For many young children, Christmas can't come fast enough. Presents, treats, family and fun all combine to make Christmases a treasured memory as children grow. Add to the holiday spirit in your house by offering a few Christmas games for young kids. Games are great for a Christmas Eve party or for fun on Christmas Day. Kids can play in teams or individually.
Reindeer Landing Practice
Reindeer need practice making tough landings, and even young kids can help. To play, you'll need a beanbag or plush stuffed reindeer and a cardboard target. Place the target on the floor and let kids take turns trying to land the reindeer in the center of the target. You can give one point for landing in the target, or divide the target into "zones" worth different amounts of points.
I Spy Christmas
Young kids enjoy I Spy, which helps them learn colors, shapes and sizes while offering fun. Sit kids by the Christmas tree and have one child pick an ornament. Without telling the others which ornament, the child describes the ornament by saying "I spy with my little eye something that is...," followed by a description of the ornament such as "shiny," "glass" or "blue." The rest of the players take turns trying to guess which ornament the first player chose. The first one to guess correctly gets to "spy" the next ornament. You can also play this game with presents, assorted Christmas cookies or candies, or outdoors.
Don't Let the Snowflakes Fall!
Young children love this game, which requires cooperation and coordination. It can also go on indefinitely. To play, find a clear space, such as a playroom or basement floor, and blow up three to five white or blue balloons, which will be your "snowflakes." The players stand in the play area and try to keep the balloons from touching the floor. Begin with just one balloon, then add more as players get comfortable and depending on the size of the group. If a "snowflake" touches the ground, start the group over with one balloon.
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