Christmas Party Games for the Grands

Party games~

Last week's blog was about our family's annual gingerbread decorating competition. There's always time after the decorating to play a few games. These are some of our favorites from previous years:

Wrap Up a Snowman!

One year after we finished decorating the gingerbread houses and cleaned up our mess, we had a race wrapping up a cousin in each family in toilet paper! It's true! The kids along with their parents had to wrap up a kid in their family as a traditional snowman. Alas, I bought cheap bathroom tissue and it kept tearing as they wrapped. I provided hats, toboggans and scarves. But everything else they had to create out of construction paper. It was too fun!

She looks very Frosty-esque--complete with top hat!

So that everyone would have a turn being decorated, I also had supplies for a reindeer and a Christmas tree. These were wrapped in crepe paper which I found at the craft store. Again, the siblings had to design ornaments out of construction paper and get them taped on the tree. 

Rudolph--that red construction paper nose was a giveaway.

Putting finishing touches on their tree.

Christmas Rollick~

Another game we love is rollick. I had never played that before, but it's a lot more fun that charades. In fact, it's charades in reverse. Divide in two teams and ONE PERSON on your team guesses and everyone else acts it out. This even works for the little guys who are not reading yet. Just take them aside before the clock starts and tell them the action. For instance, it might be, "Elves making toys in Santa's workshop," or "Decorating and eating Christmas cookies." Once the clock starts, you act it out, but just like in charades, you can't talk! 

Get a pretty Christmas box for the slips of paper for rollick or charades.

Actions with a holiday theme for playing rollick. Want a copy? Just use the contact page to email me and I'll be glad to send you a copy.

Traditional charades~

This is the traditional game of charades, but adapted to a Christmas theme. You can either have each team submit a Christmas movie or a Christmas carol to the other team, or make it easier and get a list of Christmas carols online, print them out, and cut them to size and put in a Christmas tin for drawing. This game is for older kids who can read. But fun nevertheless.

Christmas Scattergories~

Another favorite and one that our family does in partners--an older cousin or parent/grandparent with a younger cousin, is Christmas Scattergories. It's fun and such a bonding time when you can work together on your answers. I printed up the Scattergories sheet and provided each team of two with the sheet, pencils and a thick magazine on which to write. We just got comfortable on the couches and chairs in the den in front of the fire. If you're not familiar with the game, simply check online for the rules. Someone simply throws the lettered dice, calls out the letter, and all your responses for that game have to start with that letter. You'll also need a timer. As I said, the rules are online, or perhaps you own the packaged version and can use the rule sheet and timer in the box.

Christmas Scattergories. Again, simply write me and I'll send you a copy!

Christmas Sock Hop!

This one is not so much a game, but just a good old-fashioned dance. Simply roll up the rug, everyone put on their Christmas socks and dance to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," and other holiday favorites! This is perfect if your grandkids are toddlers and much too young for the games above. 

Along those same lines, you can also ask your young party-goers (once again I'm speaking of older kids for this) to bring a pair of Christmas socks with a $5 gift tucked inside. Then everyone exchanges gifts and puts on their Christmas socks for the rest of the party. Really puts everyone in a festive mood.

My much younger grandkids in Christmas socks for the sock hop!

My youngest granddaughter waiting for the music to start.

All the cousins at last year's party!

Fun Christmas games found online~

All these games I found online and on Pinterest. Sometimes it's nice to read from someone else which ones are successful and kid-tested. I'm thinking some of these are great for an adult party as well--in fact I'm sure of it. 

This blog is about activities and traditions for grandparents and their grandkids. I hope you found some today that you might can add to your repertoire. And as I always say, write me games and activities that you've done with your grandkids at Christmas. I'm thinking about adding some "Minute to Win It" games this year. Let me know if you've done any of those. They look so fun!

Websites that might be helpful:

​lifeofahomeschoolmom.com/2013/11/g-is-for-games-christmas-rollick/

​www.agirlandagluegun.com/2015/12/christmas-printables.html

Merry Christmas, happy HOLY days, and a prosperous New Year to you and yours!