• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy + Terms
  • Affiliates

The Chaos and the Clutter

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google Plus
  • RSS
  • Email
  • School at Home
  • Sensory
    • Sensory Processing Disorder
    • Awesome Sensory Play Activities
      • Sensory Bins
      • Sensory Bottles
      • Sensory Bags
  • Family Games
    • Minute to Win It Games
  • Special Needs Parenting
    • Childhood Anxiety
    • Reactive Attachment Disorder
    • Sensory Processing Disorder
  • Store
  • Course Login

Family Games

Theme Day Ideas for Family Fun at Home

By Sharla Kostelyk

  • Total539
  • Facebook119
  • Twitter3
  • Pinterest417
  • Mix
  • Yummly0

Is it just me or are the days starting to blend together?! Without school and appointments, it’s hard to know what day of the week it is. There was one day when I didn’t even realize that it was a weekend. These theme day ideas are a great way to break up the monotony and add it some fun.collage of party images with text that reads "Theme Day Ideas for family fun at home"

The idea for this came because my kids were officially on Spring Break but with it snowing and cold outside and no option to go anywhere fun, I brought the fun to them with a family Beach Party. We even Zoomed with our neighbours who had a beach setup happening at their house too. The beach party gave us all something to look forward to as we prepared for it and then gave us memories to look back on. It certainly helped that Tuesday stand out from the other days that week!

Since I know that some of you are also trying to teach your kids at home right now, I’ve also included some learning or art activities into some of the theme day ideas. 

One last thing to mention: Busy mamas, this is not meant to give you ONE MORE THING to do. Enlist your kids to do the planning and decorating. Ideally, this should give you less work because you won’t hear the cries of “I’m bored” as often. It can also give your kids something to look forward to when so many of their events are being cancelled. They can look and see that on Friday, it’s the family dance party and get excited for that.

Theme Day Ideas:

Backwards Day:

This is such an easy one to do. You don’t need to buy extra supplies or spend money and you can pull this off at the last minute. Here are just some of the things you can do:

  • supper for breakfast and breakfast for supper
  • dessert before the meal
  • wearing your clothes backwards
  • have kids learn about palindromes (words, phrases, or sentences that are spelled the same backwards and forwards – find lots here)
  • count backwards
  • say the alphabet backwards
  • sing a song backwards
  • call everyone by their name spelled backwards
  • read a book backwards
  • walk backwards

Beach Party:

Our beach party was so much fun! It was like bringing a bit of tropical vacation right to our living room. Making the decorations and food for it also gave the kids a fun project to work on for days beforehand. 

If it’s warm out where you are, you could have this in your backyard instead. Here are some ideas for having your own beach party:

  • decorate with beach towels, paper fish (we taped ours to blue recycle bags to make it look like water), sand pails and sand toys, tropical confetti, sunglasses
  • bring in beach chairs or loungers
  • food ideas: goldfish crackers, cupcakes with blue icing and brown sugar (sand) with a tiny umbrella, umbrellas in drinks, picnic food such as sandwiches, chips, candy fish, clear cups filled with blue jello and a gummy shark “swimming” in it, fruit skewers, sand dollar cookies, watermelon slices
  • dress in bathing suits, shorts, sundresses, t-shirts, flip-flops
  • play music like the Beach Boys and dance on the “beach”
  • read books like The Rainbow Fish
  • have a Limbo competition
  • set out a station for fish crafts or put out beach theme colouring pages with markers or crayons
  • paint seashells
  • read lounging out on your beach chair or towel
  • toss around a beach ball

Minute to Win It Theme:

Our family loves, loves Minute to Win It games. They are easy and inexpensive to set up, great for all ages, and best of all, hilarious! Here are some of our best Minute to Win It Games:

  • Minute to Win It Family Fun Games
  • Dollar Store Minute to Win It Games
  • Minute to Win It Games for Camping
  • How to play Minute to Win It Games

