Planning a holiday gathering and need easy, zero-stress Christmas party games for kids?
Whether you’re hosting a classroom celebration, a family get-together, or a cozy party at home, these kid-approved games bring the laughter, movement, and magic of the season — without requiring hours of prep.
I’m always looking for games that are simple to set up, developmentally appropriate, and ridiculously fun. The kind of games where the kids are giggling, moving, and totally entertained… and you’re not scrambling for supplies.
Here are my favorite Christmas party games for kids — from toddlers to big kids — that your family or classroom will want to play again and again!
- Check out more fun and festive Christmas activities for kids!
We get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
33 Christmas Party Games for Kids
1. Candy Cane Hunt
Age Range: 2–10
Players: 1–20+
Candy Cane Hunts are hands-down one of the easiest Christmas party games for kids — and they’re pretty fun too. Think of it like an Easter egg hunt but with festive red-and-white treats. Before the party, hide candy canes around the room at varying heights and difficulty levels.
Toddlers do best when the candy canes are big and clearly visible (think tucked into a shoe rack or placed on a low shelf). Older kids love the challenge of finding ones hidden behind books, resting on doorknobs, or tucked into tree branches.
Variation: Use reusable plastic candy canes or hide felt candy canes for a no-candy option.
Extra fun: Give each child a little “North Pole bag” to collect their items.
- Check out more fun and simple Christmas activities for toddlers!
2. Build-a-Snowman Relay
Age Range: 4–12
Players: 4–20 (teams of 3–5)
This game is total holiday chaos in the BEST way. Divide kids into small teams and give each group a roll of toilet paper, a scarf, a winter hat, and something to use as a nose — a cone, a paper triangle, even an orange toy block works.
One child volunteers to be the “snowman.” On your signal, the rest of the team races to wrap them head-to-toe in toilet paper. The laughter starts early as the “snowman” tries to stay still while friends wrap, spin, and decorate them. Once wrapped, kids add accessories and shout when they’re done.
Have a little snowman fashion show once done!
Why I love it: It encourages teamwork, silliness, and those holiday photos you’ll treasure (or gently tease them about!) for years.
Challenge mode: Set a 2-minute timer and see which team creates the most snowman-like figure before time runs out.
3. Reindeer Run Obstacle Course
Age Range: 3–10
Players: Any
Kids are natural obstacle course lovers, and adding Christmas flair sends excitement through the roof. Create an easy course using items you already have: pillows to leap over like “snowdrifts,” a table to crawl under as the “North Pole tunnel,” a line of painter’s tape to balance-walk across like an icy bridge, and a bucket at the end where they must toss a snowball.
Add a reindeer antler headband and invite the kids to pretend they’re reindeer training for Christmas Eve. You’ll see them make sound effects, prance dramatically, and fully commit to the role. It’s imaginative play and physical activity wrapped into one magical moment.
For toddlers: Skip the racing and simply guide them through one station at a time.
4. Christmas Freeze Dance
Age Range: 2–10
Players: 1–20+
Turn on your favorite Christmas playlist — upbeat, bouncy, cheerful songs work best — and let the kids dance all around the room. Suddenly pause the music and shout “Freeze!” They must hold their positions like statues until the music starts again.
This game is absolutely loved by toddlers and preschoolers. They take freezing VERY seriously for about half a second and then burst into giggles. Older kids enjoy trying to hold silly freeze poses like “snowflake,” “Santa’s belly laugh,” or “Christmas tree.”
Low-prep tip: Keep your phone nearby so you can quickly start/stop the music.
- Check out more great music and movement activities for kids!
5. Snowball Toss
Age Range: 3–12
Players: 1–10
A wonderfully simple game that uses materials you probably already have. Make “snowballs” by crumpling up white printer paper or rolling pairs of white socks. Set up a few baskets or Christmas buckets at different distances across the room. Each bucket can be worth different point amounts — the farther it is, the more points.
Kids take turns tossing snowballs and counting their scores. It’s a great hand-eye coordination activity and fits perfectly into a classroom holiday rotation.
North Pole Bonus Basket: Place one really far and award triple points.
