Easy Christmas games for kids usually save the day when the holiday sugar kicks in and the house is full of restless energy. I put this list together because finding activities that don’t require expensive props or hours of setup is surprisingly frustrating.
If you need to keep little ones occupied without pulling your hair out, these options are completely stress-free. As you scroll, look for quick setups you can pull off using wrapping paper scraps and basic household items.
1. Indoor Wrapping Paper Snowball Fight
When you have zero budget and five minutes to prep, crumpling up used wrapping paper into makeshift snowballs is an instant hit. It keeps the kids active indoors without risking broken ornaments or scuffed walls.
What you will need
Grab all the leftover wrapping paper from your morning gift exchange, or buy a couple of cheap rolls from the dollar store. You will also need a line of masking tape to divide the room.
How to manage the chaos
Divide the kids into two teams and set a timer for three minutes. Once the timer starts, everyone throws their paper snowballs onto the opposing side, and the team with the fewest snowballs on their side at the end wins.
2. Reindeer Antler Ring Toss
Hosting a large party means you need an activity that works as an interactive spectator sport. Having one person wear inflatable antlers while others try to land rings on their head always gets the whole room laughing.
Gathering the supplies
You can easily find inflatable reindeer antler kits online or at most party supply stores during the holidays. They usually come with soft, blow-up rings that are safe to toss around the living room.
Playing the rounds
Have one child wear the antlers and sit on the floor while the others take turns tossing the rings from a few feet away. Rotate the “reindeer” so every child gets a turn wearing the funny hat.
3. Jingle Bell Cup Toss
If you are looking for something quiet that still requires focus, this tabletop challenge keeps little hands busy. It is essentially a holiday version of a carnival classic that works beautifully for smaller spaces.
Quick setup
Line up ten red and green plastic cups in a triangle formation at the end of a long dining table. Give the kids a bowl of large metal jingle bells to use as their throwing objects.
The scoring system
Assign different point values to the cups, making the ones in the back worth more. Kids stand at the opposite end of the table and try to bounce or toss the bells into the cups to rack up the highest score.
4. Holiday Pictionary
For a relaxed church event or a low-key school gathering, a drawing challenge is a great way to engage groups of different ages. You don’t need any special athletic ability, just a bit of creativity and a lot of guessing.
Prep the materials
Set up a large white board or an easel with a large pad of paper. Write down various holiday themes like “Santa’s sleigh,” “melted snowman,” or “decorating the tree” on small slips of folded paper.
Leading the activity
Split the kids into teams and have one person draw the prompt while their team tries to guess before the one-minute timer runs out. No talking or sound effects are allowed by the person drawing.
5. Candy Cane Fishing
Handling tiny objects helps younger kids practice their fine motor skills while having a blast. This specific challenge feels like a mini carnival booth that you can set up right on your kitchen counter.
Building the fishing poles
Tie a piece of string to a wooden spoon or a short stick, and attach a candy cane to the bottom of the string as the “hook.” Place several other candy canes in a large glass bowl or jar.
Catching the prize
Kids must use their homemade fishing pole to hook the candy canes out of the bowl without using their free hand. The one who hooks the most within a minute gets to keep their catch.
6. Plastic Cup Tree Bowling
Those looking for Xmas Games for Kids that burn off some serious physical energy will love this indoor bowling alley idea. Stacking up a giant tower is half the fun, and knocking it down is the reward.
Creating the pins
Buy a large pack of green plastic cups and stack them into a tall pyramid shape to resemble a pine tree. You can stick a yellow paper star on the top cup for a cute finishing touch.
Rolling for strikes
Use a soft indoor ball, like a foam ball or a rolled-up pair of socks, as your bowling ball. Kids take turns rolling the ball down the hallway to see who can knock down the entire tree in a single try.
7. Oven Mitt Unwrapping Race
Sometimes the funniest moments come from making a simple task incredibly difficult. If you want Fun Christmas Games for Kids that make everyone laugh until their sides hurt, this unwrapping challenge is a guaranteed hit.
Box preparation
Wrap a small, sturdy prize in multiple layers of thick wrapping paper and packing tape. Place a pair of thick, bulky oven mitts and a pair of dice next to the heavily taped box.
