon as the limbo bar. Play to carols and lower the bar gradually. - Elf hat cup stack
Stack and unstack red/green cups into a triangle “hat.” Time solo runs to reduce crowd noise. - Present delivery relay
Kids deliver lightweight boxes from one side to the other using tongs or by balancing them on heads. Adds giggle-worthy challenge. - Snowflake path
Lay paper snowflakes on the floor as stepping stones. Call out patterns (“big-small-big”) to sneak in early math and motor planning.
Minute-to-win-it challenges (ages 26 – 33)
- Jingle bell shake
Tape a few bells inside a plastic cup; kids shake until the bells fall out. No hands inside the cup. Simple, silly and loud in the best way. - Candy cane fishing
Hook candy canes from a pile using another candy cane in your mouth or hand (choose your class rules). - Marshmallow chopsticks
Move mini marshmallows from one bowl to another with training chopsticks or tongs. Great for fine motor. (Skip if food allergies are a worry.) - Snowflake blow
Kids use straws to blow paper snowflakes across a table and over a taped finish line. Quiet focus and big cheers at the end. - Cookie Slide
Slide a wrapped cookie to land on a taped “gift” zone. Closer to the center earns more points. No throwing! - Present wrap race
Teams wrap a small box neatly with paper, tape and a pre-cut ribbon. Judges award style points.
Christmas Wrapping Paper Set - Stack the snowballs
Stack cotton balls or plush snowballs into a tower of three to five. It’s trickier than it looks. Steady hands win. - Nose only pom push
With a tiny dab of lotion or petroleum jelly on their nose, kids push a lightweight pom across a table. No hands. Goofy, safe and hysterical.
Classroom and group friendly games (ages 34 – 39)
- Teacher Elf says (Whole class warm up)
All the “Simon Says” benefits with a festive twist. Low mess, low prep and it calms the room while engaging everyone. - Silent Night line up
Without speaking, kids line up by birth month, height or alphabet. Teamwork without the volume. Teachers’ fave. - Around-the-world Christmas facts
Share simple, positive facts about winter holidays and ask a quick question for points. Invite students to add family traditions. Celebratory and inclusive. - Christmas Pictionary relay
Two teams line up; the drawer sketches on a whiteboard while teammates silently guess with hand signals to manage noise. Rotate drawers quickly. - Holiday Scattergories Jr.
Roll a letter and list holiday words starting with it. Accept pictures for pre-writers (e.g., drawing a tree for “T”). - Calm corner: Coloring and I-Spy
Maintain a standing station for kids who need breaks. Include crayons, stickers, word hunts and picture-based I-Spy sheets.
Holiday Coloring Books Bulk
Outdoor or Large space games (ages 40 – 45)
- Snowball tag (plush only)
Tag only counts with a light toss of a plush snowball to the legs or back. Safe, inclusive and easy to reset. - Sleigh bell relay
Teams carry a jingle bell on a spoon around a cone and back without dropping it. Add obstacles for older kids. - Reindeer dash (parachute game)
With a kids’ parachute, bounce soft “snowballs” and try to keep them on. Encourages cooperation and burns big energy.
Kids parachute - North Pole obstacle course
Crawl under “garland” (rope), hop across “ice floes” (pillows) and deliver a “gift” into a taped chimney. Time each runner for excitement. - Wreath frisbee toss
Toss foam or fabric wreaths onto cones or chair backs. Adjust distance by age; easy to sanitize and reuse. - Ornament hunt (numbered scavenger)
Hide numbered ornaments around the yard or hall; kids find them in order for a calm, focused challenge.
Number tags / ornaments
Prizes, transitions and setups
Prizes: stickers, stamps, pencils, small plush. Non-food keeps everyone included.
Stations: split room into Active, Table and Calm zones. Use timers so kids see when to switch.
Music: upbeat carols for arrivals and active games; instrumental for printables and coloring.
Mixed ages: offer closer throw lines for littles, optional “challenge mode” for older kids (non-dominant hand, extra step, longer distance).
FAQs
How long should I plan?
60 – 90 minutes is perfect for ages 3 – 10. For a class party, 45 – 60 minutes with 5 – 7 minute stations works well.
How many games do I actually need?
Pick 2 zero-prep starters, 2 printables, 1 – 2 active relays and 1 minute-to-win-it station, plus a standing calm corner.
What about allergies or sensory needs?
Favor non-food prizes and clearly label snacks. Offer noise-reduced options (ear defenders, calm corner) and let kids opt into roles like “scorekeeper” or “music DJ.”Can I run this in a small living room?
Yes. Use tape lines, one relay down a hallway and rotate kids in micro-groups. Keep plush snowballs and light props only.
You don’t need complicated props to make Christmas magical for kids. Just a few re-usable supplies, quick-change stations and these 45 cheerful games. Mix two zero prep starters, one printable, one active relay and one minute-to-win-it for a balanced party plan that keeps everyone smiling.
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