6. Ornament Spoon Race
Age Range: 4–12
Players: 2–10
This Christmas twist on the egg-and-spoon race is a huge hit. Give each child a spoon and a shatterproof ornament (the bigger, the easier). Kids balance the ornament on the spoon and race across the room without dropping it.
What makes the game charming is the dramatic slow-motion “don’t-drop-it” faces kids make as they creep forward, trying to steady their hands. If you’ve got multiple rounds, switch to smaller ornaments or have them walk backward for an added challenge.
Pro tip: Shatterproof ornaments only. Trust me.
Variation: Use small spoons and cotton balls, and have teams transfer all their snowballs from one bowl to another at the far end of the room.
7. Snowball Bowling
Age Range: 3–10
Players: 1–8
Turn your hallway or living room into a mini bowling alley. Use empty plastic bottles as pins (wrap them in white paper to look like snowmen!) and let kids roll a soft ball to knock them down. When the pins fall, the jingling sound (add bells inside!) makes it extra festive.
Bowling is fun for all ages, and little ones love seeing a big visual reaction when everything topples over. Let kids take turns setting up the pins — it’s secretly a great spatial-awareness activity.
8. Reindeer Ring Toss
Age Range: 3–12
Players: 2–10
One child (or a silly adult) wears inflatable reindeer antlers. The rest take turns tossing rings to see who can land the most on the antlers. Kids laugh hysterically watching the “reindeer” try not to move while rings fly past their face.
For little ones, stand closer and use larger rings. Older kids can stand farther away or try trick throws.
Maximum joy version: Have an adult — dad, uncle, or teacher — wear the antlers. Kids LOVE seeing grown-ups in goofy roles.
9. Penguin Waddle Race
Age Range: 3–10
Players: 2–12
Give each child a balloon and have them place it between their knees. On your signal, they must waddle to the finish line without dropping or popping the balloon.
Watching kids try to move while keeping the balloon in place is pure comedy. They take tiny penguin steps, arms out for balance, faces serious with concentration. This game works especially well in a long hallway or gym.
Extra fun: Add “icebergs” (pillows) to step around.
10. Santa’s Sack Race (Mini Version)
Age Range: 4–12
Players: 2–10
Use pillowcases as mini Santa sacks. Kids step inside, hold the edges, and hop to the finish line. It’s all the fun of a potato sack race, but sized for indoor play.
Kids love pretending they’re Santa delivering gifts, and the hopping adds just the right amount of silliness. For mixed ages, let younger kids hop shorter distances or race next to an adult.
Variation: Have kids hop around cones or do a “zig-zag” path.
11. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
Age Range: 3–10
Players: 2–15
Tape a large picture of Rudolph to the wall and give each child a paper nose with their name on it. Blindfold them (or don’t for younger kids), spin them once or twice, and let them try to stick the nose on the right spot.
The final poster — with noses stuck on Rudolph’s eyes, antlers, and belly — becomes a funny keepsake. Kids LOVE seeing where everyone’s nose ended up.
House-friendly tip: Use painter’s tape so it removes easily.
12. Christmas Bingo
Age Range: 3–12
Players: 2–20+
Christmas Bingo is perfect for calming the energy down after all the active party games. Use printable cards with symbols like trees, stockings, presents, cocoa mugs, and ornaments. Instead of numbers, you simply call out the picture.
Toddlers delight in matching the pictures, while older kids enjoy the excitement of shouting “Bingo!” You can play blackout, four corners, or classic five-in-a-row. Small prizes like candy, stickers, or holiday pencils work great.
13. Christmas Charades
Age Range: 5–12
Players: 3–15
This is one of those games where kids end up rolling on the floor laughing — especially when someone attempts to act out “a reindeer tangled in lights” or “Santa stuck in the chimney.”
Prepare a bowl filled with holiday-themed prompts such as:
- Wrapping presents
- Decorating a Christmas tree
- Sledding downhill
- North Pole elves working
- Gingerbread man running away
Kids draw a slip and act it out without speaking, while the rest try to guess. Younger children may need pictures instead of words, but they catch on quickly and LOVE the performing part.
Why it works: Kids get to be dramatic, silly, and fully expressive — all things they naturally excel at. Plus it’s collaborative, which keeps the mood joyful and light.
