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Xmas Party Games for Children

Games add excitement to parties for kids of all ages. Christmas parties call for themed games to enhance the experience. Add Christmas elements to well-known games by replacing the usual items with holiday ones. Introduce new games that children will ask to play every year, and give Christmas-themed favors to all the participants. Plan games throughout the party for ongoing fun, or host game time at the end of the party to make sure the guests take fond memories home.

Santa Says
- Follow what Santa says to do in Santa Says.
  
  Add Christmas fun to a game most kids know: Simon Says. The rules of the game are to follow Santa&'s directions if he uses the words, "Santa Says" and to not follow his directions when he doesn&'t. Have the children stand in a line and wait for Santa&'s instructions. Choose one person to be Santa. Santa alternates instructions like, "Santa says raise your right hand" with other instructions like "lower your right hand," as explained at Kaboose.com. The children who do what Santa says without hearing the words "Santa Says" are eliminated from the game until the next round.
Trim the Tree Blindfolded
- Provide child-safe ornaments for blindfolded tree trimming.
  
  Children love to decorate for the holidays. Trimming a Christmas tree becomes even more fun when it&'s done blindfolded. Arrange child-safe ornaments on a table with ornament wires attached. Blindfold one child and ask him to choose one ornament from the table. Help him find the stack of decorations, if needed, by guiding his hand to the table. After he selects his ornament, turn him around three times. Then turn him to face the tree so he can attach his ornament, suggests Apples4theTeacher.com. It is best to leave electric tree lights unplugged until the game is over and the tree is decorated. Have an adult stand by the tree in case the child stumbles.
Christmas Freeze Dance
- Freeze in place when the music stops.
  
  This game lets children expend some energy by dancing around. The rules are that they must freeze in place when you stop the music and start dancing again when the music resumes. Clear away a big enough area so the children can dance freely without bumping into one another. Start the Christmas tunes and ask the kids to dance however they choose. When they least expect it, stop the music, as explained at ChristmasWorld.com. This game often gives kids the giggles when they try to hold the position they had until you start the music again.
Pin the Nose on the Reindeer
- Play Pin the Nose on the Reindeer.
  
  Play this game like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, substituting a reindeer for the donkey. The obvious choice is Rudolph with his bright, red nose. Print a picture of a reindeer face without a red nose and hang it on a wall. Glue a bead of poster-hanging adhesive, similar to clay, to a red pompom. Poster adhesive sticks to paper and is easy to remove and re-stick. Blindfold one child at a time and ask each of them to attach the red pompom nose to Rudolph&'s face. Play holiday music during this game to add to the fun.

Kids Games