Looking for ideas for a Christmas charades game that are easy enough for kids?
These simple prompts are perfect for a family game night, a classroom Christmas party, or a fun little holiday activity while you wait for the cookies to bake.
I like charades because it takes very little preparation and gives kids a chance to move, pretend, and be silly. You don’t need special supplies, and you can easily adjust the game for different ages.
- Add to the holiday fun with these Christmas jokes for kids!
How to Play Christmas Charades
Write your Christmas charades prompts on separate slips of paper (or use the printable lists below), fold them, and place them in a bowl. Players take turns choosing a slip and acting out the prompt without talking or making sound effects. Everyone else guesses what they’re doing.
For a relaxed family game, let everyone guess together and skip keeping score. If your group enjoys a little competition, divide into teams and give each actor 60 seconds to act out as many slips as possible for their team. A correct guess earns their team a point.
Playing with preschoolers or kids who aren’t reading yet? Whisper the prompt to them or let them act alongside a partner. You can also skip the timer so they have time to think and enjoy their turn.
- Check out all my favorite Christmas books for kids!
87 Ideas for a Christmas Charades Game
The first 45 ideas on this list are actions, such as “writing a Christmas card” instead of just “Christmas card.” These give players something specific to act out and can be a helpful starting point for younger kids.
Ideas 46–87 are Christmas objects and characters, like a candy cane, a Christmas tree, or Santa Claus. For these prompts, players use movements and gestures to show what they’re pretending to be.
Before you start, let everyone know which set of slips you’re playing with so they know what kinds of guesses to make.
- Make it easy by printing out all the ideas and simply cutting them into strips! 👇
Easy Christmas Charades Ideas for Kids
These familiar holiday activities are a good place to start, especially for younger kids.
- Decorating a Christmas tree
- Hanging a stocking
- Opening a present
- Wrapping a gift
- Putting a star on the tree
- Eating a candy cane
- Drinking hot chocolate
- Baking Christmas cookies
- Building a snowman
- Making a snow angel
- Throwing a snowball
- Riding a sled
- Ringing a bell
- Putting on mittens
- Mailing a letter to Santa
Don’t worry about getting the wording exactly right. If someone guesses “opening a gift” instead of “opening a present,” that certainly counts!
More Christmas Activities to Act Out
Here are more simple ideas for a Christmas charades game, inspired by holiday traditions and a little Christmas make-believe.
- Santa reading a letter
- Santa eating cookies
- Santa climbing down a chimney
- Decorating a gingerbread house
- Cutting out paper snowflakes
- Singing Christmas carols
- Taking a Christmas photo
- Choosing a Christmas tree
- Shaking a present
- Setting out cookies for Santa
- Pouring milk for Santa
- Hanging a wreath
- Writing a Christmas card
- Rolling out cookie dough
- Using a cookie cutter
- Putting sprinkles on cookies
- Hanging Christmas lights
- Plugging in Christmas lights
Choose prompts your kids recognize. If they’ve never decorated a gingerbread house, you can leave that one out or explain it before the game begins.
Winter Charades Ideas
Winter activities are easy additions to your Christmas charades game. Many of these involve big movements, making them good choices for younger players.
- Ice-skating
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Shoveling snow
- Catching snowflakes on your tongue
- Making a snowball
- Rolling a giant snowball
- Putting on snow boots
- Zipping up a winter coat
- Putting on a scarf
- Shivering
- Warming your hands by a fire
Christmas Items and Character Charade Ideas
For an alternate version of the game, use Christmas characters and items instead of actions. Let players know which version you’re playing so they know what kinds of guesses to make.
- Santa Claus
- Reindeer
- Christmas tree
- Gingerbread man
- Ugly Christmas sweater
- Candy cane
- Snowman
- Elf
- Mrs. Claus
- Christmas stocking
- Christmas present
- Santa’s sleigh
- Santa hat
- Christmas lights
- Christmas ornament
- Christmas wreath
- Gingerbread house
- Snowflake
- Snow globe
- Nutcracker
- Christmas angel
- Star
- Jingle bells
- Hot chocolate
- Christmas cookie
- Fireplace
- Chimney
- Ice skates
- Sled
- Scarf
- Mittens
- Snow boots
- Icicle
- Toy train
- Rocking horse
- Teddy bear
- Toy soldier
- Jack-in-the-box
- Christmas bow
- The Grinch
- Rudolph
- Frosty the Snowman
Tips for Playing Christmas Charades With Kids
Here are a few additional tips for playing charades with kids. Remember, the goal is to have fun, so always feel free to adapt the rules as needed!
• Play With a Partner
Two people can act out the same prompt together. This works especially well for kids who feel shy performing alone. One person might be Santa while the other becomes the chimney.
• Try a Cooperative Round
Play a collaborative version of the game! Have one person act while everyone else guesses as a group. See how many prompts you can figure out together in five minutes. This keeps the game moving without making anyone responsible for winning or losing.
• Let Kids Add Their Own Ideas
Leave a few blank slips beside the bowl so kids can contribute their own Christmas charades ideas. Their prompts might come from a favorite holiday tradition, a familiar story, or something funny that happened while decorating.
If a prompt is tricky, help them turn it into an action. “Christmas tree,” for example, could become “decorating a Christmas tree.”
• Make Passing an Option
Sometimes a player draws a prompt that doesn’t make sense to them or feels too difficult. Let them choose another one. The point is to have fun together, and there’s no reason to get stuck on a slip of paper.
Keep Your Christmas Charades Game Playful
The best ideas for a Christmas charades game are the ones your group enjoys acting out. Start with a few easy prompts, add some sillier ones as everyone gets comfortable, and let kids help shape the game.
You don’t have to use all 60 ideas or follow strict rules. A handful of prompts and ten minutes of pretending might be just the right amount of Christmas fun.
No Comments