Dollar Store Minute to Win It party

Camping at Home:

  • set out a tent or tents in your living room or backyard (we like to put ours on the trampoline because it raises it up and makes it less cold)
  • sleep in sleeping bags
  • make S’mores (if you have a backyard fire pit, use that, if not, you can make s’mores in the microwave)
  • Ghost Hands are super fun (albeit messy) if you have a fire pit
  • play Minute to Win It Camping Games
  • sing campfire songs
  • paint camping story stones
  • food ideas: hot dogs, s’mores cookies, chips, walking tacos, mini camping cereals for breakfast
  • print off this camping printable pack that has camping theme learning activities for kids
  • star gaze together as you learn about constellations
  • play card games or board games
  • go bird watching in the backyard

Drive in Movie in the Living Room:

This is so fun if you have little ones. 

  • Decorate a large box as a car. You’ll need one per child. Let your child use their imaginations. You can use paper plates for wheels and the steering wheel and paint details or add them in Sharpie. 
  • food ideas: popcorn, juice boxes or pop, chips, raw veggies, movie snacks
  • Set the “cars” up in front of the TV and watch a movie. 

Christmas:

Pull out the tree, turn on the outside lights, and start baking! Since it kind of feels like those weeks around Christmas anyway, you might as well embrace it!

  • set out a holiday puzzle for everyone to work on
  • wrap things you already own to gift each other
  • play Christmas music
  • pull out your Hallmark Christmas movies shirt and start watching those Christmas movies!
  • sing carols
  • play Christmas Minute to Win It Games
  • make Christmas crafts
  • read Christmas books
  • play Christmas games
  • print off Christmas activities for the kids to do
  • wear your ugly Christmas sweaters
  • food ideas: Christmas baking, traditional Christmas foods

Family Talent Show:

Hosting a talent night in your home is great because for days before, it gives the kids something to practise. Set the stage in the living room or backyard and cheer on each family member as they perform. Here are some ideas for talents to be performed:

  • a skit or short play
  • reciting a memorized monologue or poem
  • playing a song by tapping on water glasses
  • playing the spoons
  • magic tricks
  • displaying art
  • singing
  • lip syncing
  • dancing
  • gymnastics
  • juggling
  • comedy act
  • martial arts
  • playing an instrument
  • showcasing a new skill such as knitting, whittling, or macrame 
  • hand clapping routine
  • yo-yo
  • jump rope routine
  • hula hoop
  • baton twirling

Fun Food Ideas:

We’ve been doing these fun food nights mostly for our Survivor nights. I pick a different one each week. 

  • Build your own nachos bar – pie plates for everyone, different kinds of tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and all the toppings: sliced black olives, jalapeños, tomatoes, onions, red peppers, taco meat or shredded chicken, beans, sour cream, salsas, and guacamole
  • Make your own pita pizzas
  • Sundae bar
  • Decorate your own cookies or cupcakes
  • Appetizer night
  • Popcorn bar
  • Pasta bar
  • Breakfast for supper
  • Fondu night

Other Fun Theme Day Ideas:

  • pyjama day 
  • crazy hair day
  • Rainbow party
  • formal day
  • Dr. Seuss party
  • sensory play all day
  • celebrity lookalike day
  • dress up
  • twins day (dress to match someone else in the house)
  • Lego building challenge
  • baking or cake decorating challenge
  • family dance party
  • family fun night (hilarious!)
  • backyard or living room picnic
  • 50s day
  • 60s day
  • 70s day
  • 80s day
  • 90s day
  • moustache day
  • backyard Olympics
  • math game marathon
  • role reversal day (kids and parents swap clothes and roles)
  • kitchen restaurant (kids make menus and cook for parents)
  • Zombie day
  • un-birthday party (cake, decorations, singing, streamers for no one’s birthday)
  • fort building competition
  • kitchen science experiments

These fun family theme day ideas can help you make the most of this time you have together. You can build memories and infuse some laughter into these weeks and focus on building family connection.

