Sharing the holiday and Christmas season with the family is a long-standing tradition, followed by many families of various cultures. Everyone looks forward to to celebrating these special days together. Since children often attend these gatherings with their parents, it’s important to plan holiday and Christmas games they can enjoy throughout the day.
The Size Of Your Home
The amount of space you have in your home for holiday and Christmas games will dictate the types of game your kids will be able to play. Take both outdoor and indoor space into account as you plan, since children can spend some time outside playing and come in later to warm up with a treat, like hot chocolate.
Time To Play Games
Give kids an opportunity to play games while the meal is being prepared and the table is being set, so that they are not in the way. Also, schedule some games and activities for after dinner.
Games To Play
Similar to Pin the Tail on the Donkey, pin the nose on Rudolph is a holiday game even small guests can play. Create a cardboard cut-out of Rudolph, or visit a website such as Christmas Clipart, to find a suitable picture you can have enlarged to create a poster. Use red construction paper to create noses for each game participant. Hang the picture of Rudolph on a wall in your home, blindfold kids one-at-a-time, spin each kid around and then let them take turns pinning the nose on Rudolph. The kid who gets the closest to his nose wins the game.
Purchase gift wrap supplies, such as tape, child-safety scissors, bows, gift tags and gift boxes from your local discount store. For this game, split children into two or three teams, depending on how many kids want to play. Create a starting point and a finish line. Set up the gift wrapping supplies on tables near the start line, and place a gift sack at the finish line for each team. Start by giving the first kid on each team a gift, when you say “go,” the kid has to wrap his gift quickly, complete with a bow and gift tag, and then run it down to the other in and place it in the gift sack. After a player gets a gift in the sack, the next player from their team begins wrapping a gift, following the same rules. The team who gets the most gifts in a sack in a minute, wins the game.
Consider Getting Parents Involved
Get the adults involved by letting them act as human Christmas trees. Disney Family Fun suggests giving them supplies, such as red and green crepe paper, aluminum foil and masking tape. Items like garland, tinsel and pipe cleaners can also be used to decorate the human trees. Race to see who can finish his tree in 30 seconds. You could also have a contest for the best tree.
Don’t Offend Anyone
While families may celebrate the holidays together, all members don’t necessarily share the same religion, rituals and beliefs when it comes to the Christmas and holiday seasons. Because of different beliefs and values and in an effort not to be offensive to some, plan holiday and Christmas games for the kids that celebrate the season without religious or cultural conflict.
Photo Credit
- kids in game image by Julia Britvich from Fotolia.com
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