The frantic rules
One child puts on the oven mitts and tries to tear the paper off the box. Meanwhile, the person next to them rolls the dice repeatedly, and as soon as they roll doubles, they snatch the mitts and the box to take their turn.
8. Blindfolded Snowman Drawing
When budgets are tight, finding cheap easy christmas games for kids is as simple as grabbing paper and markers. Removing the sense of sight turns a basic coloring activity into a hilarious gallery of abstract art.
Desk setup
Hand each child a sturdy paper plate and a dark marker. Have them place the paper plate firmly on top of their own head, holding it in place with their non-dominant hand.
Drawing instructions
Call out instructions one by one: draw three circles for the body, add a carrot nose, draw two stick arms, and give him a top hat. When everyone takes their plates down, the resulting scribbles are usually wildly mismatched.
9. Marshmallow Stacking Challenge
Parents searching for Quick And Easy Christmas Games For Kids will appreciate this one-minute challenge. It requires almost zero brainpower to set up, but demands steady hands and deep concentration from the players.
The supply list
All you need is a fresh bag of large, standard-sized marshmallows and a few flat paper plates. Make sure the table is completely sturdy so no one bumps it during the delicate building phase.
Stacking to the ceiling
Set a timer for exactly sixty seconds and challenge the kids to stack the marshmallows as high as possible. If the tower falls, they have to start over from the bottom before the clock runs out.
10. Guess the Holiday Scent
Engaging the senses is a unique way to entertain older kids who might feel too cool for traditional relays. Bringing in the familiar smells of the season makes for a quiet but surprisingly competitive guessing round.
Preparing the jars
Take several small, opaque jars or containers and place a different fragrant item in each. Good options include cinnamon sticks, pine needles, peppermint extract, cocoa powder, and a piece of gingerbread.
The blind sniff test
Blindfold the players and have them smell each jar one by one, whispering their guesses to an adult or writing them down. The person who correctly identifies the most seasonal scents claims the victory.
11. Ornament Spoon Relay
Balancing an egg on a spoon is a classic picnic game, but swapping the egg for a round plastic decoration fits the winter theme. It is a fantastic way to get kids moving around the house or a long hallway.
Relay materials
Grab a few wooden mixing spoons from the kitchen and round, shatterproof plastic ornaments. Avoid glass decorations entirely to keep the play area safe from accidental drops.
Running the track
Mark a starting line and a turnaround point. Kids must balance the ornament on the spoon and walk as quickly as possible without dropping it; if it falls, they must go back to the start.
12. Pin the Red Nose on Rudolph
Putting a seasonal spin on a familiar birthday party staple is a great way to guarantee participation. Kids already know how this works, so you won’t spend ten minutes explaining complicated rules.
Crafting the board
Draw or print out a large picture of a reindeer missing his nose and tape it securely to a blank wall. Cut out circles from bright red construction paper and put a piece of double-sided tape on the back of each.
Dizzy directions
Blindfold each player, spin them around gently three times, and point them toward the poster. The child who sticks their red dot closest to the center of the reindeer’s snout wins a small prize.
13. Santa Says
Following directions gets significantly harder when kids are excited, making this listening challenge a great way to regain control of the room. It works wonderfully for large groups in a school or daycare setting.
How to lead
An adult or older sibling takes on the role of Santa, calling out commands like “Santa says touch your toes” or “Santa says spin around.” The pacing should start slow and get progressively faster.
The elimination rule
If the leader gives a command without saying “Santa says” first, anyone who moves is out of the round. The last child standing gets to be the caller for the next game.
14. Grinch Tower Collapse
Channeling a little bit of mischievous energy is exactly what some kids need after sitting still for dinner. Building something up just to smash it down fits the “Grinch” theme wonderfully.
Cup prep
Take a permanent marker and draw a simple, grumpy Grinch face on a large stack of green plastic cups. Have the kids work together to build a massive wall or pyramid out of the cups.
Smashing the tower
Once the tower is built, let the kids take turns throwing a soft red ball to knock the grumpy faces down. Resetting the tower is just as much fun as the actual throwing part.
15. Christmas Freeze Dance
Burning off sugar rushes requires loud music and lots of movement, making a dance party an ideal solution. It is entirely free and you can play it anywhere you have a phone speaker.
Playlist ideas
Queue up an upbeat playlist of upbeat seasonal tracks like “Jingle Bell Rock” or “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Make sure the volume is loud enough for everyone in the room to hear clearly.