14. Christmas Pictionary
Age Range: 5–12
Players: 4–20
Pictionary is perfect for a larger group and can be played with a whiteboard, chalkboard, or simply a giant pad of paper taped to the wall. Create a stack of holiday-themed prompts — everything from candy canes to mistletoe to Santa’s sleigh — and let kids take turns drawing while their team guesses.
One of the best parts is watching kids think through “how do I draw THIS?!” — especially when you throw in trickier ones like “reindeer barn” or “stocking stuffer.”
Pro tip: Turn on a one-minute timer for added excitement. Kids LOVE the countdown pressure.
15. Christmas Memory Match
Age Range: 3–8
Players: 1–6
Lay out pairs of holiday-themed picture cards face down on a table. Kids flip over two cards at a time, working to find matches. Preschoolers focus intensely while flipping, comparing, and remembering where each card was. Even toddlers can play a simplified version by leaving cards face-up and matching duplicates.
It’s a calming, screen-free game that builds attention skills, visual memory, and focus — all without kids knowing they’re learning.
16. Guess What’s in Santa’s Bag
Age Range: 3–10
Players: 2–12
Fill a pillowcase with holiday-themed items — a jingle bell, pinecone, toy reindeer, ornament, candy cane, ribbon — and let kids reach in without looking. They feel around and try to guess the object purely by touch.
Children LOVE sensory guessing games. They are fully absorbed in the process, describing what they feel: “It’s round… kind of bumpy… maybe a snowman?”
Turn it into a team game by giving each group a chance to guess before revealing.
Variation: Add harder-to-identify items for older kids.
17. Christmas Scattergories
Age Range: 7–12
Players: 2–10
Choose a letter (like “S”) and challenge kids to list as many holiday-related things as they can that start with that letter in 60 seconds:
- Santa
- Sleigh
- Snow
- Stockings
- Sprinkles
- Snowman
- Scarf
When the timer ends, compare lists. Kids cross off duplicates and keep points for unique answers.
It’s fast, funny, and sparks creative thinking — especially when kids try to argue that “Soggy fruitcake” should count.
18. Hot Cocoa Conversation Cards
Age Range: 3–10
Players: Any
Perfect for quiet moments or snack time, these simple prompts spark imagination and connection. Ask questions like:
- “Would you rather build a snow fort or decorate cookies?”
- “If you could rename Santa’s reindeer, what would you call them?”
- “What flavor hot cocoa would you invent?”
This gives kids a chance to slow down, share ideas, and practice taking turns in conversation — a wonderful reset if energy is running high.
Pro tip: Prewrite the questions on cards or slips of paper.
- Check out all these silly and festive Christmas Would You Rather questions for kids!
19. Gingerbread Man Scavenger Hunt
Age Range: 2–8
Players: 1–15
Cut out gingerbread men from cardstock and decorate each one with different patterns — stripes, dots, swirls, buttons, or glitter. Hide them around your space before kids arrive.
Give children a checklist showing the designs they need to find. Younger kids can simply look for any gingerbread person; older kids try to find all matching designs. This becomes a delightful seek-and-find adventure, and the excitement builds as kids get closer to completing their list.
Make it a story: Tell them the gingerbread people “escaped” and must be found before they run off again!
20. Christmas Picture Scavenger Hunt (Neighborhood Walk)
Age Range: 2–10
Players: Any
Bundle up and head outside for a Christmas-themed walk. Give kids a checklist of simple pictures to find:
- A house with lights
- A wreath on a door
- A red bow
- A candy cane decoration
- An inflatable character
- A window candle
Even toddlers can participate by pointing and matching pictures to what they see. It turns an ordinary walk into a magical neighborhood adventure where kids feel like detectives.
Extra magic: Bring clipboards — kids LOVE having a “real job.”
21. Find the Elf
Age Range: 3–10
Players: Any
Hide a small elf doll in a new location each round. Kids get one clue (“The elf can see something green”), then they scatter to search every possible spot. When one child finds the elf, they get to hide it next.
This game transitions smoothly between other activities and keeps kids engaged without requiring any sort of extensive setup.