Looking for more ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

You may also be interested in reading:

The Ultimate List of Family Game Night IdeasThe image contains a collage of 5 photos and the words "the best family game night ideas". The pictures include a boy with his nose and mouth covered in flour sitting over a plate of flour, a boy with a stack of Oreo type cookies stacked on his forehead, a girl wearing a light green shirt with a pair of panty hose on her head with a tennis ball in the end of each as she swings her head from side to side trying to knock over red cups on the floor, a smiling blue eyed girl holding a paper bag between her teeth, and a curly haired boy with an Oreo on one of his eyes.

The Complete Slime Making Guide

  • Total539
  • Facebook119
  • Twitter3
  • Pinterest417
  • Mix
  • Yummly0

Filed Under: Family Games, Parenting in the Chaos Tagged With: parenting through pandemic

The Best Board Games for Large Groups

By Sharla Kostelyk

  • Total96
  • Facebook0
  • Twitter1
  • Pinterest95
  • Mix
  • Yummly0

Our family is a board game family. Let me tell you, we know a thing or two about board games for large groups because with 7 kids and two adults, we can’t just pick the regular 4-6 players games! We also love to have friends and family over to play games. Sometimes, there are more than 50 of us!stack of games in boxes and text that reads "The best board games for large groups"

Family game nights are a great way to form connection, build memories, strengthen relationships, reinforce learning concepts in a fun way, and spend screen free time.

We’ve tried a lot of games over the years. I’ve compiled a list of some of our favourites for large groups (more than 10) and another list for games we like for between 4 and 10 players.

The Best Board Games for Large Groups:

Taboo – I have been playing this game since I was a teenager. We especially like to play a guys vs. girls version of this. So much fun!  The object of the game is to have your team guess the word you’re describing except that there are certain buzz words you’re not allowed to say. It’s done in speed rounds which only adds to the fun.

What’s Yours Like?  – We’ve had a lot of laughs with this game. When you play with adults only, the answers can quickly take on double meanings which gets pretty funny. You can also play it with kids or groups of kids and adults though. You just need to keep your answers PG for that!

Mafia – While not exactly a board game, I’m saying it still counts because it involves a deck of cards. This game is a favourite of ours for playing out by the campfire. We’ve played with as many as 45 people before. It’s fun for all!

Heads-Up – While there is a board game version of this popular game, I suggest that you get the mobile app version. If one person in your group downloads it to their phone, you can all use that phone for hours of fun. This is another one that we’ve played in our living room with a large gathering. We usually play boys against the girls.

Charades – This is the ultimate game for a large group when you don’t have any board games handy. Just use a pen and slips of paper to create your own version. Have everyone write down ideas to make it extra fun.

Pictionary (or the new high tech Pictionary Air) – The nice thing about this classic is that the worse your art skills, the funnier it is! Fun for all ages.

What Do You Meme – This game brings the relatively new popularity of memes into the board game world and can be played with up to 20 people.

Blurt – Funny game that can be played with up to 12 players.

Taboo Board GameTaboo Board GameTaboo Board GameWhat's Yours Like? Party EditionWhat’s Yours Like? Party EditionWhat's Yours Like? Party EditionMafia CardsMafia CardsMafia CardsHeads Up Party GameHeads Up Party GameHeads Up Party GameSpeed CharadesSpeed CharadesSpeed CharadesPictionaryPictionaryPictionaryPictionary AirPictionary AirPictionary AirWHAT DO YOU MEME?WHAT DO YOU MEME?WHAT DO YOU MEME?

The Best Board Games for 4-10 players:

Pit – 3-8 players – This game is an awesome ice breaker! One thing it isn’t though is quiet as people shout out their bids. It’s kind of a commodities trading market gone wild.

Codenames – 2-8+ players – I find that this is a great ice breaker. If you’ve got people who are just getting to know each other, this is the one to start with. You’ll all be comfortable with each other in no time.

