20 Christmas Games for Kids
Every December, my living room turns into a small, joyful chaos of wrapping paper, cousins, and children who need something to do right now. Over the years I have learned that the best christmas games for kids are not the fanciest ones, but the ones that keep every age busy without me refereeing all afternoon.
I picked these 20 games the way I pick everything for my house: I played them first, at home and at family parties, with children aged 3 to 12. If a game needed too much setup, caused tears, or left half the kids sitting out, it did not make this list. What stayed are the games my own family asks for again every year.
Key Takeaways
- Mix active, quiet, and team games so younger kids and older kids all get a turn to shine.
- Most games here need nothing more than paper, tape, and things already in your Christmas box.
- Keep rounds short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and always have a small prize for every player.
- An adult should supervise games with small parts, blindfolds, or outdoor play after dark.
20 Christmas Games for Kids We Actually Played
1. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
I drew a big Rudolph face on a piece of cardboard one snowy afternoon, and it has survived four Christmases taped to our hallway wall. Each child gets a red pom-pom nose with tape on the back, spins around twice, and tries to stick it in the right spot while blindfolded.
The first time we played, my youngest stuck the nose on Rudolph’s ear and declared it a new style. Now that is a running joke in our house. Keep the spin gentle for little ones so nobody gets dizzy, and let everyone have a turn before you judge a winner.
Pro Tip: Use painter’s tape on the noses so they peel off the poster without tearing it.
Cost: Under $5 | Time: 15 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 3+
2. Christmas Musical Chairs
We play this one with a circle of kitchen chairs and a playlist of Christmas songs, and it never fails to get giggles. When the music stops, everyone scrambles for a seat, and the child left standing picks the next song before rejoining the game.
I changed one rule after our first year: nobody is really out. The standing child becomes the DJ for a round, then comes back in. That way no one sits on the sidelines feeling left out, which matters a lot with younger kids.
Pro Tip: Put a rug or mat under the chairs so they do not slide on hard floors.
Cost: Free | Time: 15 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 4+
3. Cotton Snowball Toss
Fill a bucket with cotton balls and let kids toss them into bowls, baskets, or a laundry basket from a taped line on the floor. It sounds too simple, but my kids played it for forty minutes straight last Christmas Eve while I finished wrapping gifts.
The trick is to move the line back a little each round so older kids stay challenged. Cotton balls are soft, silent, and will not break anything, which makes this the game I reach for when the house is already full of breakable decorations.
Pro Tip: Give each child a different colored bowl so scoring is easy at a glance.
Cost: Under $3 | Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 3+
4. Candy Cane Relay Race
Each team gets a candy cane to carry on a spoon, or hooked over one finger, from one end of the room to the other and back. Drop it and you start over. The first time we played, my son dropped his cane six times and laughed harder each time.
This one works best in a hallway or a cleared living room. I tape a start and finish line with painter’s tape, and I keep spare candy canes ready because a few always get eaten mid-race. That is part of the fun, honestly.
Pro Tip: Use full-size candy canes, not minis, so little hands can grip them easily.
Cost: Under $5 | Time: 15 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 4+ | Safety: Watch toddlers with hard candy; broken pieces can be sharp.
5. Christmas Bingo
I print bingo cards with Christmas pictures instead of numbers, like a tree, a star, a stocking, and a snowman. I call out the pictures from a hat, and the kids mark their cards with buttons or coins.
Picture bingo is wonderful because even children who cannot read yet can play on their own. Last year my five-year-old won twice and still talks about it. Laminate the cards if you want to reuse them, or just print fresh ones each December.
Pro Tip: Make the center square a free space so every game moves a little faster.
Cost: Free to print | Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 3+
6. Gift Wrap Relay
Split the kids into teams and give each team a small box, wrapping paper, scissors, and tape. One child wraps for thirty seconds, then passes the box on, and the next child continues. The team with the neatest finished package wins.
I learned to use small boxes, like shoe boxes or cereal boxes, because big ones take forever. The results are gloriously messy, and the kids love judging each other’s wrapping. Keep safety scissors for the youngest players, and let an adult handle the tape dispenser.
Pro Tip: Pre-cut the paper into sheets so no time is lost unrolling during the race.
Cost: Under $5 | Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Medium | Ages: 5+
7. Christmas Charades
Write Christmas words on slips of paper, like building a snowman, decorating a tree, or Santa stuck in a chimney. Kids act them out without talking while their team guesses. My daughter’s impression of a reindeer slipping on ice is now a family legend.
For younger children, use picture cards instead of words so they can play without reading. Keep the acting area clear of furniture, and set a one-minute timer so turns stay snappy and nobody feels put on the spot for too long.
Pro Tip: Sort the cards into easy and hard piles so you can match the difficulty to each child’s age.
Cost: Free | Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 5+
8. Snowman Building Race
If you have snow, divide kids into teams and see who can build the best snowman in fifteen minutes. We judge on height, creativity, and the silliest face. One year the winning snowman wore my husband’s scarf and my daughter’s sunglasses.