No Elf on the Shelf required — any elf or small Christmas character works.
- Psst, discover why I dislike the story of Elf on the Shelf!
22. Ornament Hide-and-Seek
Age Range: 3–10
Players: 1–12
Choose a single ornament — maybe a sparkly gold ball or a silly plush one — and hide it somewhere in the room. Kids work together to find it using “hot” and “cold” clues as they move around.
It’s simple, quick, and endlessly repeatable. Kids truly never get tired of this game. Let kids take turns hiding the ornament. Being “it” keeps them excited about playing.
Variation: Hide a new ornament each round and let kids keep them as party favors (cheap plastic ones work!).
23. Santa Says (Holiday Simon Says)
Age Range: 3–10
Players: 2–20+
A Christmas twist on Simon Says. You are “Santa,” and kids only obey commands that begin with “Santa says…” Kids absolutely love the silly instructions:
- “Santa says pat your belly like Santa!”
- “Santa says stomp like a reindeer!”
- “Santa says twirl like a snowflake!”
Then throw in: - “Wrap presents as fast as you can!” (WITHOUT ‘Santa says’)
The shrieks of “NOOOO! You didn’t say Santa says!” are holiday gold.
Best part: Kids can take turns being Santa. Add a. Santa hat to make it extra festive.
- Check out more Simon says ideas to keep the game going!
24. Holiday Musical Chairs
Age Range: 4–12
Players: 4–15
Set chairs in a circle and play festive music (“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” never fails). Kids walk around the chairs until the music stops — then scramble to sit.
For younger groups, skip the elimination and simply remove a chair each round while encouraging kids to share seats or squish in together. It becomes more cooperative and WAY kinder for little hearts.
Pro tip: Use floor markers or cushions to keep chairs from moving around.
25. Present Stacking Challenge
Age Range: 5–12
Players: 2–20
Kids work in pairs or small teams to stack wrapped gift boxes as high as they can without the tower collapsing. Use empty boxes in different sizes and place them all in the center of the room. On your signal, teams begin building their “present tower,” carefully choosing which boxes to place first and which to save for the top.
The best part is watching kids experiment with balance, problem-solving, and teamwork as their tower starts to wobble. The room always fills with gasps and giggles when a stack leans dramatically or crashes down.
Variation: Add a “speed round” with a 60-second timer or challenge kids to place a lightweight stuffed animal on the very top.
26. Snowball Race
Age Range: 4–10
Players: 2–8
This hilarious challenge uses a cotton ball (“snowball”) placed at one end of a table. Each child gets a straw and must blow the snowball all the way to the finish line without touching it. As soon as the race starts, the seriousness on their faces, combined with the wobbly cotton ball drifting unpredictably, is comedy gold.
Kids learn quickly that gentle, controlled blows work best—but they can’t help bursting into laughter when their beard floats sideways or off the table entirely.
I love the simplicty of this Christmas party game for kids!
Competitive twist: Add obstacles like mini candy canes that the snowball has to glide around.
27. Christmas Present Pass (Layered Gift Game)
Age Range: 3–12
Players: 3–15
A holiday twist on “Pass the Parcel.” Wrap a small prize in lots layers of wrapping paper and several boxes. Kids sit in a circle and pass the present around while Christmas music plays. When you stop the music, the child holding the present unwraps one layer.
Kids wait in breathless anticipation, hoping this will be the layer with the surprise inside. You can add tiny treats or silly challenges between layers (e.g., “act like a reindeer” or “sing one line of a carol”). This keeps the whole circle engaged the entire time.
Best part: Even the unwrapping process feels exciting during the holidays.
28. Elf Training Course
Age Range: 3–10
Players: Any
Transform your space into Santa’s workshop training academy. Set up mini challenges that elves would need to practice—balancing a present on their head, tiptoeing quietly past the “sleeping Santa,” jumping over “snow piles,” crawling under the “toy shelves,” and stacking three blocks as fast as possible.
Kids LOVE pretending they’re real elves working to earn their matching elf hats. They fully commit, prancing, sneaking, and giggling through each station. This game blends imagination with movement in the best possible way.