The Resistance – 5-10 players – This can be a team game so it’s quite interactive which we like.

Sequence – 2-12 players – One of our sons gave us this for Christmas one year and it soon became a family favourite. It’s easy to learn and appeals to a wide audience from kids to grandparents.

Five Crowns – 2-7 players – I chose this game at the store because of its small size as I wanted to pack it along on a camping trip. It turned out to be a great purchase and has been played often since. This award winner is a rummy style card game with a twist.

Apples to Apples – 4-10 players – There are many variations of this popular word game. It’s a nice one for playing with multiple ages.

Wizard – 3-6 players

Pit GamePit GamePit GameCzech Games CodenamesCzech Games CodenamesCzech Games CodenamesThe ResistanceThe ResistanceThe ResistanceSequenceSequenceSequenceFive Crowns Card GameFive Crowns Card GameFive Crowns Card GameApples to Apples Party in a BoxApples to Apples Party in a BoxApples to Apples Party in a BoxWizard Card GameWizard Card GameWizard Card Game

Looking for more awesome ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

If you’re looking for large group games that are more interactive, then check out some of our Minute to Win It challenges:

Minute to Win It Family Fun Night

Dollar Store Minute to Win ItDollar Store Minute to Win It party

Thanksgiving Minute to Win It Games

Christmas Minute to Win It Games

Minute to Win It Games for Camping

  • Total96
  • Facebook0
  • Twitter1
  • Pinterest95
  • Mix
  • Yummly0

Filed Under: Family Games

Christmas Games for Kids

By Sharla Kostelyk

  • Total60
  • Facebook0
  • Twitter0
  • Pinterest60
  • Mix
  • Yummly0

These fun Christmas games for kids can be played at in the classroom, at holiday parties, or at home with family. They are simple to set up and provide hours of possibilities. We like to add activities to all our holiday events. Laughing together as a family is a wonderful way to create memories.a collage of images of different holiday activities with text that reads "Christmas Games for Kids"

Easy Christmas party games for kids make great ice breakers. Everyone can focus on the fun and before long, laughter ensues and new friendships are made.

Christmas Games for Kids:

By far our family’s favourite are the Christmas Minute to Win It games. They are hilarious to play and so easy and inexpensive to set up. Great for all ages!

The printable Christmas Who Am I? Game at Childhood 101 is kind of like a holiday version of the popular game Hedbanz.

I’m a huge fan of the cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies. So huge in fact that I just ordered myself this shirt to wear this cheesy-movie-watching season! If you’re also a fan, you’re gonna love our Christmas Movie Bingo. And y’all? These bingo cards are funny. If you’ve seen a lot of the movies, you know there’s a formula and some common themes which is what makes these cards so clever.

The Saran Wrap Ball Game is always a hit. Everyone wins something so it’s great for all ages. It’s easy to set up and you can make it have a holiday theme.collage of photos of making a ball of plastic wrap filled with prizesSilliness will abound with these Christmas Movies Emoji Game printable pages from Play Party Plan.

Roll a Santa with help from the printable game at Kiddy Charts.

The whole family can participate in Christmas Charades with the printable cards from Teach Beside Me. It’s a great game if you have a group with a variety of ages.

Get cards to play Christmas Charades at Childhood 101.

Snowman Twister is an adorable activity for kids. It’s easy to set up and tons of fun. This would be really cute for a children’s party.

Sunny Day Family shares a fun Christmas Music Bingo for families with three variations.

The Christmas Bingo sets from Rock Your Homeschool are so cute and kids can use jingle bells as their marker.

You can find another version of Christmas Bingo on Sunshine and Hurricanes.

Holiday entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find a free printable North Pole MixUp Christmas Game to play at Line Upon Line Learning.

If you’re looking for a holiday classroom activity, try Fun Learning for Kids’ Gingerbread Board Game. It can be edited for math or literacy centers.

