20 Christmas Party Games for Kids That Burn Off the Energy

Planning christmas party games kids will actually beg to play again — not just groan through once — is honestly the hardest part of the whole holiday party. (Harder than the cookie frosting cleanup. And that’s saying something.)

I’ve been there: the circle of glazed-over five-year-olds, the pile of forgotten craft supplies, the moment you realize ‘Pin the Nose on Rudolph’ is going to last exactly 90 seconds.

So I pulled together 20 games that deliver real energy, real laughs, and real chaos — in the best possible way.

Whether you need ideas for a classroom party, a neighborhood bash, or just a house full of cousins who’ve had too many candy canes, this list has you covered.

And hey, if you’re still hunting for what to put inside the goodie bags, our 2025 Christmas Gift Guide is full of kid-approved ideas that won’t break the bank.

Every game on this list is easy to explain in under one minute, uses stuff you can grab at the dollar store, and fits neatly into a party schedule without needing a PhD in event planning.

I’ve noted the best age range and prep time for each one so you can mix and match based on your crowd. Expect relay races, hunts, balloon chaos, printable sheets, and at least one moment where someone ends up with cotton balls on their face.

You’ve been warned — and your kids are going to absolutely love it.

1. Secret Santa Reveal Game

This is the trending 2026 twist on the classic Secret Santa that kids absolutely lose their minds over — and tbh, it might be my new favorite way to do a gift exchange.

A few days before the party, each child is secretly assigned another kid in the group. They bring a small wrapped gift (set a $5–$10 budget so nobody feels left out), labeled only with the recipient’s name — no gifter’s name anywhere on the package.

At the party, all gifts go under the tree or in a big pile, and then the real game begins: the guessing. Each child opens their gift in front of the group and has three chances to guess who their Secret Santa is.

The gifter stays poker-faced (good luck with that, seven-year-olds) while everyone else tries not to crack. Best. Drama. Ever.

To set it up, send a simple note home a week before the party with the name each child drew and the spending limit.

Remind parents to help kids pick something a little personalized — a favorite color, a hobby, something that drops a clue — because the gift itself is the puzzle. At the party, go around in a circle so everyone gets a turn in the spotlight.

After each child guesses, the Secret Santa finally reveals themselves with a big ta-da moment. You can add a rule that if the recipient guesses correctly on the first try, the gifter owes them a silly dare, which cranks the suspense up to about eleven.

This game works brilliantly for ages 6 and up, and it doubles as your gift-exchange moment so you’re not adding extra time to the schedule — win-win.

For a classroom version, the teacher can assign the names ahead of time and set the theme (handmade cards only, or ‘something cozy’).

The reveal round is where the magic happens: kids are genuinely invested, there’s squealing, there’s dramatic gasping, and honestly, the parents watching from the back are having just as much fun as the kids.

Prep time is basically zero on the day of the party — all the work happens at home beforehand.

2. Wreath Toss

Think ring toss, but make it festive — and make it loud. Wreath Toss is one of those christmas party games kids can play in teams or solo, and it takes about three minutes to set up and zero minutes to explain.

Grab a few small plastic or foam wreaths (dollar store, obviously) and set up a row of targets: pool noodle sticks pushed into a foam base, or even just tall empty bottles weighted with a little sand.

Kids stand behind a tape line and take turns tossing their wreaths, trying to hook them onto the targets. Whoever lands the most wreaths in five throws wins a small prize — or just the glory. Either way, they’ll want to go again immediately.

For setup, space your targets at different distances (closer ones worth 1 point, farther ones worth 3) to add strategy for older kids and keep it achievable for younger ones.

You can buy small wreaths in packs at most dollar or craft stores in November and December, or use embroidery hoops wrapped in green pipe cleaners if you’re feeling crafty (no judgment if you’re not).

Mark distances with masking tape on the floor and label each target with a festive point value on a little flag. The whole rig packs flat and stores for next year, too, which is a gift in itself.

This game is perfect for ages 4 and up — toddlers can toss from super close range, older kids can step it back and make it competitive.

It works great as a station game during a party where kids are rotating through activities, because it handles 2–4 players at a time with zero downtime between turns.

Best of all, it’s active without being chaotic (relatively speaking), which means you can run it indoors without anything getting knocked over. Probably. No promises if you’ve got particularly enthusiastic eight-year-olds.

3. Christmas Wishes Cards

This one is the calm-before-the-storm game — the sweet, slightly quieter activity you slip in right after everyone arrives and before the relay chaos begins.

Christmas Wishes Cards are simple fill-in prompt cards where each child writes down their holiday wishes, dreams, and silly seasonal confessions.

Think of it as a festive version of a journal prompt, but way more fun because kids love talking about themselves and what they want for Christmas (shocking, I know).

Each card has five or six prompts like ‘This Christmas I wish for…’, ‘The best gift I could give someone is…’, ‘My favorite holiday food is…’, and ‘One thing I want to do this winter is…’.

Kids fill them out independently, then share one wish with the group if they want to — which always sparks the best conversations and approximately one argument about whether a puppy counts as a reasonable wish.

Print one card per child on cardstock so they feel sturdy and special. Set out a little basket of holiday pencils or markers at each seat, and maybe a few stickers for decorating.

