Christmas games among children and fun holiday activities that would combine fun and learning make the holiday a perfect time to play. Such Christmas activities of children – simple ice-breakers, active races, etc. help to make preschoolers cooperate, solve some problems, and use imagination. Actually, teachers observe that Christmas recess is a marvellous occasion when young children can have a great time together: through games, they learn to play with others in groups and teams, as well as to co-operate and build confidence during the occasion.

Christmas Games in the House For Preschoolers This Year

Christmas Treasure Hunt:

Prepare a small festive object (bells, candy canes, mini stockings) and place them in various parts of a room and provide them with picturesque clues or a simple map to locate them. The indoor scavenger hunting game is an exciting game as children hunt to find surprises, and it develops their initial reading and observation abilities. Even the toddlers will be able to participate by counting stickers or toy ornaments.

Passing the Stocking:

Have children sit in a circle and pass a stuffed Christmas stocking as the music is playing during the holiday. As the music is paused, the child with the stocking extends his hand inside it to pull out a toy or activity card and performs the task (such as singing a carol or dancing the jingle-bell). This musical game helps learn to listen and turn-take – every time there is a break, everybody is surprised by having a fun time.

Santa Says (Simon Says):

Play a Christmas version of “Simon Says” with one child or an adult playing the role of Santa. Issue instructions such as touch your toes, stand like a Christmas tree, etc., and only respond to instructions which start with the word Santa. In case Santa leaves out the cue forcefully, children have to remain quiet or they will be disqualified. This game is a variation of a classic game but in this case, the focus and listening abilities are sharpened and in an amusing manner.

Freeze Dance:

Play the celebratory music (jingle bells, carols, etc.) and allow the children to run or hop in the room. Pause the music – have everybody stand still (even in a ridiculous snowman position) until music starts up. This is a freeze dance game and is ideal for burning off energy indoors. It is popular with preschoolers, because it transforms an ordinary dance party into a hilarious exercise in restraint.

Snowball Toss:

A simple target can be made by drawing a snowman or a laundry basket as Frosty. Give the children a handful of snow balls (cotton balls, rolled-up sock balls, or paper ball balls) to play with by throwing them either through a hole or into the basket. Take turns at various distances. This area of soft tossing game enhances motor development and hand-eye coordination, and children enjoy the fact that they can pretend that the cotton balls are soft snow.

Marshmallow (or Cup) Stacking:

Have children make the tallest tower with mini marshmallows (or plastic cups). The child piles one marshmallow (or cup) on the plate at a time. The opponent who has caused the tower to topple loses the round.

It is a very easy party game that involves some balance and patience – and the chance of a delicious snack (or bonus points) when it is finished!

Christmas Memory / Matching Game:

Prepare pairs of picture cards which have the symbols of holidays (stars, reindeer, ornaments, etc.). Turn them over on their backs on a table or a floor. Gamers alternate between turning two cards in order to get a match. Challenges to classic memory and I Spy games with a Christmas theme sharpen visual memory, concentration and vocabulary. To add the younger touch, pair the ornaments with the tree decorations or the holiday toys with the word labels.

Christmas Bingo:

Prepare (or print) Bingo cards with Christmas pictures rather than numbers – i.e. Santa hats, snowflakes, gifts and candy canes. Name out the objects (or display picture cards) and have children check the similar pictures on their cards. Kids love shouting “Bingo!” when they get a row. The focus, vocabulary and fun of winning are some of the lessons this group game teaches.

Decorate-the-Tree Race:

Provide each child with an unadorned Christmas tree made of plain paper and a set of craft decorations ( stickers, foam shapes, markers, etc.). Prepare a timer (1-2 minutes) and make them race to decorate their tree the fastest/most creatively. It is a happy play that develops fine motor skills and initiates creativity. You may choose to give absurdly simple rewards such as a sticker of the best Santa face or have the kids work in pairs and unite trees.

Related Topic: 20 Christmas Activities that Kids Will Love This Festive Season

Christmas Games Outside With the Children This Year

Christmas Obstacle Course:

Transform the backyard or the hall into a Santa delivery course. Prepare cones to walk through, ropes to climb on, tunnels/ chairs to crawl on and pretend piles of gifts to run around. The children will be able to act like reindeer bringing their gifts. This obstacle race is an active obstacle race creating balance, agility and creative play – and it is an excellent route to exercise the Christmas fun.

