5 Festive Last-Minute Christmas Games (No Supplies Needed!)
Christmas is a beautiful time to reflect on the birth of our Savior. But let’s face it: Sometimes things can be hectic and unpredictable—especially in ministry. You need some easy-to-use Christmas games to pull out in a pinch.
You might not know how many kids to expect. The main service might take a little longer than usual. Kids might need some extra time to let their sugar-induced energy out. And somehow, you have to adjust plans without any notice.
So we’re here to help! Here are five fun and festive Christmas games that require zero prep and zero supplies. Keep these ideas in your back pocket, just in case you need them. Pull them out and play them on the fly! Merry Christmas!
Christmas Game #1: Christmas Carol Freeze
In this fun Christmas game, kids will run around the room. But they’ll have to listen carefully! When you shout out the name of a Christmas carol, kids must freeze in place in a pose that represents that song. There’s no right or wrong pose, so let kids have fun and express their creativity!
Here’s a list of songs you can name:
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
- O Little Town of Bethlehem
- Joy to the World
- Away in a Manger
- What Child Is This?
- We Three Kings
- Go Tell It on the Mountain
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- Silent Night
- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
After the game, lead kids in this discussion.
Ask:
- Why did you decide on the poses you did?
- Which Christmas carol is your favorite, and why?
Say: Christmas songs are a fun way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus came to earth as a baby, born to be our Savior.
Use music to teach your kids more about Jesus’ birth! Check out Songs of the Christmas Story or More Songs of the Christmas Story.
Christmas Game #2: Shepherd’s Telephone
Your kids will love this fun game of Telephone! Kids will sit in a circle or a side-by-side line and whisper a message down the line. The messages will be things the shepherds might have told people.
First, read Luke 2:17. Then whisper the following messages to the first child in line, one message at a time. Let kids whisper the message all the way down the line or around the circle and have the last child announce aloud what they heard.
Have kids whisper these messages:
- We saw a whole bunch of angels.
- The angels told us they had good news of great joy.
- The Savior was born today in Bethlehem.
- We got to see baby Jesus wrapped snugly in strips of cloth.
- Jesus was lying in a manger.
- Jesus is God’s Son—the Savior of the world!
- You have to go see him for yourself!
If time allows, kids can also make up things they think the shepherds might have told people.
After the game, lead kids in this discussion.
Ask:
- What happened when you shared your messages?
- What do you think happened when the shepherds shared their messages?
- What’s one thing you can tell someone about Jesus this Christmas?
Say: The shepherds were so excited because they knew Jesus wasn’t an ordinary baby. He was God’s Son, the one they had been waiting for to save them! Like the shepherds, we can tell everyone the exciting news about Jesus!
Christmas Game #3: Name That Tune
In this Christmas game, kids will have to listen carefully! Hum just one note of a Christmas song. (Need ideas? Use the list from the first game.) See if anyone can guess which song you’re humming. If not, hum the first and second note and allow more guessing. Continue adding more notes until someone correctly identifies the song.
Play several rounds. You can also let kids be the hummers!
After the game, lead kids in this discussion.
Ask:
- What’s a Christmas song that really helps you feel connected with Jesus?
Say: This Christmas, spend some time just listening to Jesus. Maybe Jesus has something to say to you through a song, through a Bible verse, or simply through spending quiet time with him.
Christmas Game #4: My Name and My Gift
Play a fun alphabet Christmas game with your kids. Kids will sit in a circle. The first child will say, “My name is ___ and I’m giving ____.” The gift should start with the letter A. The next child will say the first child’s name and gift (Jennifer is giving an alligator), and add their own name and gift starting with the letter B. Continue around the circle, repeating all the previous gifts each time you add one, until you get all the way to Z! It’s okay for gifts to be a little unrealistic!
Ask:
- What’s a gift you’re really giving someone this Christmas?
Say: Giving Christmas gifts reminds us that God gave us the best gift of all: Jesus!
Christmas Game #5: Bethlehem Bonanza
Play this fun Christmas game that’s a variation of Fruit Basket Upset. You’ll need to arrange your chairs in a circle so that all the kids except one have a seat. Then assign everyone a person from the Bible story: Mary, Joseph, a shepherd, or a wise man.
The person without a seat will call out one of the assigned names. Anyone with that assignment must get up and find a new seat—while the person in the middle also tries to take one.
The person in the middle can also call “Bethlehem Bonanza!” Then everyone must get up and find a new seat.
After the game, lead kids in this discussion.
Ask:
Say: There was a lot of traveling and moving around when Jesus was born—kind of like in our game. But it was all a part of God’s big plan to send Jesus as a baby to show the world his great love.
Want even more Christmas game ideas? Check out these fun ideas or find a whole bunch of Christmas fun here!
Looking for preschool-friendly Christmas ideas? You’ll love this cute song and these two simple ideas.
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