The cards take about five minutes to fill out, which is the perfect amount of time to let latecomers arrive and get settled without the early birds going feral from boredom.

After the party, kids can take their cards home as a keepsake — or you can collect them and read a few anonymously to the group as a little guessing game (‘Who do you think wrote THIS wish?’), which is honestly hilarious.

For a classroom Christmas party, these cards work beautifully as an icebreaker while kids are getting seated and settled. Teachers love them because they’re low-mess, self-directed, and — bonus — actually festive rather than just busywork.

You can also use them as a jumping-off point for a quick group share where kids go around and read their favorite wish aloud. Age range: 5 and up (younger kids can draw their wishes instead of writing).

Prep time: just print and set out pencils. Done. Speaking of things kids want for Christmas, if you need gift inspiration beyond the party, check out our 2025 Christmas Gift Guide — it’s stacked with ideas for every age.

4. Candy Cane Hunt

A Candy Cane Hunt is basically a Christmas egg hunt — and if you’ve ever watched kids absolutely lose their minds at an Easter egg hunt, you already know this game is going to be a massive hit.

Before the party (or right at the start while kids are occupied with another activity), hide individually wrapped candy canes all over the party space: tucked behind couch cushions, taped under chairs, balanced on windowsills, tucked into plant pots, hidden behind the Christmas tree.

Give each kid a small bag or stocking and set them loose. First kid to find 10 wins, or everyone hunts until all the candy canes are found — totally up to you and how chaotic you want things to get.

For setup, count out your candy canes before hiding them and keep a tally so you know how many should be found by the end. (There is nothing worse than discovering a forgotten candy cane in July.)

For larger groups, assign each child a color: red-striped canes for one team, green-striped for another. You can find multicolored candy cane packs at most grocery stores during December.

Hide difficulty levels vary by age — for little ones (3–5), put them in obvious spots at eye level; for older kids, get sneaky and hide them in harder-to-spot places.

You can also add a ‘golden candy cane’ (wrap one in gold foil) worth a bonus prize for extra excitement.

This game is perfect for burning off that post-arrival sugar energy before you try to sit kids down for anything calmer. Age range: 3 and up. Prep time: about 10 minutes of hiding.

Pro tip: hide the candy canes right before kids arrive so nobody ‘accidentally’ spots your hiding spots. And yes, kids absolutely will beg to do this twice — so hide a second batch if you want to be the coolest host in the neighborhood.

Which, let’s be honest, is exactly what you’re going for.

5. Christmas Maze

A Christmas Maze printable is one of those games that sounds simple but gets surprisingly competitive when kids are side-by-side racing to finish first.

Each child gets their own printed maze sheet — a festive holiday scene with a clear start and finish — and the goal is to find the correct path through without lifting their pencil (or crayon, because some kids are very committed to their art supplies).

You can run it as a timed challenge: whoever solves the maze fastest wins, or everyone who finishes gets a small prize.

For mixed age groups, have younger kids use a finger to trace the path first, then draw it in once they’ve found the route — takes the frustration factor way down and keeps it fun.

The maze on this sheet features a Christmas theme: the start point is labeled with a little reindeer, the finish is Santa’s sleigh, and the path winds through a snowy village filled with illustrated red herrings (dead-end paths that look tempting but lead nowhere).

The difficulty level is moderate — tricky enough that older kids are genuinely challenged, but solvable enough that a determined six-year-old can get there with a little patience. Print on cardstock for a sturdier feel, or standard paper works just fine.

Set out pencils and a ‘ready, set, go!’ timer for the full race-day energy.

This game works brilliantly as a station activity during a rotation-style party, or as a calm-down game between two high-energy activities. It’s also a fantastic option for classroom parties where kids are seated at desks — teachers, you’re welcome.

Age range: 5 and up (adjust difficulty by having younger kids use the finger-trace method). Prep time: print and hand out. That’s it.

Plus, kids love having something to take home, and a completed maze feels like a genuine accomplishment — especially if they beat their friend to the finish line.

6. Stocking Stuffer Guess

This game is equal parts suspense and silliness, and I cannot tell you how many times I’ve watched kids absolutely convinced they know what’s inside only to be spectacularly wrong.

Fill a holiday stocking with 5–8 small mystery objects — think a rubber duck, a pinecone, a bouncy ball, a mini stapler, a small orange, a toy car — and don’t let anyone peek. Kids take turns reaching in (no looking!)

and feeling around to identify each object. They whisper their guess to the host, who keeps score. After everyone has had a turn, reveal the items one by one to find out who guessed the most correctly.

The kid with the highest score keeps the stocking. Or the candy inside it. Your call.

Setup is wonderfully simple: grab a big holiday stocking and fill it the morning of the party. Choose objects with interesting textures — fuzzy, bumpy, smooth, spiky — to make the guessing genuinely tricky rather than just a formality.

Have a printed list of the 8 items ready so you can check off correct guesses without fumbling. For younger kids (ages 4–6), limit the objects to 5 and use things they’d definitely recognize by touch — a Lego brick, a cotton ball, a spoon.

For older kids, go weirder and harder: a garlic bulb, a small figurine, a keychain flashlight.

