When it’s too chilly to play outside, the living room can become the busiest place this side of the North Pole. Indoor Christmas games are an easy way to bring everyone together during snowy afternoons, school breaks or the long wait for Christmas dinner. Better yet, most of these activities use things you already have at home.
Choose one game for ten minutes or string a few together for a family games afternoon. You don’t need a big guest list, expensive supplies or a perfectly tidy house. A little imagination will do nicely.
Quick Christmas games with almost no preparation
1. Christmas freeze dance
Put on a family-friendly Christmas playlist and let everyone dance. When the music stops, all players freeze exactly where they are. Anyone who wobbles gets to choose the next song rather than sitting out. Even toddlers can join in.
2. North Pole I Spy
Play I Spy with festive objects around the room: a green stocking, a silver bauble or a red ribbon. For children who aren’t reading yet, give a colour or shape clue instead of a letter. Keep decorations safely out of reach if they contain small parts.
3. Santa Says
Give the familiar listening game a Christmas twist. “Santa says pretend to pull a sleigh” counts, but “hop like a reindeer” only counts if it begins with “Santa says”. Play for laughs rather than elimination so younger children can keep trying.
4. Mystery stocking
Place a few safe household objects inside an opaque stocking. Let players feel each one without looking and guess what it is. Try a mitten, a spoon, a soft toy or a large wooden ornament. Avoid sharp items and choking hazards.
5. Christmas word chain
Start with a word such as “snow”. The next player says another Christmas word beginning with its last letter, perhaps “winter” followed by “reindeer”. Young children can simply name any festive item they can think of. There is no need to keep score.
Games for families who want to move around
6. Indoor holiday treasure hunt
Hide five picture clues around one room, each pointing to the next. The prize could be a bedtime story chosen by the winner or first pick of a family film. You can make the clues about ordinary household objects so no extra decorations are needed.
7. Soft snowball toss
Roll pairs of clean socks into soft “snowballs” and place a laundry basket a short distance away. Each player gets three throws. Adjust the distance for different ages and keep the play area clear of fragile objects.
8. Reindeer relay
Create a very short route around cushions or floor markers. Children walk it carrying a lightweight stuffed toy on a tray, then pass it to the next person. There is no running required. Older children can try balancing a soft toy on their head instead.
9. Christmas charades
Write or draw simple prompts: decorating a tree, skating, opening a present or building a snowman. Take turns acting without speaking while others guess. If you have a wide age range, let younger players act with a teammate.
10. Living-room bowling
Set up empty plastic bottles as pins and roll a soft ball toward them. Add a festive twist by naming the pins after Santa’s reindeer. Keep glass decorations well away from the bowling lane.
Quiet Christmas games for a cozy afternoon
11. The Christmas memory tray
Place ten familiar items on a tray, let everyone study them for half a minute and cover the tray with a towel. How many can they remember? Younger children can name three things; older ones can write their answers or try a second round with more objects.
12. Guess the Christmas sound
One adult makes a sound behind a screen or with their back turned: shaking a jingle bell, crumpling wrapping paper, tapping a spoon or turning the pages of a book. Players guess the sound. Use objects already in the house and avoid anything especially loud.
13. Build a blanket reading fort
Drape a sheet over sturdy chairs, add cushions and bring in books. Let each child choose a short story to read aloud or have an adult narrate for the group. Keep blankets away from heaters and ensure the fort is easy to exit.
14. Pass the story
Begin a story with “One snowy morning at the North Pole…” and let each person add a sentence. Encourage silly but kind adventures. Someone can write down the finished tale to read again at Christmas dinner.
15. Festive picture detective
Choose a page from a picture book and give everyone 30 seconds to look closely. Close the book and ask questions such as “How many red hats could you see?” or “Was there a star in the window?” This is especially fun with detailed illustrations.
Creative Christmas party games
16. Design a Christmas sweater
Give everyone paper and coloured pencils. Set a five-minute challenge to draw a sweater fit for a snowman, a reindeer or a Scout Elf. At the end, everyone shares the funniest detail on their design. No craft purchases needed.
17. Wrap the mystery box
Place an empty box on the table with scraps of saved wrapping paper. Teams race against the clock to wrap it neatly using tape and ribbon. For younger children, skip the timer and focus on teamwork. Adults should supervise scissors.
18. Christmas bingo, without a bingo card
Each player chooses four festive things they might see or hear during the afternoon: the word “Santa”, a Christmas song, a red hat or the sound of a bell. Say your four choices aloud and listen. The first person to notice all four gets to choose the next game.
19. Holiday mini quiz
Ask simple questions based on the traditions your family knows: “What do we hang on the tree?” or “What do we wear outside when it’s snowy?” Older players can invent tougher questions. Keep it welcoming for families who celebrate Christmas in different ways.
20. Kindness challenge finale
Finish with a team challenge that makes somebody’s day brighter. Work together to tidy the games area, write a kind note or choose a book to pass on. Everyone is on the winning team.
Can Scout Elves join the family games?
Families enjoying The Elf on the Shelf® tradition can use the day’s games as inspiration for the next Scout Elf surprise. Your elf might appear near the board games, beside the family’s storybook or next to the treasure-hunt clue. Scout Elves should not be touched after they have been adopted and named, but children can still enjoy the games together.
If you want more inspiration for where your elf could land, explore 30 easy Scout Elf hiding places. New to the tradition? Discover how The Elf on the Shelf works.
Indoor Christmas games FAQs
What are the easiest indoor Christmas games for young children?
Freeze dance, Santa Says, I Spy and the soft snowball toss all work with simple instructions and short rounds. Adjust the game to each child’s age and supervise play.
How do we entertain kids at Christmas without buying supplies?
Start with sock snowballs, household treasure-hunt clues, a memory tray and a shared story. Most can be prepared in minutes using familiar objects.
What can the whole family play together on Christmas Eve?
Christmas charades, the sound guessing game and pass-the-story work with mixed ages. Choose one or two rather than scheduling every minute of the evening.
Are these games suitable for a Canadian winter afternoon?
Yes. They’re designed for indoor spaces, whether it’s snowing outside or simply a day when the family would rather stay cozy at home.
Keep the games simple: choose your favourites, move the furniture only if it’s safe and leave room for the moments nobody planned. Those are often the ones everyone remembers.