Christmas Games Ideas by Becky Lawrence, Youth and Childrens worker at St Marks MK

 

I had my kids church christmas party on Zoom last weekend, I came up with a bunch of games but on the night we only needed three! Some of these are Christmas versions of other games we’ve played on Zoom throughout the pandemic so they’re all tried and tested.  Thought i’d share my list incase anyone else wanted any games to play either in person or on zoom for kids/youth or family groups.

 

10 christmas games that you could use online or in person for your kids, youth or families Christmas party:

Mute Mouth – list 5 christmas words or songs kids will recognise, press the mute button and sing/say one of the words/phrases or if in person mime the word or song. First person to lip read and guess the song/word wins, it is then their turn (if online send them a word/song to mime via the chat feature/if in person whisper the word or song for them to mime or give them a slip of paper with it on).
My kids group are good at this game so I used phrases to make it harder: “Rudolph the red nosed reindeer”, “Santa Claus is coming to town”, “Away in a manger”, “Joy to the world”, “Would you like to build a snowman?”, “Rocking around the christmas tree”

Name that Christmas tune – you’ll need a christmas playlist for this one with a mix of carols and Christmas songs that your players will know.  (I used ‘Kids’ Christmas Party’ a free playlist from Spotify).  If on Zoom have everyone else muted while playing, play a short clip of a song and have players put their hands up if they know it – first hand up can take a guess until someone guesses it correctly, play a bit more of the song if no one can guess.

Hum that christmas tune – Have players hum a christmas song or carol, everyone else has to guess what the song is. If on zoom you can suggest the tune using the chat feature to direct message particular players a song to hum, make sure the other players mute to make sure they can all hear the person humming and not each other!

Don’t show your teeth – word association game – this time with christmas theme – round 1: items found in christmas dinner – round 2: christmas decorations – round 3: well known christmas characters – players take it in turns to each name an item from the category in play – they can’t show their teeth, pause, laugh or name something already said – if they do they are out! When you run out of items that can be named move onto next round.

Musical statues – play christmas music (ideally upbeat) and get your kids to dance/jump/move around – when the music pauses they have to stay really still in a freeze – if they move they are out and have to sit down, last person to freeze is also out. Play until everyone is out or for about 5-10 mins.

Christmas guessing game – kids have to identify the hidden christmas item from behind the stickers as it slowly gets revealed – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxKRZ4UleXM answers 2:40mins : answers: elves, snowman, reindeer, gingerbread people, tree.

Christmas Pictionary – using paper or online whiteboard feature take it in turns to draw something related to christmas – first person to guess item correctly wins and then they get to draw next. Suggested items: christmas tree, turkey, snowman, present, Father Christmas, baby Jesus, star, mince pie etc.

Christmas Movie Hangman – take it in turns to write out a movie title using dashes for each letter, players have to take it in turns to guess letters, if correct they get filled in to reveal part of the words, if incorrect a hangman gets drawn one line at a time. Movie suggestions: Elf, The Grinch, The Star, Home Alone, Nativity, Arthur Christmas, A Christmas Carol

Gingerbread Face Race – each player needs a gingerbread man – the aim of the game is to get the gingerbread man from their forehead to their mouth without using their hands – just by wiggling their eyebrows, cheeks etc. if it falls off they have to begin from the start. Fastest wins.

Christmas Character dress up challenge – each player has to choose a christmas thing/character to dress as using bits they can find around the house in just 5 minutes – eg. Shepherd – using dressing gown & tea towel, baby Jesus – by wrapping themselves in a blanket, an elf – by putting on a christmas hat, a snowman – by putting on a hat, scarf and gloves! Go around & find out who/what they are dressed as – Give points for creativity, number of props or acting skills!