This idea for a Gift Tag Memory Game from Play, Teach, Repeat is so simple to set up.

The Magnet Bell Christmas Game on Teach Beside Me combines learning with fun.

Christmas Tin Can Bowling is a familiar activity with a holiday spin from Red Ted Art.

Play Christmas Tree I-Spy Ornament with the printable from Joy in the Works.

Pin the Reindeer Nose is demonstrated on Red Ted Art.

If you’re looking for something to play one-on-one with your child, this Christmas Matching Memory Game from Simple Everyday Mom is perfect.

Set up a simple Gingerbread Scavenger Hunt.

Christmas Board Games:

The Santa Claus GameThe Santa Claus GameThe Santa Claus GameChristmas Scavenger Hunt GameChristmas Scavenger Hunt GameChristmas Scavenger Hunt GameChristmas TriviaChristmas TriviaChristmas TriviaPin The Nose on The Snowman Christmas ActivityPin The Nose on The Snowman Christmas ActivityPin The Nose on The Snowman Christmas ActivityTis The Season Christmas Trivia GameTis The Season Christmas Trivia GameTis The Season Christmas Trivia GameSpot It! HolidaySpot It! HolidaySpot It! HolidayChristmas-opolyChristmas-opolyChristmas-opolySanta's Sleigh RideSanta’s Sleigh RideSanta's Sleigh Ride

Printable Holiday Activities:

Keep kids occupied while you’re busy baking or wrapping with these free printable Christmas activities. You’ll find games, countdown calendars, learning activities, and colouring sheets.

Christmas Wonderland Roll and Cover Game – Simple Fun for Kids

Christmas Doodles I Spy Game – And Next Comes L

Printable Christmas Games Coloring Workbook – Darcy and Brian

Christmas Kindness Countdown Chain – Coffee and Carpool

Rudolph Word Search – Baby Budgeting

Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt – Empowered Single Moms

Roll and Colour Christmas Game – Picklebums

Printable Elf Jokes – Artsy Fartsy Mama

Snowglobe Activity Sheets for Kids – Crafts on Sea

Roll a Santa Numeracy Game – Kiddy Charts

Christmas Acts of Kindness – Learn in Color

The Best Wish List for Kids – Pint-Sized Treasures

Free Printable Advent Calendar Activities – Real Life at Home

Printable Christmas Mazes for Kids – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Christmas Word Scramble – Crayons and Cravings

Free Printable Christmas Coloring Sheets – Sarah Titus

Printable Grinch Countdown to Christmas – Three Little Ferns

Free Christmas Rhymes – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Find and Colour Christmas Doodle – Your Therapy Source

Christmas Addition and Subtraction Cards – Living Life and Learning

Spin and Cover Christmas Math – 3 Dinosaurs

Christmas Language Arts Pack – Real Life at Home

Christmas Ornament Sorting – PreKinders

Elf Paper Puppet – Red Ted Art

Christmas Coding STEAM Activity – J Daniel 4’s Mom

Free Christmas Playdough Mats – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Printable Cards – For Modern Kids

Looking for more ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

Be sure to check out:

You can also find 26 Christmas Party Games for adults and children.

  • Total60
  • Facebook0
  • Twitter0
  • Pinterest60
  • Mix
  • Yummly0

Filed Under: Christmas, Family Games

The Best Minute to Win It Thanksgiving Games

By Sharla Kostelyk

  • Total3.7K
  • Facebook1
  • Twitter1
  • Pinterest3.7K
  • Mix
  • Yummly0

We are big fans of Minute to Win it games at our house. Another holiday or party means we have another excuse to play! So we came up with some awesome Minute to Win It Thanksgiving games to help us celebrate and create family memories.

Some of these games are hilarious. My kids thought the Pumpkin Pie Game was pretty awesome because they got their fill of whipping cream and candy.

girl in brown sweater with white whipping cream on her face in front of pie plate and candy pumpkins. Text reads "Minute to Win It Thanksgiving Games"The games can be played a couple of different ways. You can create teams and have a member from each team go head to head against each other or you can play as individuals in a “beat the clock” type of fashion.