Reindeer Relay Race:

Split children in two groups. Every pair of teams forms a queue and one child, at a time, runs to a designated area, puts on a pair of reindeer antlers (or a stuffed gift), and then runs back and tags the other competitor. The relay is continued till all children are a reindeer. There are a lot of giggles in this game as the antlers fly around – it also teaches how to work as a team, speed and coordination.

Santa Hat Balance Walk:

Each child should stand on a line (curb or taped) on the floor with a Santa hat on his or her head walking along a line. In case the hat goes down, they have to begin afresh. This barefoot balancing exercise is concentrated and core strengthened. It is simple enough to be played when a child is in preschool but surprisingly difficult – can be played outside, on a fencing rail, or indoor, down a hallway.

Jingle Bell Hop:

Sprinkle jingle bells (or any small bells and buttons) on the floor or the ground. Ask the children to jump over bell to bell without ringing them. This is a hop hop game that needs slow and careful movements and consistent balance. It is the best and active and teaches children how to manage their movements, it is not noisy but an active challenge!

Christmas Balloon Pop:

Slip a small note inside a balloon before inflating: Before blowing the balloon, put a fun activity inside it (e.g. sing Jingle Bells, do a snowball toss, or give a holiday hug). Pop to reveal an activity you want to do with the balloons by blowing the balloons and letting children pop them with a pin or stomping. This creates the element of expectation and foolishness in any outdoor party. It is a huge party success and effective on courage (who does not giggle at leaping in to burst a balloon?).

Ornament Scavenger Hunt:

Keep colored plastic ornaments or holiday trinkets hidden in the garden or the yard. Provide children with some picture hints or a simple map to locate each one.This is an outdoor treasure hunt that encourages teamwork and problem-solving. The children are so excited, they search the yard in no time to see what treasures they have hidden and once they do they feel like the real holiday detectives.

Party Games and Group Activities at Christmas This Year

Musical Snowflakes:

Prepare a snowflake of paper, cut and bring it to a circle or a line on the floor. Play music and make children walk or dance around snowflakes. When the music is played the whole children should be asked to step as fast as they can on a snowflake. Take out one snowflake at a time (as with musical chairs) to make the circle smaller. The snowflowerless child is gone, and it is game. This musical-chairs variant is a holiday game that stimulates auditory and mental quickness.

Pin the Nose on Rudolph:

Glue a huge poster of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on the wall. Take the kids one at a time and blindfold them, spin them around and see how much nose you can lay on Rudolph which is a red circle of felt or paper with a piece of tape. Farce comes as noses end up everywhere! This is a Christmas game – children learn to gauge distance without sight, by learning through this game spatial awareness and patience.

Christmas Karaoke:

Prepare a stage and put in place a toy microphone and play some easy holiday music or carols. Children also get the opportunity to sing along with the mic or dance on such a favorite as Jingle Bells or We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Even extremely timid toddlers enjoy pretending to act. The karaoke during a party of kids develops the confidence, rhythm of speech and creativity of everyone who cheers up each other.

Bauble Bowling:

Play with Christmas tree ornamented snowmen as pins using empty bottles (or paper cups). Use a bauble or a Christmas ball that is lightweight and roll it to strike on the pins to knock them down. This reindeer bowling game is popular among small kids. Children will laugh and roll to try and have arm strength and accuracy. Record points or simply have fun with all the hits by older children.

Reindeer Ring Toss:

Prepare antler targets by attaching two stick-on antlers in a cutout of cardboard or by hanging a plastic reindeer head with antlers. Prepare the children a set of little rings (out of well woven rope or embroidery hoops). The aim is to make the rings fall so as to hit the antlers. This game works on the hand-eye coordination and everyone giggles trying to feed the reindeer.

Christmas Character Guessing Game:

A Christmas variation of Guess Who. Prepare images of Christmas characters (Santa, Elf, Snowman, Reindeer, etc.), write or print them and stick one to the back or forehead of each child without his/her seeing. Children rotate on yes/no questions to the group to guess what they are like (Am I wearing a red hat?) it could be.It is an imaginary game which stimulates communication and critical thinking – and laughing – children describe and find their festive identity.

All these games are simple to install and most of them require basic materials available at home or preschool. They transform Christmas day (or any other December party) into a positive learning experience. The fun is not the only advantage: the games during the holiday enhance the level of coordination, memory and social bonding.

These Christmas games are preschool friendly and regardless of whether you are inside or outside in the snow, the children will be active, creative as well as smiling throughout the season.