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Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.
Key takeaways
- Keep the whole group together for 8 to 10 minutes at age 3 and no more than about 15 at age 4 and up.
- Alternate one active game with one calm game, and end on a calm one before the next transition.
- Every child needs a job or an object: a bell, a bean bag, a turn. Waiting in a line of 20 is where it falls apart.
- For longer activities, split into 3 or 4 stations of 5 or 6 kids with one adult each.
- No small parts in group games under 3: bells on wrist bands, not loose, and soft balls only.
In this post20 sections
- Quick facts: Christmas large group activities for preschool
- A 10 minute Christmas large group plan
- 10 Christmas large group activities for preschool (active and calm)
- 1. Christmas freeze dance
- 2. Santa Says
- 3. Parachute snowstorm
- 4. Rudolph's nose bean bag toss
- 5. Paper snowball toss
- 6. Reindeer hop and stop
- 7. Pass the jingle bell (quietly)
- 8. What's missing under the tree
- 9. Christmas story with sound effects
- 10. Reindeer, reindeer, Santa
- Materials for a large group of 20 preschoolers
- Splitting a big group: Christmas stations
- Christmas large group activities for toddlers: what changes
- Christmas circle time myths vs reality
- Related questions
- Christmas large group supplies
- FAQ
Quick facts: Christmas large group activities for preschool
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| How long together? | 8 to 10 minutes at age 3, up to about 15 at age 4 and up, 6 to 8 under 3 |
| How many games per session? | 2 or 3, one active and one calm |
| Group size for turn-taking games? | 5 or 6; split a class of 20 into stations |
| Adults needed? | One per station, plus one to lead |
| Best ending? | A calm song or game right before the transition |
| Safety basics? | No loose small parts under 3, soft balls only, clear the floor before active games |
The times follow Liz Moore's guidance on Continued: 8 to 10 minutes at 3 to 3 and a half, no more than 15 after that, and split long sessions in two or three. NAEYC's From Circle Time to Small Groups makes the case for doing more in small groups.
A 10 minute Christmas large group plan
Use this order with any games below: everyone joins at once, active in the middle, calm at the end.
| Minutes | What happens | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 2 | Gathering song, everyone joins | Jingle Bells with bell wrist bands |
| 2 to 5 | Active game | Freeze dance or Santa Says |
| 5 to 8 | Calm game | Pass the jingle bell quietly or what's missing |
| 8 to 10 | Closing and transition | One short story page, then dismiss by sweater color |
10 Christmas large group activities for preschool (active and calm)
Games 1 to 6 get kids moving; games 7 to 10 bring them back down. Pick one from each half. For more ideas sorted by skill, see the Christmas activities for preschoolers list.
1Christmas freeze dance
Play a Christmas song and stop it at random; everyone freezes like a snowman. No one is out: wobblers melt into a puddle and pop back up.
Ages: 2 to 5.
Prep: 1 minute.
Mess: none.
Supplies: a speaker and 3 or 4 Christmas songs.
- Safety: clear chairs and tables back from the rug first; socks on a smooth floor slip, so bare feet or shoes.
2Santa Says
Simon Says with Santa: hop like a reindeer, stretch tall like a tree. Show each move as you say it so every child can follow.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Supplies: nothing.
- Safety: keep moves on two feet for 3 year olds in a crowded circle; spinning games bump heads.
3Parachute snowstorm
Everyone holds the parachute edge and shakes paper snowflakes into the air: big shakes for a blizzard, small for flurries. Nobody waits, which is why it works.
Ages: 3 to 5 (2 with an adult beside them).
Prep: 5 minutes to cut paper snowflakes.
Mess: low (paper on the floor).
Supplies: a 12 foot play parachute, paper snowflakes or cotton balls.
- Safety: cotton balls go in mouths at 2; use big paper snowflakes for toddler groups.
The 12 foot size with 12 or more handles fits a preschool class around the edge.
4Rudolph's nose bean bag toss
Each child tosses a red bean bag into a red bucket to give Rudolph his nose. Two buckets and two short lines keep the waiting down.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: 2 buckets, 10 bean bags.
- Safety: soft bean bags only; toss from a line on the floor, not toward the circle.
Soft, safe to throw indoors, and used in half the games on this list.
5Paper snowball toss
Crumple scrap paper into snowballs, split the rug with tape, and toss snowballs over the line for one song. Then count the snowballs on each side.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes (kids can crumple the paper).
Mess: low.
Supplies: a stack of scrap paper, masking tape, a song.
- Safety: paper snowballs only, no foam or hard balls in a crowd; aim low, below the shoulders.
6Reindeer hop and stop
Kids hop like reindeer while you shake a sleigh bell. When it stops, they land on a carpet square and call out its color.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Supplies: a sleigh bell, carpet squares.
- Safety: space carpet squares an arm's length apart so landings do not collide.
7Pass the jingle bell (quietly)
Pass one large jingle bell around the circle without letting it ring. A loud group goes quiet fast. Say each child's name as it reaches them.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Supplies: one large jingle bell on a ribbon.
