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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
- Plan 5 or 6 games: 60 minutes for ages 3 to 5, up to 90 for ages 6 to 8.
- Keep every game to 5 to 8 minutes and never eliminate a child.
- Teams of 4 to 6 keep lines short.
- Pair small kids with older buddies for mixed ages.
- Under 3, keep anything that fits a toilet paper tube out of reach.
In this post27 sections
- Quick facts: Christmas party games for kids
- A Christmas party plan: 60 and 90 minute run of show
- Calm arrival games: Christmas party games for kids walking in the door
- 1. Mitten match
- 2. Mystery sound jars
- Active Christmas party games for kids (ages 3 to 8)
- 3. Musical stockings
- 4. Rudolph ring toss
- 5. Snowman bowling
- 6. Pin the star on the tree
- Christmas relay games for kids: team ideas for 6 to 12 kids
- 7. Wrap the present relay
- 8. Ornament spoon relay
- 9. Santa belly waddle
- 10. Snowball scoop
- Seated Christmas party games for kids: for snack time and settling down
- 11. Christmas Pictionary
- 12. Who am I? Christmas characters
- 13. Gift tower challenge
- 14. Mystery gift bag
- 15. Christmas picture bingo
- Christmas party games for kids by age: who plays what
- What a Christmas party game kit for 12 kids costs
- Safety notes for Christmas party games for kids
- More Christmas ideas for the same party
- Christmas party game supplies
- FAQ
Quick facts: Christmas party games for kids
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| How many games? | 5 or 6 for a 60 to 90 minute party, mixing active and seated |
| How long per game? | 5 to 8 minutes for ages 3 to 5, up to 10 for ages 6 to 8 |
| Group size for turns? | Teams of 4 to 6; split a bigger crowd into two lines |
| Prizes? | One for everyone: a sticker or a candy cane, no winners' table |
| Mixed ages? | Pair each 3 or 4 year old with an older buddy |
| Safety basics? | Nothing that fits a toilet paper tube for under 3s, soft balls only, clear the floor first |
These are Christmas party games for kids from 3 to 8, built for a living room, a classroom or a church hall. None needs more than 10 minutes of prep, and every one lists ages, prep, mess, supplies and a safety note. They are all different from the circle time games in our preschool large group list, so you can use both at one party.
A Christmas party plan: 60 and 90 minute run of show
The mistake at most kids' Christmas parties is too many games and no order. Start with a calm game while guests arrive, put the loud games in the middle, and finish seated. This is our own plan, built from the games below, for a group of about 12 kids.
| Minutes (60 party) | Minutes (90 party) | What happens | Game from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 8 | 0 to 10 | Arrival game, no waiting at the door | Mitten match or mystery sound jars |
| 8 to 18 | 10 to 25 | Big active game | Musical stockings or Rudolph ring toss |
| 18 to 28 | 25 to 40 | Team relay | Wrap the present relay or ornament spoon relay |
| 28 to 38 | 40 to 55 | Snack and a sit-down game | Christmas Pictionary or who am I |
| 38 to 50 | 55 to 75 | Second active game and a building challenge | Snowman bowling and gift tower |
| 50 to 60 | 75 to 90 | Calm closer, then goodbyes | Mystery gift bag |
Calm arrival games: Christmas party games for kids walking in the door
1Mitten match
Cut paper mittens in pairs with different patterns (stripes, dots, stars). Hand one to each child as they arrive and let them find their match, which becomes their partner or team for the day. It sorts teams and breaks the ice with no one left out.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes to cut 12 pairs, or 3 minutes with a template.
Mess: none.
Supplies: paper, scissors, markers.
- Safety: scissors are for the adult; use a blunt-tip pair if kids help color.
2Mystery sound jars
Fill six small jars with different things (rice, a key, a button, a jingle bell, a spoon, dry pasta), seal the lids with tape and glue, and let kids shake and guess. Draw each answer on a card for the 3 and 4 year olds to point at.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 8 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: 6 small opaque plastic jars, rice, pasta, a key, a bell, tape, super glue for the lids.
- Safety: glue and tape every lid before guests arrive; the fillers are small parts, so they must never come out. Skip this game for any child under 3.
Active Christmas party games for kids (ages 3 to 8)
These four get everyone moving. Run one at a time and stop each at 5 to 8 minutes, before the first kid wanders off. If you want a printable game to follow, the free Christmas bingo and word search pack works well as a station.
3Musical stockings
Lay out felt stockings in a circle, one for every child. Play a song, kids walk around, and when it stops everyone steps next to a stocking. To make it a fun challenge instead of elimination, remove one stocking each round and ask kids to share: two children stand together with one foot on it.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 3 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: stockings or paper stockings, a speaker.
