Finding Christmas party activities for kids that don’t end in chaos or boredom can feel impossible during the holidays. I put this list together because most ideas online either require hours of setup or lose their attention in five minutes.
If you are hosting a family gathering or a classroom event, these games and crafts focus on simple setups with maximum engagement. Look for options below that use everyday supplies you probably already have on hand.
1. Grinch Heart Scavenger Hunt
When you need them running around burning off sugar, this search-and-find game works wonders.
How to Play
Hide small green and red paper hearts around the room before everyone arrives. Give each child a paper bag and let them loose to collect as many as possible within three minutes. Whoever finds the most red hearts “grows their heart three sizes” and wins a small prize.
2. DIY Snow Globe Station
For a craft that doubles as a take-home favor, setting up a customized snow globe table is a smart move.
Materials Needed
You will need clean plastic jars, glycerin, glitter, water, and small plastic winter figurines.
Assembly Steps
Let each guest pick their favorite figurine to glue to the inside of the jar lid. Once dry, fill the jar with water, a dash of glycerin, and a pinch of glitter before sealing the lid tightly.
3. Christmas Tree Cupcake Decorating
If you want an edible activity that takes almost no prep, flip an ice cream cone upside down.
What to Prepare
Bake a batch of standard chocolate cupcakes and frost them flat. Provide sugar cones, green frosting in piping bags, and bowls of assorted sprinkles or mini chocolate candies.
Styling Tip
Kids can pipe the green frosting onto the cone to look like pine needles and add the candies as ornaments. It keeps their hands busy and they get to eat their creation right after.
4. Classroom Holiday Bingo
Keeping a large group seated and quiet at school before winter break requires a solid plan.
How to Play
Print out free festive bingo cards featuring holiday icons instead of numbers. Use mini marshmallows or red and green chocolate candies as the board markers. The first person to get five in a row gets a homework pass or a festive sticker pack.
5. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
Classic party games never really lose their charm, especially for younger toddlers and preschoolers.
Setting It Up
Draw or print a large picture of a reindeer without a red nose and tape it to a blank wall. Cut out several red circles and stick double-sided tape on the back of each.
Game Rules
Blindfold the player, spin them gently twice, and point them toward the poster. It is hilarious to see where the noses end up, and you can easily play multiple rounds.
6. Reindeer Food Mixing Station
Bringing a little magic to the night before Christmas starts with helping them prepare for Santa’s sleigh.
Supplies Needed
Set out large bowls of dry oats, colorful sprinkles, and edible glitter. Give everyone a small ziplock bag or a glass vial.
How to Make It
Let them scoop a little bit of each ingredient into their container to sprinkle on the lawn on Christmas Eve. Avoid using real plastic glitter so it remains safe for local birds and wildlife.
7. Jingle Bell Toss Game
When you need a quick carnival-style game that takes five minutes to set up, grab some plastic cups.
How to Setup
Arrange ten red and green plastic cups in a triangle formation on a flat table. Give each player a handful of small, inexpensive jingle bells.
Scoring
Players stand behind a designated line and toss the bells into the cups. You can assign different point values to the cups in the back row to make it more competitive for older groups.
8. Family Wrapping Paper Relay Race
Using leftover holiday supplies is a great way to save money while keeping a crowd entertained.
How to Play
Divide the family into two teams and hand each team a roll of cheap wrapping paper and some tape. One person on each team is designated as the “present.”
The Rules
When the timer starts, the teams must race to completely wrap their designated person from the neck down. The first team to successfully cover their “present” without the paper tearing wins.
9. Marshmallow Snowman Building
Sometimes the best crafts are the ones you can eat right at the table.
Materials Needed
Grab a bag of large marshmallows, pretzel sticks, mini chocolate chips, and orange icing. Give each child a paper plate with their building supplies.
How to Build
They can use the pretzel sticks to connect the marshmallows for the body and arms. The icing and chocolate chips work well for adding the face and buttons before they devour it.
10. Holiday Charades
Getting everyone laughing together usually just takes a little bit of acting and a lot of guessing.
How to Play
Write down various winter-themed prompts on slips of paper, like “decorating a tree,” “a melting snowman,” or “Santa stuck in a chimney.” Fold them up and place them in a Santa hat.
Game Rules
Players take turns pulling a prompt and acting it out without speaking. It is a fantastic zero-cost option that requires absolutely no prior setup or special materials.
11. Candy Cane Fishing
A simple dexterity challenge is a great way to slow things down when the energy gets too high.
Setting It Up
Place a dozen unwrapped candy canes in a large bowl on the floor. Tie a string to a wooden spoon and attach one candy cane upside down at the end of the string to act as the “hook.”
How to Play
Players stand over the bowl and try to hook as many candy canes as they can in one minute using only their fishing pole. It requires focus and is surprisingly tricky even for older siblings.