The host tip here is to let one adult or teenager go first as a demonstration — watch the room absolutely erupt when even the grown-up gets it wrong.

This is a perfect game for groups of 6–15 kids and works whether you’re running it as a competitive scored game or just as a fun everyone-gets-a-try activity.

It requires zero running, which makes it a smart choice to slot between two high-energy relay games when you need 90 seconds of slightly calmer chaos. Age range: 4 and up. Prep time: five minutes.

7. Christmas I-Spy Sheet

I-Spy is one of those timeless games that kids never seem to get tired of, and a Christmas-themed I-Spy sheet is genuinely one of the most crowd-pleasing printables you can put on a party table.

The sheet features a densely illustrated holiday scene — a busy Christmas living room, a snowy village street, or Santa’s workshop — packed with hidden objects for kids to find and check off a list.

Each child gets their own sheet and a pencil, and they circle or tally each item they spot. You can play it as a race (first to find all items wins), a cooperative game (teams work together), or just a relaxed individual activity.

The beauty of I-Spy is that every kid plays at their own pace, which means it’s genuinely fun for a 4-year-old and a 10-year-old sitting at the same table.

The printed sheet includes a festive main scene illustration and a checklist of 15–20 items to find: things like a candy cane, a star on the tree, a gingerbread man, a wrapped present with a bow, an elf hat, a stocking with a hole in it, a reindeer, a cup of cocoa, a snowflake, a jingle bell, a partridge, and more.

Each item on the checklist has a small illustrated icon next to it so younger kids who aren’t strong readers can still play independently.

Kids tally how many they found, and the child who spots the most (or finds the secret bonus item hidden in the corner) wins. Print on cardstock for best results, but regular printer paper works fine in a pinch.

This sheet is your secret weapon for the five minutes between activities when you need kids occupied but don’t have the energy to run another relay.

It also doubles as a great take-home activity for kids who want to show their parents, which earns you major ‘cool party host’ points. Age range: 4 and up. Prep time: just print!

For classroom parties, it’s a perfect settled-in activity that doesn’t require any explanation beyond ‘find as many items as you can.’

And if you want to stretch it out into a competition, offer a small candy prize for whoever finds the most — suddenly everyone is very, very focused.

8. Jingle Bell Stocking Toss

Take the classic beanbag toss, fill the bags with jingle bells so they JINGLE when they fly through the air, and suddenly you have the loudest and most delightful game of the entire party.

Jingle Bell Stocking Toss uses small fabric pouches or actual mini stockings filled with dried beans or jingle bells as the projectiles, and a row of larger stockings hung from a rope or taped open at the top as the targets.

Kids stand behind a line and take turns tossing their jingle bell pouches into the hanging stockings. Each stocking is worth a different number of points based on its size (smaller stocking = harder to hit = more points).

The jingling sound every time someone makes a successful toss is genuinely one of the most satisfying sounds at any Christmas party.

To set this up, hang 3–5 stockings of varying sizes from a tension rod, a rope strung between two chairs, or a low curtain rod.

You can buy jingle bell pouches or just stuff small fabric gift bags with a handful of bells and tie them closed. Mark the throwing line with tape and label each stocking with a point value using a marker on a luggage tag.

Have a simple score tally sheet nearby. For younger kids, move the line closer and use the largest stocking; for older ones, step the line back and award bonus points for landing in the mini stocking. Three tosses per turn, tally scores as you go.

This game is a crowd-pleaser because the audio component makes every single toss an event — the whole room reacts to that jingle sound.

It’s great for groups of up to 20 because kids can cheer each other on between turns, keeping everyone engaged even when they’re not throwing. Age range: 4 and up.

Prep time: about 15 minutes to set up the stocking target row and make or gather your jingle pouches. Pro host tip: assign a volunteer ‘score keeper’ from the older kids and suddenly they feel super important and you have one less thing to manage.

You’re welcome.

9. Color Santa Contest

Okay, hear me out: a coloring contest sounds low-key, but when you frame it as an official competition with a real live judge and actual prizes, kids treat it like the Olympics of art.

The Color Santa Contest gives each child a printed outline of Santa — the same identical black-and-white drawing on every sheet — and challenges them to color it as creatively, beautifully, or hilariously as possible.

You set a timer for 8–10 minutes, kids go to town with crayons or markers, and then all finished sheets get displayed and judged.

Categories can include ‘Most Colorful,’ ‘Most Creative,’ ‘Most Like the Real Santa,’ and ‘Funniest Santa’ — so every single kid has a shot at winning something. (This is the move. Trust me.)

Print one Santa outline per child on cardstock for best results. Set out a shared basket of crayons and markers in the center of the table so kids can grab what they need.

The key to making this feel like a real contest rather than a craft project is the judging: recruit a ‘celebrity judge’ — maybe a parent, a grandparent, or an older sibling — who takes it Very Seriously, inspects each entry, deliberates dramatically, and announces winners with maximum fanfare.

Hand out ribbon stickers or small candy prizes for each category so there are as many winners as possible.

This game is perfect as a sit-down activity mid-party when kids need a breather from running around, but still want to be doing something.