- Safety: use one bell at least 2 inches across; small bells are a choking hazard under 3 under the CPSC small parts rule.
Bells sewn onto a band, so nothing loose for younger kids, and one per child.
8What's missing under the tree
Name 4 or 5 soft ornaments on a tray, cover them, take one away. Kids whisper the answer to a neighbor before you lift the cloth.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: a tray, a cloth, 4 to 6 felt or plush ornaments.
- Safety: felt or plush only: no glass ornaments or hooks near the rug.
9Christmas story with sound effects
Read a short Christmas picture book and give key words a sound: bell means jingle, Santa means ho ho ho. Kids listen for their word.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: 5 minutes to pick the words.
Mess: none.
Supplies: one Christmas picture book.
- Safety: none beyond normal rug rules; keep the book short (under 5 minutes).
10Reindeer, reindeer, Santa
Duck, duck, goose with a Christmas name. Keep circles to 8 or fewer so turns come fast; walk, do not run, at age 3.
Ages: 3 to 5.
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Supplies: nothing.
- Safety: walking only in tight rooms; the runner goes around the outside of the circle, never through it.
Materials for a large group of 20 preschoolers
| Item | How many | Used in | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jingle bell wrist bands | 20 | Gathering song, freeze dance | $12 to $20 for 24 |
| Play parachute, 12 foot | 1 | Parachute snowstorm | $20 to $35 |
| Bean bags | 12 | Bean bag toss | $10 to $18 |
| Carpet squares or sit spots | 20 | Every game | $20 to $40 for 24 sit spots |
| Scrap paper | 1 stack | Snowballs, snowflakes | Free |
| Large jingle bell on ribbon | 1 | Pass the bell | $3 to $6 |
| Felt ornaments | 6 | What's missing | $6 to $10 |
Splitting a big group: Christmas stations
Anything with turns, glue or cards goes to stations. Four stations of 5 kids, one adult each, rotating every 8 to 10 minutes, covers a 40 minute party: craft, bingo, snack and a bean bag corner. The classroom elf ideas and gingerbread man activities both have station-sized activities if you want a theme.
Christmas large group checklist
Christmas large group activities for toddlers: what changes
For toddlers, cut the time to 6 to 8 minutes, drop turns and rules, and lean on action songs and the parachute. Give every toddler their own shaker or bell band. Under the CPSC small parts rule, anything that fits inside a 1.25 inch cylinder is a choking hazard for children under 3, so loose jingle bells, pom poms and cotton balls stay out.
Christmas circle time myths vs reality
Reality
- 10 minutes together is a full large group for 3 year olds
- Two games beat five rushed ones
- Kids sit better with an object to hold
- Stations of 5 keep everyone busy
- A calm ending makes the next transition easy
Myth
- A Christmas party needs 30 minutes of group games
- More games means more fun
- Hands in laps is the rule
- The whole class should play every game together
- End on the biggest, loudest game
Related questions
Handing out gifts too? See Christmas gifts for preschool students. For a bingo station, the pack below has Christmas bingo for up to 6 players per set.
Christmas large group supplies
Christmas large group activities: supplies
-
Jingle bell wrist bands, 24 pack
Typically $12 to $20
Bells sewn onto a band, so nothing loose for younger kids, and one per child.
Check price on Amazon for Jingle bell wrist bands, 24 pack -
Sit spots or carpet markers, 24 pack
Typically $20 to $40
A place for every child; also the landing spots in reindeer hop.
Check price on Amazon for Sit spots or carpet markers, 24 pack -
Play parachute, 12 foot
Typically $20 to $35
The one piece of kit that keeps 20 kids busy at once.
Check price on Amazon for Play parachute, 12 foot -
Bean bags, 12 pack
Typically $10 to $18
Soft tossing for Rudolph's nose and the movement station.
Check price on Amazon for Bean bags, 12 pack -
Felt Christmas ornaments
Typically $6 to $12
Unbreakable pieces for the what's missing game.
Check price on Amazon for Felt Christmas ornaments
Frequently asked questions
How do you do Christmas activities with a large group of preschoolers?
Keep the whole group together about 10 minutes, give every child an object, alternate active and calm games, and move crafts or bingo to small stations.
How long should circle time be for preschoolers?
About 8 to 10 minutes for 3 year olds and no more than about 15 minutes for 4 and 5 year olds. Under 3, plan on 6 to 8 minutes.
What are good Christmas games for a large group of preschoolers?
Freeze dance, Santa Says, parachute snowstorm, paper snowball toss, pass the jingle bell quietly, and a what's-missing game with soft ornaments.
How do you run a preschool Christmas party with 20 kids?
Open with a 10 minute group game, split into 3 or 4 stations with one adult each, rotate every 8 to 10 minutes, and end together with one song.
What changes for a toddler Christmas group?
6 to 8 minutes, more songs and movement, an object in every hand, and no turn-taking games.
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