Early years activity: Christmas Party Games
Celebrate the Christmas period with some familiar, fun party games, with a Christmas twist.
Christmas Party Games activity learning aims
- Take part in group games
- Collaborate with others
- Talk about own experiences and feelings
- Develop confidence to try new things.
Resources you will need for this activity
- See individual activities below
Christmas Party Games activity outline
Pass the Christmas parcel
Resources: Objects for children to unwrap, Christmas wrapping paper (add enough layers so each child gets a turn), sticking tape and music
Directions: Explain how to play the game and have a practice run. Ask the children to sit in a circle and give the parcel to one child. Play music, stopping it at regular intervals, so each child gets a turn to unwrap a layer of paper, until finally the object is revealed.
Christmas scavenger hunt
Resources: Variety of Christmas themed items, basket/box to collect the items, photo list of items
Directions: Hide the items around the setting (include outdoors if possible). Show the children the photo list of the items that you have hidden and let them know their role is to find as many as they can. Place your basket or box in a central position and encourage children to place the found items in the basket. Once complete, ask the children to check they have found all of items using the list.
Pin the nose on Santa
Resources: Large drawn or printed image of Santa, a large red circle (to represent his nose), sticky tac, scarf/eye mask
Directions: Secure the Santa image to a wall or other surface at the children’s height. Explain how you play the game and demonstrate by covering your eyes with the scarf/eye mask and trying to attach the nose to Santa’s face. Ask the children first if they want to try with their eyes covered, as some children may feel uncomfortable with this. Otherwise, invite them to close their eyes – no peeking!
NDNA products to support you with this activity
Exemplary Practice with Three to Five-Year-Olds – Online Course
Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.