It’s fantastic for mixed ages because a 4-year-old and a 10-year-old can both participate meaningfully — the younger kid’s wild scribbles often win ‘Most Colorful,’ which feels completely fair. Age range: 3 and up. Prep time: print and set out supplies, about 5 minutes.

Display the finished Santas as party decor for the rest of the event and watch kids point out their artwork to their parents at pickup. So cute it’s almost too much.

10. Guess the Wrapped Gift by Shake

This game is pure golden chaos and I say that with full affection. Wrap 8–10 mystery items in Christmas paper — make them look exactly like real gifts, bows and all — and number each one.

Kids take turns picking up each gift, shaking it, feeling it, smelling it (yes, really, kids will smell them), and then writing down or whispering their guess for what’s inside.

You can play elimination-style (three wrong guesses and you’re out), team-style (kids confer together before submitting one team guess), or everyone-guesses-everything style where the kid with the most correct answers at the end wins the mystery prize pile.

The reveal at the end — when you unwrap each gift one by one — is genuinely thrilling every single time.

For the best game, choose a mix of obvious and tricky items. Easy ones: a bag of marshmallows (very squishable), a small ball (rolls around), a box of crayons (rattles in a specific way).

Hard ones: a book wrapped with a sock inside to muffle the thud, a bag of rice (sounds like sand), a jar of peanut butter (no movement at all, which is somehow the most confusing thing to kids).

Wrap everything in the same style of paper and keep all boxes roughly similar in size so kids can’t guess by shape alone.

Number each gift clearly on the outside — a sticker with the number works great — and keep a master list of what’s inside each one.

Age range: 5 and up (younger kids can play in teams with an adult helper). Prep time: about 20 minutes of wrapping, which you can do the night before.

This is one of those christmas party games kids will be talking about on the way home, mostly because someone is absolutely going to guess ‘a dinosaur’ for every single present and somehow be right about one of them. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Tip: let the winner keep the easiest-to-open gift from the pile as their prize — it adds a satisfying payoff to the whole reveal moment.

11. Snowman Dress-Up Relay

This relay race is the one where the photos come out absolutely incredible and the kids are laughing so hard they can barely run. Split kids into teams of 3–5.

At one end of the room, set up a pile of ‘snowman costume’ pieces for each team: a white garbage bag (to wear as a body), a scarf, a top hat or bucket, a carrot (or orange foam nose), mittens, and big googly-eye stickers or paper circles.

One at a time, each team member runs to the costume pile, puts on ALL the snowman pieces, does a quick spin to show the group, takes everything off, and races back so the next teammate can go.

First team with all members completing the snowman run wins.

Set up your costume stations ahead of time so each team has identical piles — fairness matters enormously to kids, as you probably know.

Use large white garbage bags with head and arm holes cut out for the ‘snowman body,’ which are easy to pull on and off quickly.

The carrot nose is the highlight: use an orange foam craft cone attached to an elastic string so kids can hook it over their ears like glasses.

The hat should be big and floppy so it inevitably falls off mid-run, which is honestly the funniest part of the whole game. Have a helper at each costume station to assist younger kids with getting dressed quickly.

Age range: 4 and up (little ones might need a buddy to help with the costume pieces). Prep time: about 20 minutes to assemble the costume kits.

This game is consistently one of the biggest hits on any christmas party games kids lineup because it combines dressing up, running, and being the center of attention — which is basically everything kids love in one 60-second burst.

Pro tip: designate a judge who awards a bonus point to the team whose snowman looked the most convincing. Cue the dramatic deliberation, and cue absolute pandemonium.

12. Guess the Gift Sheet

This printable game pairs perfectly with your actual gift exchange or can stand totally alone as a fun guessing activity.

The Guess the Gift Sheet shows a grid of illustrated wrapped gifts — each one drawn with a unique ribbon, bow, shape, and pattern — and next to each gift is a blank line where kids write what they think is inside based only on the wrapping clues.

A tall narrow box? Probably an umbrella or a poster. A round lumpy package? Could be a stuffed animal or a ball. A perfectly square flat box? Puzzle or board game.

Kids fill in their best guess for each illustrated gift, then compare answers with the group. Since there’s no single correct answer, it becomes a hilarious conversation about what everyone imagined — and sometimes the most creative guesses get their own prize.

Print one sheet per child on standard paper or cardstock.

Each gift illustration on the sheet includes subtle ‘hint’ details worked into the wrapping — a slight jingle bell shape pressing through the paper, a corner poking out, a smell emoji floating near one package — to reward careful lookers.

Set a 5-minute timer so kids stay focused rather than spending 20 minutes deliberating over gift #7.

After time is up, go through each gift together and ask two or three kids to share their guess before the host reveals the ‘official’ intended gift (which you’ve pre-decided and written on a host answer card).

Biggest laughs always come from the kid who guessed ‘a horse’ for the tiny square box.

Age range: 5 and up. Prep time: print and prepare your host answer card.

This game is a wonderful tie-in if your party also includes a real gift exchange — kids can play the sheet first and then see how their guesses compare to actual gifts being opened.

It’s also a great conversation starter for the quieter kids in the group who aren’t quite ready to jump into the relay races yet.

For extra fun, offer a small prize for ‘most creative guess’ and watch kids suddenly try to out-imagine each other instead of out-compete. Much better vibes all around.