- Safety: pad corners and move chairs back; kids walk, not run, on a hard floor.
4Rudolph ring toss
Draw a reindeer head on a cardboard box lid, tape on two big antlers made from rolled cardboard and lean it against a wall. Kids toss plastic rings from a tape line to hang them on the antlers. Give every child 3 rings and cheer every ring, hit or miss.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: cardboard, tape, 12 to 18 plastic rings.
- Safety: tossing line only toward the wall, never toward other kids; use soft rings.
Soft plastic rings in a bright set that suit the antler pegs.
5Snowman bowling
Stack ten white paper cups in a pyramid, tape on a paper scarf and orange paper nose to each, and bowl them over with a soft ball from a tape line. Kids reset the pyramid for the next bowler. Two lanes keep lines short for 12 kids.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 8 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: 10 white paper cups, tape, colored paper, a soft ball.
- Safety: soft fabric ball only; keep the lanes pointed at a wall, not other kids.
6Pin the star on the tree
Tape a big green paper tree to a wall. Kids put on a sleep mask (or close their eyes), spin once, and stick a paper star with a loop of tape on the tree. Mark each star with a name. Closest to the top is just a fun cheer, not a win.
Ages: 3 to 6.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: green paper, yellow stars, tape, a sleep mask.
- Safety: one slow spin only; stand an adult at the wall so no one walks into it.
Christmas relay games for kids: team ideas for 6 to 12 kids
Relays work when teams are small. Four kids in a line is the right size: nobody waits more than a minute for a turn. Pair younger kids with older ones and call it a team effort.
7Wrap the present relay
Two teams each get a small box, a sheet of wrapping paper, tape and a ribbon. Each child on the team does one job (wrap, tape, bow) before running back to tag the next child. Judge on teamwork, not speed, and everyone keeps the present.
Ages: 5 to 8.
Prep: 7 minutes.
Mess: low (paper scraps).
Supplies: 2 small boxes, wrapping paper, tape, ribbon.
- Safety: pre-cut the tape pieces and use blunt scissors only for the adult.
Cheap rolls that let each team wrap without fear of waste.
8Ornament spoon relay
Each child carries a shatterproof plastic ornament on a wooden spoon to a laundry basket and back. If it drops, they pick it up and keep going. Team of 4 each, two ornaments at once for 7 and 8 year olds.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 3 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: wooden spoons, plastic ornaments, a basket.
- Safety: shatterproof plastic ornaments only, no glass; keep a clear lane, no backpacks or toys in the path.
9Santa belly waddle
Stuff a pillow under a red sweatshirt, add a Santa hat and a cotton beard on a hanger, and waddle to the cone and back, passing the costume to the next teammate. A great giggle game, with a costume change instead of a race.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: a red sweatshirt, a small pillow, a Santa hat.
- Safety: pillow must be soft and firmly held; no running, and check the hat does not cover the eyes.
10Snowball scoop
Crumple white paper into snowballs and lay them in a bowl. Kids scoop with kitchen tongs and carry the snowballs to a second bowl before the song ends. Count the snowballs together at the end instead of comparing teams.
Ages: 5 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: white paper, kitchen tongs, two bowls.
- Safety: use paper balls, not cotton balls or pom poms, because those are small parts for any child under 3 near the party.
Seated Christmas party games for kids: for snack time and settling down
11Christmas Pictionary
Write Christmas words on slips (star, snowman, sleigh, stocking, reindeer, gingerbread man). One child picks a slip and draws it on a whiteboard while teammates guess. Use a one minute sand timer and let everyone guess in a group.
Ages: 6 to 8 (5 with a buddy).
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: a whiteboard or paper, markers, a sand timer.
- Safety: dry-erase markers have caps; adult keeps caps in a cup so none gets in a mouth.
12Who am I? Christmas characters
Tape a sticky note with a picture (not a word) on each child's headband. They ask yes or no questions to guess their picture: Is it alive? Does it fly? Pictures avoid reading, so the 5 and 6 year olds can play too.
Ages: 5 to 8.
Prep: 8 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: paper headbands, sticky notes, markers.
- Safety: headbands must fit loosely; take it off if a child tugs at it.
13Gift tower challenge
Give each team ten empty boxes in different sizes. In three minutes, they build the tallest tower that stays up for 10 seconds. Then take it down together and go again, with a new rule: bottom box must be the biggest.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes to wrap boxes, or none with plain boxes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: 10 empty boxes per team, a timer.
- Safety: empty cardboard boxes only; keep the tower below the shoulder so nothing falls on a face.