12. Paper Plate Ice Skating
If you are stuck indoors due to terrible weather, you can still bring winter sports into the living room.
How to Play
Clear a large space on a carpeted floor or area rug. Give each child two sturdy paper plates to step on.
The Race
Have them slide their feet to “skate” across the room to a designated finish line without their feet leaving the plates. It burns off a massive amount of energy and protects your floors.
13. DIY Reindeer Antler Headbands
Giving the kids something to wear during the celebration makes the photos turn out so much better.
Materials Needed
You will need brown construction paper, scissors, glue, and a stapler. Have the children trace their own hands on the brown paper to use as the antlers.
Assembly Steps
Cut out a long strip of paper to fit around their head, then staple their hand cut-outs to the front. They can decorate the band with markers or stickers before wearing it around the house.
14. Holiday Freeze Dance
You really only need a decent playlist to keep a room full of toddlers happy for a half hour.
How to Play
Queue up upbeat holiday tracks like “Jingle Bell Rock” or “Frosty the Snowman.” Have an adult play DJ and randomly pause the music.
The Rules
Everyone must freeze in their exact position when the music stops. Anyone who wiggles or falls over is out until the next round starts, making it a great way to manage a large crowd.
15. Guess How Many Ornaments
A passive guessing game works beautifully as a welcome activity as guests are taking off their coats.
Setting It Up
Fill a large, clear glass vase or jar with small, shatterproof mini ornaments. Leave a notepad and pen right next to it.
How to Play
As kids arrive, they write down their name and their best guess for how many ornaments are inside the jar. Announce the winner at the end of the night and give them a fun prize.
16. Sock Snowball Fight
Throwing things indoors is usually forbidden, which is exactly why this idea is always a massive hit.
Preparation
Roll up a dozen pairs of clean, white tube socks into tight balls. Move any fragile decor or drinks out of the crossfire zone.
The Battle
Split the room into two halves using a line of pillows and let them throw the “snowballs” back and forth. It gives them the thrill of a winter battle without the freezing temperatures or wet clothes.
17. Decorate a Cookie Station
Bypassing the baking process and skipping straight to the decorating saves your kitchen from a flour explosion.
What to Prepare
Buy pre-baked plain sugar cookies from the grocery store. Set up small bowls of different colored icing, sprinkles, and edible pearls.
Styling Tip
Use a cheap plastic tablecloth underneath the station so you can just roll up the mess and throw it away. Provide small bakery boxes so they can safely transport their creations home.
18. Ornament Spoon Relay
If you have a long hallway or a clear space, an egg-and-spoon race easily adapts for the holidays.
Materials Needed
Grab a few wooden spoons and round, shatterproof plastic ornaments.
The Race
Players must balance the ornament on their spoon while walking fast from one end of the room to the other. If the ornament drops, they have to start over from the beginning, which usually causes endless giggles.
19. DIY Holiday Wrapping Paper
Having kids create custom wrapping paper keeps them focused for a surprisingly long stretch of time.
Materials Needed
Roll out a long sheet of plain brown kraft paper across a large table or the floor. Provide washable markers, holiday stamps, and ink pads.
The Activity
Let them draw snowflakes, trees, or stamp patterns all over the paper. You can actually use this paper later to wrap gifts for grandparents, giving the craft a genuine purpose.
20. Pass the Gift Parcel
When you want everyone sitting in a circle quietly for ten minutes, this layered wrapping game does the trick.
How to Prepare
Wrap a small main prize in a box. Then, wrap that box in another layer of paper, adding a small piece of candy or sticker between each layer. Do this five or six times.
How to Play
Play music while the children pass the parcel around the circle. When the music stops, the person holding it unwraps just one layer to reveal a small treat, continuing until the final prize is uncovered.
FAQs
What age group are these games best suited for?
Most of the ideas on this list work well for children between 4 and 10 years old. You can easily adapt the rules to be slightly harder for older siblings or more relaxed for toddlers.
How can I manage the mess during craft activities?
Always use disposable plastic tablecloths under any station involving glue, glitter, or frosting. It allows you to wrap up the mess and throw it directly into the trash without scrubbing the table.
Activity Prep Time Comparison
Here is a quick look at how much time you should budget for setting up different types of games.
| Activity Type | Estimated Prep Time | Best For |
| Printables & Bingo | 5 Minutes | Classroom / Quiet Time |
| Action & Relay Games | 5-10 Minutes | Burning off energy |
| Food Decorating | 15 Minutes | Small groups / Kitchens |
| DIY Crafts | 15-20 Minutes | Take-home favors |
Planning a holiday gathering for children does not have to drain your energy or your wallet. By focusing on practical setups and utilizing things you likely already own, you can create a memorable event that everyone actually enjoys.
If you found these suggestions helpful for your upcoming holiday event, be sure to save this post to your Christmas party boards on Pinterest! Having these ideas handy will save you a ton of stress when you need a quick party activity to keep the kids entertained.