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Christmas games for kids keep little ones busy while the cookies bake and the grown-ups catch up. Here are 22 ideas, from active party games to quiet table games and simple board games for a cozy afternoon. Most need only paper, tape and things you already have in the house.
Our pick for a quiet game by the tree: Guess Who
Two players ask yes-or-no questions to find each other’s hidden person. It is quick, needs no reading for most questions, and usually costs about $15 (it is often on sale for less).
Price band: $10–$20 (about $15) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Active Christmas party games for kids
- Santa says: play Simon Says with Santa giving the orders, like “Santa says pull your sleigh.”
- Reindeer ring toss: wear a paper antler headband while friends toss rings onto the antlers.
- Snowball relay: carry a cotton ball on a spoon across the room and back without dropping it.
- Tinsel limbo: hold a strand of tinsel low and see who can get under it to Christmas music.
- Wrap the snowman: teams race to wrap one player in toilet paper like a snowman.
- Musical presents: pass a wrapped box while music plays. Whoever holds it when the music stops unwraps one layer.
Quiet Christmas games for kids
- What’s missing from the tree: put ornaments on a tray, remove one while kids close their eyes, and ask what is gone.
- Christmas I spy: take turns spotting decorations around the room by color.
- Draw the snowman: roll a die to decide which part to draw next, like the hat or the scarf.
- Gift-bow hunt: hide bows around the room and see who finds the most in two minutes.
- Christmas story chain: each child adds one sentence to a holiday story.
Board and table games for Christmas Day
- Guessing game: Guess Who is a two-player game for ages 6 and up. Ask about hats, glasses or hair color until you know the hidden face.
- First race game: Chutes and Ladders is for ages 3 and up and only needs counting, so the youngest guests can join in.
- Family race: Sorry! is for 2 to 4 players ages 6 and up. Sliding ahead or bumping another pawn back to start keeps the laughs coming.
- Tile-laying for kids: Cascadia Junior has children build a habitat with animal tiles, a calmer game for after the presents are opened.
- Gift exchange game: wrap small prizes and let kids roll a die to steal or swap them.
- Christmas bingo: make bingo cards with pictures of a tree, a star, a stocking and other decorations, and cover each one as you call it.
- Holiday memory game: print two copies of Christmas pictures, place them face down and take turns finding the pairs.
Christmas crafts that double as games
- Ornament race: give each child a paper ornament to decorate in five minutes, then hold a quick vote for the most colorful one.
- Paper chain countdown: make a chain with one link for each day until Christmas, and write a mini game on every link.
- Gingerbread design contest: decorate cookies or paper gingerbread people and let the grown-ups judge categories like silliest and most sparkly.
- Snowflake cutting: fold and cut paper snowflakes, then see whose design is the most detailed when you open them up.
Christmas games by age
| Age | Best games | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 5 | Santa says, Christmas I spy, Chutes and Ladders | Keep games short and let everyone win something |
| 6 to 8 | Reindeer ring toss, Guess Who, Sorry! | Mix active and quiet games |
| 9 to 12 | Musical presents, story chain, Cascadia Junior | Let them run a game for the younger kids |
Tips for running Christmas games with kids
- Plan a few more games than you need, then drop any that aren’t working.
- Alternate active and quiet games so kids don’t get overexcited before dinner.
- Pair older kids with younger ones on teams.
- Have small prizes, like candy canes, stickers or the first pick of cookies.
- Clear breakables away from the space you use for active games.
Want more ideas? Try our Christmas riddles for kids and adults, or browse the best stocking stuffer games for kids.
Christmas games for kids FAQ
What games can kids play at a Christmas party?
Try Santa says, reindeer ring toss, a snowball relay, tinsel limbo and musical presents.
What are quiet Christmas games for kids?
What’s missing from the tree, Christmas I spy, a story chain and board games like Guess Who are good quiet picks.
What Christmas games work for toddlers and preschoolers?
Keep it simple with Santa says, Christmas I spy and a first board game like Chutes and Ladders.
How do you keep kids busy on Christmas Day?
Mix active party games with a board game or two and a simple craft, and alternate between them.