I set a timer on my phone and call out the minutes remaining, which adds just enough excitement. Make sure everyone has gloves and a warm drink waiting inside, and set a clear boundary for where teams can gather snow so nobody wanders off.
Pro Tip: Bring a bag of buttons, carrots, and old scarves so teams are not hunting for supplies mid-race.
Cost: Free | Time: 30 minutes | Difficulty: Medium | Ages: 4+ | Safety: Supervise outdoor play and watch for icy patches.
9. Tree Decorating Relay
Set up a small tree, or a cardboard tree taped to the wall, and give each team a basket of unbreakable ornaments. Kids race one at a time to hang one ornament, then tag the next player. The team that finishes first, with every ornament actually on the tree, wins.
I use plastic ornaments only for this game after one memorable year involving a shattered glass ball. It is a lovely way to let kids decorate without me hovering, and the tree looks wonderfully chaotic by the end.
Pro Tip: Count the ornaments before you start so both teams get exactly the same number.
Cost: Free if you use your own ornaments | Time: 15 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 3+
10. Santa Says
This is Simon Says with a Christmas twist, and it works beautifully for mixed ages. Santa says touch your toes, Santa says hop like a reindeer, and anyone who moves without hearing Santa says is out for that round.
I play the caller first so I can keep the commands silly and simple, then I hand the role to an older child. The game needs no supplies at all, which makes it my backup plan whenever a party runs longer than expected and I need something instantly.
Pro Tip: Let eliminated players become judges who watch for mistakes, so nobody sits out bored.
Cost: Free | Time: 10 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 3+
11. Reindeer Antler Ring Toss
One child wears a headband with antlers, or holds up two fingers like antlers, while teammates toss rings made from paper plates with the centers cut out. It is simple, silly, and surprisingly competitive once the older kids start keeping score.
I make the rings from paper plates and let the kids decorate them first, which doubles as a quiet craft before the game starts. Stand younger players closer to the antlers, and move older ones back a step each round.
Pro Tip: Rotate the antler-wearer every few minutes so everyone gets a turn in the spotlight.
Cost: Under $3 | Time: 15 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 3+
12. Stocking Guessing Game
Fill a Christmas stocking with mystery objects, like a pinecone, a jingle bell, a candy cane, and a small toy. Kids reach in without looking and guess what they are touching. The child with the most correct guesses wins a small prize.
I started this game when my youngest was afraid of the dark and would not play blindfold games. Reaching into a stocking felt safe and fun instead. Check the objects first for sharp edges, and avoid tiny items for children under four.
Pro Tip: Use a mix of easy and tricky items so both little and big kids can score points.
Cost: Free | Time: 15 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 4+ | Safety: No small parts for toddlers.
Related article: if your kids love hands-on Christmas fun, read my Christmas Crafts for Kids next for quiet activities between games.
13. Christmas Freeze Dance
Play Christmas music and let the kids dance however they like. When the music stops, everyone freezes like a statue. Anyone who wiggles becomes the next DJ. My kids add their own rule: the frozen pose has to look like a Christmas character.
This is the game I use when energy levels are high and I need to burn some of it off before dinner. It works in any room with space to move, and it needs nothing but a phone and a playlist. Clear the floor first so nobody trips.
Pro Tip: Use a mix of fast and slow songs so the freezing moments feel different every time.
Cost: Free | Time: 15 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 3+
14. Cookie Decorating Contest
Bake a batch of plain sugar cookies in advance, set out icing, sprinkles, and crushed candy canes, and let each child decorate two cookies. We vote on categories like silliest, most colorful, and most likely to be eaten first.
I learned to cover the table with a plastic tablecloth and give each child their own small plate of supplies, which cut the mess and the arguments in half. The cookies double as dessert, so this game earns its place at every party I host.
Pro Tip: Put icing in squeeze bottles instead of bowls so little hands make less mess.
Cost: Under $10 | Time: 30 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 3+ | Safety: Check for nut and food allergies before you start.
15. Snowball Spoon Relay
Give each team a spoon and a cotton ball snowball. Kids race to carry the snowball on the spoon to a bucket and back without dropping it. If it falls, they pick it up and keep going, which keeps the game friendly for younger players.
I run this one in the hallway because the floor is easy to clean and the straight line keeps teams fair. Older kids can balance the spoon on one hand, while younger ones can hold it with both hands. Everyone finishes, and everyone cheers.
Pro Tip: Use a tablespoon for little kids and a teaspoon for older ones to even the challenge.
Cost: Under $3 | Time: 15 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 4+
16. Pass the Present
Wrap a small gift in many layers of paper, with a tiny treat between some layers. Kids sit in a circle and pass the parcel while music plays. When the music stops, the child holding it unwraps one layer.
The child who unwraps the final layer keeps the gift, but I make sure every layer hides a little something so nobody leaves empty-handed. This game taught me to keep the music rounds short, or the youngest players lose patience waiting for their turn.
Pro Tip: Use newspaper or scrap paper for the outer layers to keep costs down.
