9 Christmas-themed Games

It’s just a few more weeks until Christmas! If you’re looking for some Christmas-themed games to celebrate the season, here are nine  – some for younger kids and some for older.

Let the games begin!

1. Fill the Stocking. Give the first member of each team a large Christmas stocking. In the center of the Game Square, place a box filled with a variety of small items. At the signal, the first person will run with the stocking into the center, grab one item out of the box, put it in the stocking and run back to their starting pin, where they hand the stocking to the second player. This player will continue the game by running into the center, grabbing an item, putting it into the stocking and racing back to hand the stocking to the third player. Play will continue until each team member has put an item in the stocking. When the last player on each team has placed an item in their stocking, they will run back to their color line and raises their hand. The first team to finish wins. Can also be played without a game circle as long as you designate home bases and a central spot for the box.

Supplies needed: large Christmas stocking for each team, box, variety of small items, game pins or another way to mark the space

2. The Unwrapping Game. Buy some small toys or candy. Wrap one. Add another toy and wrap both items in a different color of wrapping paper. Add the third item and wrap all three with another pattern of wrapping paper. Continue until you have wrapped several toys. Have the kids sit in a circle. Have the kids pass the package around the circle to one another while you play music. (Carols are a great choice.) When you stop the music stops, the child holding the package gets to unwrap one toy/candy and keep it. Continue until all layers are unwrapped. (Once a child gets a toy/candy, they will sit out for the rest of the game. You may want to do two rounds of this so everyone gets a treat.)

Supplies needed: small toys or candy, wrapping paper of various designs, tape, scissors, music and a way to play it

3. The Unwrapping Game #2. Wrap a bag of candy or other treats in several layers of paper. Play the same way as above, with music playing and kids passing the package around. Each time you stop the music, the child holding the package unwraps one layer. The last person (who unwraps the treat) gets to walk around and share with the other kids.

Supplies needed: bag of candy or other treats, wrapping paper, tape, music and a way to play it

4. Stocking Secrets. You will need four felt or flannel Christmas stockings thick enough that the kids can’t see what’s in them. Fill the stockings with 15 or so small objects related to Christmas. For example, you could use a candle, a candy cane, a bell, an ornament, a toy snowman, etc. Create four teams and give each team a stocking, paper and a pencil. Each player on the team is then given 30 seconds to feel the objects inside the stocking. After everyone has had a turn, have the kids write down what objects they think are in their stocking. The team that identifies the most objects is the winner. The more objects, of course, the more difficult the game.

Supplies needed: four felt or flannel stockings, 15 or so small objects related to Christmas, pencils, paper, timer

5. Candy Cane Relay. Organize your kids for a Game Square relay with three players per team. Give everyone a real or plastic candy cane.  At the signal, the first player on each competing team will run two laps around the Game Circle (or your designated space), then hook their candy cane onto the next player’s candy cane. The second player will then run two laps with both candy canes and hook both canes onto the third player’s cane. The third player will run two laps with all three canes and then go into the middle of the circle for the pin. (If the runner drops the cane or one cane falls from another, he or she must stop and link the canes back together before continuing to run.) If you have a large club, you may need to organize heats.

Supplies needed: plastic or real candy canes, one for everyone competing (plus extra in case any break!), game pin, Game Square or other suitable area from which each team can start

6. Garland Run. Line teams up single file behind their starting line, with the first player holding a piece of garland. Opposite each team, place a game pin or chair. At the signal, the first player on each team will run around the chair and back. When they reach the starting line, the second player will grab onto the garland and both run around the chair, returning for the third player. Play will continue until the entire team is holding onto the tinsel. The first team to get back across the starting line wins.

Supplies needed: garland for each team, game pin or chair

7. Candy Cane Hockey.  Organize your kids into four teams and give an inflatable candy cane to one player from each team. Place a foam ball in the middle of the Game Square. Have the players stand around the ball with their candy canes. At the signal, the players will try to bat the foam ball over their color line. The player to do so wins points for his team.

Supplies needed: four inflatable candy canes, a foam ball, Game Square

8. Picture Puzzle. (Works for older elementary-age kids and up.) Set up an easel (or several, depending on the size of your group) with a supply of paper and markers. Organize the kids into teams of two, a “describer” and an “artist.” The describer will stand behind the easel, hidden from the artist, but not the audience. Hand the describer a Christmas object (a bell, ornament, candy cane, etc.).  The describer must then describe to the artist what he is holding. The describer is not allowed to say the name of the object or the name of any part of the object. Nor can he specifically describe what he is holding, such as: “This is something you hang on a tree.” He can only give instructions for drawing. “Draw a circle. Put a j-shaped line at the top of the circle. Draw some squiggly lines through the circle. …” If the drawer guesses what the object is within 30 seconds, his team gets points. (Even if the object isn’t guessed correctly, it’s still fun to see the finished product created from someone’s instructions.)

Supplies needed: at least one easel, paper, markers, several Christmas objects, timer

9. Pictionary TM with a Messy Twist. This is similar to Pictionary. But instead of drawing on an easel or paper, frosting will be the drawing medium and wax paper or butcher paper will be what children will “draw” on. Otherwise, play as you would a regular game of Pictionary using Christmas terms.

Supplies needed: Pictionary rules, easel or paper, frosting, way or butcher paper