13. Wrap the Present Relay

Wrapping presents is stressful for adults. For kids, it is chaotic, hilarious, and somehow deeply satisfying — which makes this relay race a total winner. Split the group into teams of 3–5.

Each team gets a box (same size for all teams), a roll of wrapping paper, a length of tape pre-cut into strips and stuck to the edge of a table, and a ribbon.

On ‘go,’ the first team member runs to the supplies, wraps the box as best they can, and runs back. But here’s the twist: the next teammate has to UNWRAP the whole thing before re-wrapping it themselves.

Every person on the team wraps, then the person after them unwraps, all the way down the line. First team done with all members having wrapped and unwrapped wins. The final wrapped gift goes to a random child as a prize.

Pre-cut tape strips are the secret to this working smoothly — nothing kills relay momentum like kids wrestling with a tape dispenser. Stick about 10 strips of tape to the edge of a table or chair near each team’s station so they’re ready to grab.

Use medium-sized boxes (shoebox size is perfect) and cut wrapping paper sheets in advance so kids aren’t fighting with the roll. Simple solid-color wrapping paper is easiest; fancy foil paper is harder to tear off cleanly and will frustrate younger kids.

Fill the box with something light like tissue paper or a stuffed animal so it has some weight without being heavy.

Age range: 5 and up. Prep time: about 15 minutes to set up stations and pre-cut tape.

This is one of those christmas party games kids genuinely beg to repeat because the wrapping gets increasingly chaotic and crumpled as the relay progresses, and somehow that makes it more fun rather than less.

The final ‘wrapped’ gift is usually an absolute disaster of tape and crinkled paper, and whoever wins it always acts like it’s the most precious thing they’ve ever received. Honestly, same energy.

Tip: have a small bonus challenge for the fastest team — they have to also tie a bow in under 10 seconds. Cue mayhem.

14. Snowman Building (Balloons)

No snow required! This game challenges teams to build a freestanding snowman using only white balloons — and the results range from elegant to absolutely unhinged, which is exactly what a good party game should produce.

Teams of 3–5 kids each get a set of white balloons in three sizes (large, medium, and small for the body tiers) plus tape, string, and a few black paper circle stickers for the snowman’s ‘buttons’ and ‘eyes.’

The goal is to build a three-ball snowman that can stand on its own (or at least lean dramatically against the wall without collapsing) within a set time limit — usually 5–7 minutes.

A judge inspects each snowman and awards points for height, stability, and how much it actually resembles a snowman.

Pre-inflate a set of balloons for each team before the party starts so kids aren’t losing 5 minutes to balloon-blowing (and so you’re not dealing with 15 hyperventilating children).

Use water balloons or regular round balloons for the smaller sizes, and larger 12-inch balloons for the bottom tier. Double-sided tape works better than regular tape for sticking balloon layers together, but masking tape or even string works fine.

Give each team a small paper bag of supplies: black circle stickers, an orange triangle sticker (carrot nose), and a strip of fabric for a scarf — the accessories are half the fun.

Age range: 5 and up. Prep time: about 20 minutes to pre-inflate and bag the supplies. What makes this game so brilliant for a kids’ Christmas party is that it requires teamwork, coordination, and creative problem-solving — all while being genuinely funny to watch.

Inevitably one team’s snowman will be seven feet tall and topple dramatically at the 6-minute mark, and the team who built the most stable (if smallest) snowman wins. Cue competitive negotiations about whether ‘leaning’ counts as ‘standing.’

The answer is always yes, and always results in protest. Add this to your list of simple kids’ party games that pack a massive punch with minimal setup.

15. Reindeer Antler Ring Toss

This one has been floating around Pinterest for years and it absolutely deserves the hype.

Reindeer Antler Ring Toss is exactly what it sounds like: one player wears a headband with antlers (craft store find, or DIY with pipe cleaners and cardboard), and teammates stand a few feet away and take turns tossing rings onto the antlers.

You can use embroidery hoops, plastic bracelets, or rings cut from pool noodles as the toss rings. Teams score points for each ring that lands on an antler prong. Play in rounds, rotating who wears the antler headband.

The kid who lands the most rings in their turn wins that round — and the expression on the ‘reindeer’ kid’s face as they try to hold still while rings bounce off their head is priceless.

Antler headbands are widely available at dollar stores and craft stores in December, or you can make them with brown pipe cleaners twisted around a basic headband — honestly the homemade ones look great and the kids love that they were made.

Use rings that are large enough to actually have a chance of landing (too small and it becomes frustrating rather than fun) — pool noodle rings about 6 inches in diameter work perfectly.

Set a throwing line with tape: 3 feet for little kids, 5–6 feet for older ones. Award one point per ring landed, with a bonus 2 points if a ring lands on the very tip of an antler prong.

Age range: 4 and up. Prep time: 10 minutes.

This game is consistently one of the most photographed games at any Christmas kids’ party because the ‘reindeer’ child is inevitably in the most amazing poses — stock still with intense concentration — while rings rain down around them.

It’s active, it’s silly, and it works for groups of 6–20 with everyone cheering between turns. Run it as a tournament bracket for older kids (ages 8+) to keep the competitive energy high throughout the whole game rotation.