Toddler tip: Slow it down and guide them gently through each station.
29. Christmas Cookie Balance Race
Age Range: 4–12
Players: 2–10
Give each child a cookie (real or pretend!) and have them place it on their forehead. Without using hands, they must wiggle, scrunch, and tilt their face until the cookie slides all the way into their mouth.
It’s one of the most hysterical games to watch. Kids make the funniest expressions as they attempt to navigate the cookie downward. Nobody stays serious for long — the moment someone loudly celebrates getting the cookie into their mouth, the whole room cheers.
Parent tip: Use lightweight cookies like vanilla wafers to avoid forehead crumbs and smashing.
30. Red & Green M&M Guessing Jar
Age Range: 4–12
Players: 2–20
Before the party, pour a bunch of M&Ms into a clear jar (a mason jar works perfectly). Make sure to count them first — kids will absolutely ask! Then seal the jar and place it on a table where everyone can look closely.
Give each child a small slip of paper and let them write down (or tell you) their guess. You’ll see them walking around the jar, peering at it from every angle, trying to decide if it looks like “a million” or “maybe 76?” The suspense builds as everyone eagerly waits for the reveal.
Once all the guesses are in, announce the real number and let the child who guessed closest win the entire jar.
Variation: Use small bells, red and green pom-poms, or Lego pieces instead for a candy-free option.
31. Santa’s Chimney Toss
Age Range: 4–12
Players: 1–10
Turn an ordinary cardboard box into Santa’s chimney by decorating it with brick-colored paper or markers. Then give kids soft beanbags or little foam “presents” to toss from a short distance away. Their mission: help Santa deliver the presents by getting them into the chimney.
It’s trickier than it looks! Kids adjust their stance, try underhand throws, attempt “high arch” tosses, and erupt with cheers every time they land one. This game feels especially magical when you add a few Christmas lights or cotton “snow” around the chimney.
Variation: Move the box farther away between rounds to make it progressively harder.
32. Christmas Cup Knockdown
Age Range: 3–12
Players: 1–10
Stack plastic cups into a pyramid—red Solo cups look especially festive. Give kids soft “snowballs” made from socks or crumpled white paper, and let them take turns knocking the pyramid down. Kids can move further away for a greater challenge.
Kids LOVE seeing the cups explode into a colorful avalanche. This game becomes more exciting with each rebuild, as kids try to build the tallest castle possible. After the knockdown, many groups naturally take over and invent new stacking challenges.
Quiet tip: Put a yoga mat underneath for softer landings.
33. Santa Says Freeze Photo Booth
Age Range: 3–12
Players: Any
This game combines freeze dance with a silly holiday photo booth. Turn on upbeat Christmas music and let the kids dance. When the music suddenly stops, call out a pose like “Reindeer!”, “Elf on a Shelf!”, or “Snowman!” Kids must instantly freeze in that position — arms up, faces silly, legs mid-step — and hold it.
You can take pretend photos (which they think is hilarious) or snap real pictures for adorable keepsakes. Kids naturally try to outdo each other with the most dramatic or funny pose, and every freeze moment ends with laughter when the music starts again.
Pose ideas: tangled lights, toy soldier marching, gingerbread cookie, Christmas tree, reindeer, snowman, wrapping a giant present
Tips for Stress-Free Christmas Party Games
If you’re coordinating a party with lots of kids (classroom parents, I see you), here’s what makes everything smoother:
• Plan for movement
Kids are extra wiggly this time of year — choose at least one game that lets them move their bodies.
• Keep supplies simple
If you need more than 1–2 items, it’s probably too complicated for party day.
• Have a few backup “quiet” games
Coloring pages, sticker scenes, or Christmas lacing cards can offer a calming breather.
• Let kids lead when possible
They’ll add their own twists — and honestly, their versions are usually funnier.
Final Thoughts on Christmas Party Games for Kids
Christmas parties with kids can be magical, joyful, and surprisingly easy when you have the right games lined up. Whether you mix in active games, silly games, or simple scavenger hunts, these Christmas party games for kids bring all the holiday fun without any overwhelm.
- Add to the holiday fun with these silly Christmas jokes for kids!
No Comments