14Mystery gift bag
Put five soft objects in a cloth bag (a felt star, a mitten, a wooden spoon, a pinecone, a large wooden bell). Kids reach in without looking and describe what they feel while the others guess. A calm finish for the last five minutes of the party.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 3 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: a cloth bag and 5 safe objects.
- Safety: pick objects too big to fit through a toilet paper tube, and check them for sharp edges first.
15Christmas picture bingo
The last game for the quiet round. Use picture cards (tree, star, bell, sleigh) so kids who cannot read can play, and give a candy cane to everyone at the end. Our Christmas Activity Pack has a bingo set for up to 6 players.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes with the pack.
Mess: none.
Supplies: bingo cards, counters.
- Safety: use large counters (button-size or smaller is a choking risk under 3).
Christmas party games for kids by age: who plays what
| Age | Best games | Skip |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 4 | Musical stockings, snowman bowling, pin the star, mitten match, picture bingo | Pictionary, who am I, relays with a long lane |
| 5 to 6 | Ring toss, ornament spoon relay, snowball scoop, mystery bag, gift tower | Games that need reading |
| 7 to 8 | Wrap the present relay, Santa belly waddle, Pictionary, who am I, two-ornament spoon relay | Games that are too easy; add a rule to make them harder |
For mixed ages, pair each small child with an older buddy, then give the older one a job: be the caller, the timer or the judge. For more ideas on keeping the evening calm, see the Christmas activities for kids at home list, which has 6 quick games and a family quiz.
What a Christmas party game kit for 12 kids costs
| Item | How many | Used in | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic rings | 12 to 18 | Rudolph ring toss | $8 to $14 |
| White paper cups | 10 | Snowman bowling | $3 to $5 |
| Wooden spoons | 4 | Ornament spoon relay | $4 to $8 |
| Plastic ornaments | 6 | Ornament spoon relay | $6 to $12 |
| Wrapping paper and ribbon | 2 rolls | Wrap the present, gift tower | $6 to $14 |
| Small jars with lids | 6 | Mystery sound jars | $6 to $12 |
| Paper, tape, markers, sticky notes | 1 set | Most games | $8 to $15 |
That is about $40 to $80 for the whole kit, and almost everything is reusable next year. These are example prices only, not a budget recommendation.
Christmas party games checklist
Safety notes for Christmas party games for kids
Under the CPSC small parts rule, anything that fits inside a 1.25 inch cylinder (about the width of a toilet paper tube) is a choking hazard for children under 3. If a toddler sibling is in the room, keep jingle bells, pom poms, cotton balls and big counters out of reach, and always keep an adult within arm's reach. Every game above lists its own safety line too.
More Christmas ideas for the same party
Planning gifts too? Our list of Christmas gifts for preschool students works for a class party, and the Christmas scavenger hunt makes a good take-home game.
Christmas party game supplies
Christmas party games: supplies
-
Plastic ring toss rings
Typically $8 to $14
Soft rings for the Rudolph game, with plenty of spares.
Check price on Amazon for Plastic ring toss rings -
Shatterproof plastic Christmas ornaments
Typically $6 to $12
Safe for the spoon relay and the gift tower.
Check price on Amazon for Shatterproof plastic Christmas ornaments -
Wooden spoons, 12 pack
Typically $6 to $12
One per team member for the relays.
Check price on Amazon for Wooden spoons, 12 pack -
Felt Christmas stockings, set of 12
Typically $10 to $18
The musical stockings game, plus favor bags.
Check price on Amazon for Felt Christmas stockings, set of 12 -
Sand timers, 1 and 3 minute
Typically $6 to $12
Easy turn limits for Pictionary and the building challenge.
Check price on Amazon for Sand timers, 1 and 3 minute
Frequently asked questions
What are good Christmas party games for kids?
Musical stockings, snowman bowling, Rudolph ring toss, a wrap-the-present relay, Christmas Pictionary and a mystery gift bag are easy, low-prep games for ages 3 to 8.
How many games do you need for a kids Christmas party?
Five or six games for a 60 to 90 minute party, with one calm game first, loud ones in the middle and a calm one last.
What Christmas party games work for a mixed-age group?
Games with teams or buddy pairs work best: the older child reads, times or judges while the younger one plays.
How long should a kids Christmas party be?
Plan 60 minutes for ages 3 to 5 and up to 90 for ages 6 to 8, including a snack break. Each game runs 5 to 8 minutes.
What Christmas party games need no prep?
Christmas Pictionary, the mystery gift bag, musical stockings and pin the star on the tree each take about 3 to 10 minutes to set up and use things already in the house.
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