And yes, every single kid will want a turn wearing the antlers. Budget time accordingly.

16. Candy Cane Sword Duel

I’m going to be upfront: this game sounds chaotic and it is, but in a totally controlled, extremely funny way.

Each child gets one full-size candy cane (still in the wrapper — this is important for structural integrity), and two kids face off in a one-on-one duel, clinking their candy canes together like tiny sugary fencers.

The goal is to break your opponent’s candy cane without breaking your own. First player with a broken cane is out; the winner moves on in a tournament bracket. You run a full single-elimination bracket until one candy cane champion remains. The losing canes? Well.

They get eaten. Which means everyone wins, technically.

The key to making this safe and fun rather than just chaotic is setting clear rules before you start: candy canes meet in the MIDDLE, no wild swinging, no hitting hands or faces, just gentle-but-firm cane-on-cane action.

Wrapping the candy canes in a small piece of clear tape around the middle adds structural integrity and means the duel lasts a satisfying amount of time rather than shattering on the first tap.

(Pro tip from the research: wrapping in a bit of clear tape really does make them sturdier, which keeps things going longer.)

Draw the tournament bracket on a whiteboard or big piece of paper so all the kids can see who’s facing who — the bracket anticipation is half the fun.

Age range: 6 and up (younger kids can do it in a low-stakes no-bracket version). Prep time: 5 minutes to set up the bracket.

This is one of those christmas party games kids absolutely beg to repeat — partly because the duels are fast and dramatic, and partly because the candy cane eating at the end is a built-in reward system.

Keep extra candy canes on hand because at least one contestant will snap theirs on the first tap and look absolutely devastated.

Tournament can handle up to 16 kids in a 15-minute window, which is frankly impressive efficiency for a party game involving only candy canes and competitive spirit.

17. Santa Beard Cotton Ball Race

This is hands-down the most chaotically funny game on the entire list and I will not be taking questions about it.

Each player gets a bowl of cotton balls on one side of the room and an empty bowl on the other side — plus a jar of petroleum jelly to smear on their chin.

The challenge: using only their chin (no hands!), they scoop up cotton balls from the full bowl, waddle across the room, and shake them off into the empty bowl.

The goal is to transfer as many cotton balls as possible in 60 seconds to build the world’s greatest (and most ridiculous) Santa beard. The kid with the most cotton balls transferred wins — and also has the best photo of the party, guaranteed.

Setup is beautifully simple: fill one bowl per player with about 20–30 cotton balls, set an empty bowl at the finish line, and have a small container of petroleum jelly ready for each player (individual containers are more hygienic).

Set a 60-second timer — any longer and it gets exhausting rather than fun. Have a tissue or paper towel station nearby for cleanup because the jelly-covered chin thing is funny right up until someone needs to get it off.

This works great as a head-to-head race with 2–4 kids going at once, with multiple heats if your group is large.

Age range: 5 and up. Prep time: 10 minutes. Every single time this game gets played at a Christmas party, the entire room ends up in tears from laughing.

The cotton balls stick everywhere except where intended, kids develop the most intense focused expressions, and the transition from ‘walking carefully’ to ‘desperately sprinting while balls fly off in every direction’ usually happens around the 30-second mark. It’s absolute gold.

Run it as a minute-to-win-it challenge with a champion leaderboard if you want to keep the competitive energy up through multiple rounds. Spoiler: everyone will want multiple rounds.

18. Which Christmas Character Are You Quiz

Okay, after all that running and jingling and cotton-ball-chaos, every party needs a moment to breathe — and this quiz is the perfect cool-down that still feels exciting.

The Which Christmas Character Are You Quiz is a short personality-style quiz with 8–10 fun questions: ‘What’s your perfect Christmas Eve activity?’, ‘Pick a holiday treat,’ ‘How do you feel about the cold?’, ‘What’s your role in the friend group?’ and so on.

Kids circle their answers, tally up their results, and discover whether they’re a Santa (generous leader), an Elf (creative and energetic), a Reindeer (loyal team player), a Snowman (cheerful and laid-back), or the Grinch (secretly loves Christmas but needs convincing — always the funniest result).

Print one quiz sheet per child on fun cardstock.

Read the questions aloud one by one so younger kids who aren’t strong readers can still fully participate — this turns it into a group activity rather than a silent solo one, which keeps the energy from completely flattering.

After everyone tallies their character, do a big reveal: ‘All the Santas, stand up!’ and let each character group do something silly — a Santa ho-ho-ho, an elf spin, a reindeer gallop across the room.

Suddenly your quiet cool-down game has a little burst of silliness built in at the end, which is exactly the right note to hit.

Age range: 6 and up (with questions read aloud, it works for 5-year-olds too). Prep time: print and set out pencils.

This game is wonderful because it gives every kid a ‘result’ they’re proud of and can talk about for the rest of the party — ‘I’m an ELF!’ energy is unmatched.

It also sparks genuine conversation between kids about why they chose certain answers, which is a sneaky little social skill builder hiding inside a party game.

For a classroom version, you can do this whole-group with hands raised for each answer, tallying on the board, and revealing the class character result together — deeply satisfying.

Speaking of fun personality content, if you love a good quiz, our Ideal Valentine’s Day Quiz is a fun follow-up once the holiday season wraps up.