Cost: Under $5 | Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 4+
17. Christmas Trivia Challenge
Write simple Christmas questions on cards, like what color is Rudolph’s nose, or what do you leave out for Santa. Teams take turns answering, and every correct answer earns a point. I mix easy questions with a few tricky ones for the older kids.
Trivia is my quiet-game secret weapon for the hour after lunch when everyone is full and sleepy. Let younger children answer in teams with an older sibling, and keep the questions about things they have actually seen in movies or books.
Pro Tip: Read the question aloud and show a picture clue for children who cannot read yet.
Cost: Free | Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Medium | Ages: 5+
18. Gingerbread House Race
Give each team a small graham cracker house kit, or pre-built cracker walls, plus icing and candy. Teams race to build and decorate the sturdiest, silliest house in twenty minutes. Ours usually collapse at least once, and that is half the fun.
I pre-build the walls with icing the night before so the houses hold up during the game. Without that step, the first collapse caused real tears in our house one year. Now the race is about decorating, not engineering, and everyone finishes proud.
Pro Tip: Put each house on a paper plate so it is easy to move and display afterward.
Cost: Under $15 for a group | Time: 30 minutes | Difficulty: Medium | Ages: 5+ | Safety: Check for food allergies before you buy the candy.
19. Elf Hide-and-Seek
Hide a small elf doll, or a printed elf picture, somewhere in the house, and let the kids search for it. The child who finds it gets to hide it next. We play this one all December long, and the hiding spots get more creative every single day.
I set two rules that keep it peaceful: the elf stays in common rooms, and no climbing on furniture to reach it. This game is perfect for a quiet afternoon when the weather is bad and everyone needs a calm activity that still feels exciting.
Pro Tip: Give a hot-or-cold hint after two minutes so younger searchers do not get frustrated.
Cost: Free | Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 3+
20. Christmas Carol Karaoke
Print lyric sheets for easy carols like Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls, and let kids take turns singing solo or in groups. We use a wooden spoon as a microphone, and the applause after every performance is always enormous.
Shy children can sing in a group or just clap along, and I never force a solo. The first year I hosted this, my quietest nephew sang the loudest of all, and now karaoke is the finale of every Christmas party we throw.
Pro Tip: Start with a group song so everyone warms up before any solos.
Cost: Free | Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Ages: 3+
Also read: my Christmas Eve Box Ideas pair beautifully with a game night, and the Christmas Movie Night Ideas make a perfect wind-down after the games end.
Christmas Games for Kids: Quick Comparison
| Game | Best For | Cost | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pin the Nose on Rudolph | Small groups, ages 3+ | Under $5 | Low |
| Musical Chairs / Freeze Dance | Burning off energy | Free | Low |
| Cotton Snowball Toss | Quiet indoor play | Under $3 | Low |
| Christmas Bingo / Trivia | Calm after-lunch hour | Free | Low |
| Gift Wrap / Spoon Relays | Team spirit | Under $5 | Medium |
| Cookie / Gingerbread Contests | Parties with dessert built in | Under $15 | Medium |
| Snowman Building Race | Snow days outdoors | Free | Medium |
Mistakes I Made / What I Learned the Hard Way
1. I planned too many games for one party. The first Christmas party I hosted had twelve games on the schedule, and we finished four. Kids do not want a timetable, they want time to enjoy the game they love. Now I plan five games and let the favorites repeat.
2. I used glass ornaments in a relay. One shattered ornament ended the game and nearly ended the party mood. Now every game ornament is plastic, and the glass ones stay high on the tree where little hands cannot reach them.
3. I forgot prizes for everyone. I once gave a big prize to the winner only, and a six-year-old cried quietly in the corner. Now every game ends with a small treat or sticker for every player, and the winner gets a bonus, not the only reward.
4. I skipped the safety talk. A blindfold game in a room full of toy trucks taught me to clear the floor first, every time. Now I walk the play area before any game starts, and outdoor games always have a set boundary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many christmas games for kids should I plan for one party? Plan four to five games for a two-hour party. In my experience, each game takes longer than you expect once you add setup and excited chatter, and kids love replaying a favorite more than rushing to the next thing.
What would you do differently with a mixed-age group? I would pair every child under five with an older buddy and choose games where age does not decide the winner, like bingo, guessing games, and decorating contests. Avoid elimination games unless eliminated players get a fun new role.
How long did your games actually last? Most of these lasted 15 to 20 minutes, and the decorating contests stretched to 30 minutes because the kids did not want to stop. The snowman race took the longest at about 30 minutes including dressing for the cold.
Can I play these games with just two or three kids? Yes. Bingo, guessing games, cookie decorating, and relays all work with a small group. For relay races with two kids, I let them race against the clock instead of each other, which keeps it fun without a big team.
Final Thoughts
The Christmas games my family remembers are not the ones with the best supplies, but the ones where everyone laughed, including me. Pick three or four from this list, keep the prizes small, and leave room for the games to stretch when the kids are having fun.
That is the whole secret: a good game night is not a schedule, it is a mood. Set it, step back, and enjoy watching your kids make the kind of December memories they will tell their own children about one day.
One Comment