HT Games
Candy Cane Relay
Kids divide into two teams and try balancing an inflated balloon on a candy cane, carrying it across a goal line and back to the start line. If the balloon falls off, players must replace the balloon before continuing. The first team to complete the relay wins the game.
Christmas Charades
Kids divide into two teams for this holiday take on the classic parlor game. Before the game, an adult drafts lists of Christmas carols, movies and programs, and items, and selects each round's category. Kids may not make sounds as they act out clues for their teammates. If a team fails to guess guess an answer, the opposing team gets a chance to steal. Teams receive one point for each correct guess, and 2 points if they steal an answer. The adult should determine the target number of points a team needs to win; the team that reaches or surpasses that target wins the game.
Christmas Snooze
An "elf" tries putting every kid to sleep in "Christmas Snooze." Kids pick folded pieces of paper out of a bowl, with one kid picking a paper containing the word "elf." With the room very dimly lit, the "elf" discreetly winks at another kid, who then "falls asleep." Kids takes a turn guessing the "elf's" identity. If the "elf" puts all kids to sleep before someone guesses his identity, he wins a prize. If a kid correctly guesses the "elf," a new game begins.
Family Tree
Kids divide into teams and decorate one of their team members in "Family Tree." Players choose one kid to serve as the Christmas tree, and decorate the "tree" with aluminum foil, construction paper, crepe paper, decorations and masking tape within an allocated time frame. An adult judge chooses the best-looking tree and that team wins the game.
Fill the Christmas Stocking
Kids race to "Fill the Christmas Stocking," as an adult puts a candy-filled bucket and spoon in front of each team at the starting line and hangs a sock across the room for each team. Players take a piece of candy with the spoon, carry it to the sock and put the candy inside, proceeding to run back to their teams and hand the spoon to the next players in line. The team that puts all of the candy inside the sock wins the game. As a more difficult variation, kids may hold the spoon in their mouth.
Santa's Helpers
Kids divide into teams of two, each with a present and wrapping materials. Each kid must keep one hand behind her back, leaving just one hand to wrap presents. The object is to be the first team to get their present wrapped. Kids must communicate and work together to wrap the presents. The pair who wraps all of their presents first wins the game.
Sing the Christmas Carol
Excluding the ever-popular "Jingle Bells," kids write their four favorite Christmas songs on a piece of paper. An adult assigns each song a random number from "1" to "20." When the game begins, the adult shouts a number; if the adult calls one of a kid's numbers, the kid sings the correlating song. The kid who gets to sing all four of his songs wins the game.