19. Elf Hunt

Think of this as a scavenger hunt but with a festive twist that makes kids feel like they’re actually in a Christmas story.

Before the party, hide 10–15 small plastic elf figurines (or printable elf cards) around the party space — tucked behind books, perched on shelves, hiding behind the tree, peeking out of a shoe. Each elf has a number on its base.

When the hunt begins, kids search the space and note down the number of each elf they spot (they don’t pick them up — they just record the number on their elf tally card).

The child who spots the most elves in the time limit wins. Leaving the elves in place means you can run multiple rounds, and no one is arguing over who got there first.

Print a simple Elf Tally Card for each child — a sheet with numbered lines where they write the location of each elf they found (‘elf #7 is behind the lamp!’).

This adds a writing/observation element that teachers love and kids actually enjoy because it makes them feel like official elf detectives. Hide the elves at varying difficulty levels: some obvious at eye level, some genuinely sneaky at adult height or behind closed (but openable) doors.

Add a ‘bonus golden elf’ worth three points for the ultimate prize in competitive stakes.

Age range: 4 and up. Prep time: 15–20 minutes of hiding.

This game is especially brilliant if you want to occupy kids during that tricky arrival window when guests are still trickling in — early arrivals can start hunting while latecomers join when they get there, and nobody misses a ‘start.’

It also burns serious energy because kids are crouching, climbing, turning around, and sprinting between discoveries. For a kids’ party scavenger hunt mechanic that works across every holiday, this is the template — just swap the elves for whatever fits the theme.

Elves are just undeniably the best version, though. Extremely biased but standing by it.

20. Decorate the Gingerbread Man Relay

This relay race takes the classic gingerbread man decorating experience and cranks it up to 100 with competition, teamwork, and a truly impressive amount of running.

Draw or print a large gingerbread man outline on a big piece of paper or whiteboard for each team — at least poster-size so multiple kids can work on it.

Set up a ‘decoration supply station’ at the far end of the room with baskets of supplies: foam stickers, marker pens, construction paper button shapes, yarn for hair, and fabric pieces for clothing.

On ‘go,’ one teammate at a time runs to the supply station, grabs ONE decoration item, runs back, and places it on the gingerbread man. Next teammate goes.

Relay continues until time is up (2–3 minutes works well), and then a judge awards points for creativity, color, and general gingerbread man excellence.

For setup, tape your gingerbread man outlines at kid-height on a wall or door, or lay them flat on a table at each team’s station. Pre-sort the decoration supplies into individual small baskets so teams have equal access to the same items.

Use double-sided tape or glue sticks at the gingerbread man stations so items actually stick when kids place them. The running element is key — the relay format creates urgency and energy that a sit-down decorating craft simply doesn’t have.

Kids who would normally dawdle over a craft suddenly become Olympic sprinters when there’s a team depending on them.

Age range: 4 and up. Prep time: about 20 minutes to set up outline papers, tape them up, and sort supply baskets.

This game is a beautiful blend of arts-and-crafts and active relay — which means the kids who love running AND the kids who love creating both have their moment to shine.

After the game, hang the finished gingerbread men up as party decorations and let the teams vote on their favorite (no voting for your own team, obviously). The winning team’s gingerbread man becomes the official party mascot for the rest of the evening.

Which is a completely made-up honor that kids take extremely seriously. Highly recommend.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Christmas party games for kids of all ages?

The best christmas party games kids of all ages can enjoy together are ones with adjustable difficulty and built-in roles for everyone.

Games like Wreath Toss (adjust throwing distance by age), the Christmas I-Spy Sheet (self-paced), the Stocking Stuffer Guess (tactile and accessible), and Snowman Building with Balloons (teamwork-based) all work brilliantly for mixed age groups from 4 to 12.

The key is picking games where younger kids aren’t automatically at a disadvantage — either by giving them a head start, pairing them with older buddies, or choosing games based on luck and observation rather than pure speed or reading ability.

What are some fun Christmas games for kids at a classroom party?

For a classroom Christmas party, you want games that work in a small space, need minimal mess, and can run on a rotation schedule.

Printable games like the Christmas I-Spy Sheet, Christmas Maze, Guess the Gift Sheet, Color Santa Contest, and Christmas Wishes Cards all work perfectly at desks with zero movement required.

For active whole-class fun, the Santa Beard Cotton Ball Race, Snowman Dress-Up Relay, and Reindeer Antler Ring Toss can be run as team heats in the front of the classroom. The Which Christmas Character Are You Quiz works brilliantly as a whole-class read-aloud activity.

Aim for 3–4 station games so every child is always engaged.

What are easy Christmas party games for kids that need no supplies?

A few games on this list need almost no supplies at all. The Candy Cane Hunt just needs candy canes you already have.

The Secret Santa Reveal Game needs only the gifts kids bring from home — all the game mechanics happen with things kids already have on hand.

The Which Christmas Character Are You Quiz can be done verbally with raised hands if you skip the printed sheet. And the Elf Hunt can work with any small household objects labeled with sticky notes rather than bought figurines.

For truly zero-supply games, Christmas-themed freeze dance (just need a playlist), Christmas charades, or a ‘two truths and a Christmas lie’ game for older kids need absolutely nothing but a group of kids and some holiday spirit.

