Planning a holiday gathering for kids can feel like a big task, especially when you’re trying to keep all ages entertained. Whether you’re hosting a small get-together at home or organizing a bigger event at school or church, having a list of go-to kids Christmas party ideas can make everything smoother. Here’s a roundup of 25 fun ways to celebrate that’ll help bring the holiday cheer without the stress.
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1. Cookie Decorating Station
Set up a table with plain sugar cookies, frosting in squeeze bottles, and bowls of sprinkles. Let kids decorate their own cookies to eat or take home.
2. DIY Ornament Crafting
Provide clear plastic ornaments, paint pens, glitter, and ribbon. Kids can create their own decorations to hang on the tree.
3. Holiday Bingo
Print out bingo cards with Christmas-themed images instead of numbers. Use candy like M&Ms or peppermints as markers.
4. Santa’s Photo Booth
Hang a festive backdrop and provide props like Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and elf ears for silly photo fun.
5. Reindeer Ring Toss
Use brown pool noodles or cones as reindeer antlers and let kids toss rings made from pipe cleaners or glow sticks.
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Classic and Creative Kids Christmas Party Ideas
Looking for more kids Christmas party ideas beyond crafts and games? Here’s where you can mix in some old favorites with new twists.
6. Hot Cocoa Bar
Offer different flavors of cocoa along with toppings like whipped cream, crushed candy canes, and mini marshmallows.
7. Snowman Building Contest (Indoors!)
Use white socks filled with rice or cotton balls to let kids build their own mini snowmen using buttons, felt, and googly eyes.
8. Gingerbread House Decorating
Buy kits or make your own using graham crackers and icing. Great for older kids who like hands-on projects.
9. Holiday Movie Corner
Set up a cozy area with bean bags and blankets where kids can watch short holiday movies or shows while snacking on popcorn.
10. Elf Scavenger Hunt
Hide little elf dolls around the room or house. Give kids clues to find them for small prizes.
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Games That Get Kids Moving
Sometimes sitting still just doesn’t cut it—especially for younger guests. These active games help burn off energy while keeping things festive.
11. Candy Cane Relay Race
Split into teams and have players pass candy canes using only spoons held in their mouths.
12. Snowball Toss
Use soft white balls (or rolled-up socks) and buckets to see who can score the most points.
13. Pin the Nose on Rudolph
A holiday twist on the classic game—blindfolded players try to stick the red nose on Rudolph’s face.
14. Musical Gifts
Like musical chairs but with wrapped presents passed around in a circle while music plays. When it stops, whoever holds it opens it!
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Food Ideas That Are Easy and Fun
Kids love snacks they can help make or decorate themselves.
15. Reindeer Sandwiches
Use cookie cutters to shape sandwiches into stars or reindeer faces.
16. Fruit Candy Canes
Alternate banana slices and strawberries on skewers to look like candy canes—healthy but still festive!
17. Snowman Cheese Sticks
Draw snowman faces on string cheese wrappers using markers for an easy grab-and-go snack.
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More Easy Kids Christmas Party Ideas
Still need more inspiration? Here’s a list of quick wins that don’t take much prep:
18. Holiday coloring station with crayons and themed pages
19. Christmas karaoke featuring kid-friendly songs
20. Pass-the-present game with layers of wrapping paper between small prizes
21. Letters to Santa writing station
22. Make-your-own reindeer food (oats + glitter in baggies)
23. Pajama party theme – everyone comes in holiday PJs!
24. Mini gift exchange—set a $5 limit so every child gets something small
25. Storytime corner where an adult reads holiday books aloud
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Creating a memorable party doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly—it means giving kids space to laugh, play, and enjoy time together during the holidays. With these kids Christmas party ideas, you’ll have plenty of options that fit any group size or age range without overcomplicating things.
Keep it simple, stay flexible, and don’t forget to enjoy the party yourself!