Dance rules
While the music plays, everyone must dance as crazily as they can. The moment the music pauses, everyone must freeze instantly; anyone caught moving or giggling is out until the next song.
16. Human Christmas Tree
Letting kids turn a willing adult or older sibling into a walking decoration is endlessly entertaining. It encourages teamwork and results in fantastic, highly shareable family photos.
Decorating supplies
Provide the kids with rolls of green crepe paper or toilet paper, plastic bead necklaces, soft tinsel, and stick-on bows. Do not use anything sharp, heavy, or breakable for this activity.
The objective
Set a timer for five minutes and let the kids wrap their human tree from the ankles up. The team with the most creative and fully decorated person wins the title of best decorators.
17. Gingerbread Face Race
Combining a snack with a challenge is a surefire way to grab a child’s attention. This hands-free eating contest requires serious facial gymnastics and always ends in uncontrollable giggles.
Edible items needed
You will need a box of small, flat cookies like gingerbread men, graham crackers, or simple sugar cookies. Make sure the cookies aren’t too heavy, or they will slide off instantly.
The technique
Players lean their heads back and place a cookie on their forehead. Using only their facial muscles, they must wiggle the cookie down their face and into their mouth without using their hands.
18. Saran Wrap Prize Ball
Teenagers and younger kids rarely agree on activities, but unwrapping a giant ball of hidden treasures appeals to absolutely everyone. It builds incredible suspense and gives everyone a chance to walk away with a treat.
Wrapping process
Take a handful of small prizes like lip balms, dollar bills, and mini chocolates, and wrap them tightly in a massive, continuous ball of clear plastic cling wrap. Add the best prize right in the center.
Unwrapping rules
One person unwrap the ball as fast as they can while the person next to them rolls a pair of dice. The un-wrapper keeps any prizes that fall out, but must pass the ball immediately when the roller hits doubles.
19. Snowflake Sweeping Relay
Finding creative ways to use household chores as entertainment is a great trick for busy parents. A little bit of painter’s tape turns the kitchen floor into a highly competitive sweeping rink.
Creating the track
Use masking tape to outline a square “goal” at one end of the room. Cut out several large paper snowflakes or use white cotton balls to act as the snow.
Sweeping method
Give the kids a kitchen broom or a small hand brush. They must sweep their snowflakes across the room and directly into the taped-off square faster than their opponent.
20. Holiday Memory Match
Slowing things down before bedtime helps transition the house from party mode back to a calm state. A simple card-matching challenge engages their brains while keeping their bodies relaxed on the floor.
Card creation
Print out or draw matching pairs of seasonal symbols—like two stockings, two bells, and two presents—on thick index cards. You can make the deck as large or small as you want depending on the kids’ ages.
Matching phase
Shuffle the cards and lay them face down in a grid. Players take turns flipping over two cards at a time; if they find a match, they keep the pair and get an extra turn.
FAQs
What age group are these games suitable for?
Most of these activities are highly adaptable and work best for kids between the ages of 4 and 10. You can easily make the rules stricter for older kids, or remove timers entirely for toddlers who just want to participate without the pressure of winning.
How can I adapt these for a large school group?
When dealing with a classroom, focus on relay-style challenges or team-based events like the holiday pictionary or the human tree. Grouping kids into teams of four or five prevents long waiting lines and keeps everyone actively engaged at the same time.
Which activities require the least amount of preparation?
If you are completely out of time, stick to things that use items already laying around the house. Here is a quick breakdown of the easiest setups:
| Game Name | Prep Time | Materials Needed |
| Indoor Snowball Fight | 1 minute | Used wrapping paper, tape |
| Santa Says | None | Just your voice |
| Freeze Dance | 1 minute | Phone, music speaker |
| Marshmallow Stack | 2 minutes | Marshmallows, paper plates |
Organizing a few quick activities truly changes the dynamic of a long holiday afternoon, turning restless boredom into actual family connection. You do not need to attempt every single idea on this list; just pick two or three that fit the supplies you already own and let the kids take the lead on the rules.
If you want to keep this list handy for when the sugar rush inevitably hits your living room, make sure to save this content to your Pinterest account so you can quickly pull up these ideas next time you need them!