What are good Christmas party games for large groups of kids?

For large groups (15+ kids), the best approach is team-based relay games and station rotations. The Wrap the Present Relay, Snowman Dress-Up Relay, Decorate the Gingerbread Man Relay, and Snowman Building with Balloons all work perfectly in teams, meaning 20+ kids can play simultaneously.

The Candy Cane Hunt and Elf Hunt work for any size group as individual searches. For printable games, the Christmas I-Spy Sheet, Christmas Maze, and Guess the Gift Sheet are all self-paced individual activities that scale to any group size — just print more copies.

The Reindeer Antler Ring Toss works as a station game with heats, keeping large groups rotating through smoothly.

What are some active Christmas games kids can play indoors?

Almost all the active games on this list are designed for indoor play.

The Santa Beard Cotton Ball Race, Snowman Dress-Up Relay, Wrap the Present Relay, Jingle Bell Stocking Toss, Reindeer Antler Ring Toss, Candy Cane Sword Duel, and Snowman Building with Balloons all work perfectly in a living room, classroom, or party hall.

For higher-energy indoor play, the Decorate the Gingerbread Man Relay and Candy Cane Hunt use the full space of a room without requiring outdoor access.

The key to indoor active games is clearing the center of the room, using masking tape for start lines, and having enough space for relay runners to go about 15–20 feet.

What are Christmas minute-to-win-it games for kids?

Several games on this list are perfect as minute-to-win-it challenges. The Santa Beard Cotton Ball Race (60 seconds to transfer as many cotton balls as possible using only your chin) is a classic minute-to-win-it.

The Stocking Stuffer Guess (feel and identify items in 60 seconds), Jingle Bell Stocking Toss (most rings in a stocking in 60 seconds), and the Reindeer Antler Ring Toss (most rings on antlers in 60 seconds) all adapt beautifully to a timed format.

For a structured Christmas minute-to-win-it party, run 6–8 challenges as individual heats, tally points on a leaderboard, and crown an overall champion at the end with a fun prize.

What are Christmas party games that work for both kids and adults?

The best christmas party games kids AND adults can both enjoy are ones where skill level or size doesn’t create too big an advantage.

Wreath Toss, Reindeer Antler Ring Toss, Guess the Wrapped Gift by Shake, Stocking Stuffer Guess, and the Secret Santa Reveal Game all work fantastically across generations.

The Christmas I-Spy Sheet and Guess the Gift Sheet are genuinely fun for adults too, especially in a timed competition. And honestly?

The Santa Beard Cotton Ball Race is the great equalizer — adults are not better at it than kids, and watching a grown-up fail hilariously at the chin-scoop is the best possible party moment.

You can check out budget-friendly gift ideas for the adult attendees too — our guide on <a href=’https://redcheeksgirl.com/ways-to-budget-for-christmas/’>budgeting for Christmas</a> is super helpful for keeping the whole event affordable.

What are printable Christmas games for kids’ holiday parties?

Each game prints on a standard US Letter sheet and can be set out at tables as arrival activities, station games, or cool-down activities between active rounds. Print on cardstock for best results and set out holiday pencils or markers for a fully festive experience.

What are good Christmas party games for toddlers and young children?

For toddlers and children under 5, the best games from this list are ones that don’t require reading, have simple one-step instructions, and involve tactile or physical play.

The Candy Cane Hunt (hide and find candy canes in easy spots), Wreath Toss (from close range), Stocking Stuffer Guess (feel and guess simple objects), Color Santa Contest (drawing/coloring at their own pace), and Snowman Building with Balloons (with an adult partner) all work beautifully for little ones.

For the relay games, pair toddlers with an older ‘buddy’ teammate who can help them through the steps. The Christmas I-Spy Sheet works for non-readers too — toddlers can circle pictures they recognize without needing to read the checklist.

What are some Christmas relay race games for kids?

This list is packed with Christmas relay races that kids absolutely love.

The Snowman Dress-Up Relay (put on snowman costume pieces, spin, take them off, pass to next teammate), Wrap the Present Relay (wrap, run back, next teammate unwraps and re-wraps), Decorate the Gingerbread Man Relay (one decoration item per run to build a team gingerbread man), and Candy Cane Hunt Relay (variation: teams race to find a set number of candy canes before the other team) are all high-energy, easy-to-explain races.

For best results, keep teams to 3–5 kids per team, make sure all teams have identical supplies, and always designate a clear start/finish line with tape. Relay races work for ages 4 and up.

There you have it — 20 christmas party games kids will actually beg to play again (and again, and possibly one more time).

Whether you’re running a two-hour classroom party, a neighborhood bash for 30 kids, or just trying to survive the holiday playdate with cousins, this list has everything you need: relay races that burn energy, printable sheets that keep hands busy, and quiet games that give everyone a chance to shine.

Print the sheets, gather your candy canes and cotton balls, and get ready for a Christmas party they’ll be talking about until Valentine’s Day.

(Speaking of which — if you need what to get the adults in your life sorted before then, our Christmas gift guide for parents is worth a bookmark.) Pin this list, print your favorites, and go make some holiday magic!

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