These fun family games for kids and adults are such a great way to celebrate the holidays. Kids of all ages and grown ups from parents to grandparents can participate. If you’re inviting friends to your Thanksgiving get together, these challenges also make great ice breakers. If you’re looking for more ideas, you can also adapt some of our Minute to Win It Christmas game ideas to give them a Thanksgiving theme.

Minute to Win It Thanksgiving Games:

To create your own Minute to Win It Thanksgiving themed challenge, you can pick and choose from the games below or do all of them. I’ve listed the full list of supplies as well as listing the supplies needed for each game so that it makes it easier for you to plan your own party.

You’ll notice that the materials needed are inexpensive or things that you already have around the house. I was able to get all of the supplies for ours at the dollar store.

Supplies needed:

  • pie plates
  • candy pumpkins
  • whipped cream
  • pumpkin seeds
  • straws
  • paper plates
  • turkey baster
  • balloons
  • feathers
  • spoons
  • optional: candy corn

Pumpkin Pie

Supplies needed:

  • pie plates
  • candy pumpkins
  • whipping cream

The object of this game is to retrieve all the pumpkins out of your pie. To set up, place candy pumpkins on the bottom of each pie plate. Cover with whipping cream. Each player sits with their hands behind their backs and has to find the pumpkins and move them out of the pie using only their mouth.

Turkeys of a Feather

Supplies needed:

  • feathers*

Turkeys of a Feather Minute to Win It gameIn this game, players need to attempt to keep their feather in the air for a full minute by blowing it up. It’s harder than it sounds. If a player’s feather touches the ground or a surface, they are out of the game.

This is a good one to play in a large group because you can have many people playing at one time.

*We tried to play this game with Thanksgiving coloured craft feathers, but they were too heavy for it to work properly, so I suggest using the lighter wispy feathers.

Pumpkin Seed Suck It Up

Supplies needed:

  • pumpkin seeds
  • straws
  • paper plates

To set this game up, pour some pumpkin seeds onto a paper plate for each player. Set that down next to an empty plate. To play, each person puts a straw in their mouth and attempts to transfer all the pumpkin seeds to the empty plate in less than one minute. If you’re playing head to head, then then the person who transfers all of their pumpkin seeds the fastest is the winner.

Pumpkin (or Candy Corn) Relay

Supplies needed:

  • spoons (one for each person participating)
  • candy pumpkins or candy corn

Place one candy pumpkin (or candy corn) on a spoon. Have players race holding onto their spoon with one hand (you can allow younger kids to use both hands). If their candy drops off, they are eliminated or have to start back at the beginning.

The rest of our candy pumpkins got eaten by one of our kids before this race (just being real!), so we used glittered pine cones which were the most Thanksgiving themed item I could think of on the spot!

To make this game more challenging for adults, you can create a bit of an obstacle course. Or you can race in teams, handing off the spoon and candy to the next person in line. This is my favourite version of the game. It creates a fun atmosphere with team members cheering each other on.

Turkey Basting

Supplies needed:

  • turkey basters
  • balloons

Give each person a turkey baster and balloon. The goal of this Minute to Win It challenge is to get the balloon across the table lengthwise using only the air from the turkey baster. You are not allowed to touch the balloon with the turkey baster. This can be played to beat the one minute timer or played head to head with the winner earning one point for their team.

If you don’t have a long table, you can mark a start and finish line on the floor using masking tape and try to get the balloon across the finishing line along the floor.

Looking for more ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

You may also want to check out some of our other Minute to Win It Games:

Minute to Win It Christmas Edition

Minute to Win It Family Fun Night

Dollar Store Minute to Win ItDollar Store Minute to Win It party

Minute to Win It Camping Games

  • Total3.7K
  • Facebook1
  • Twitter1
  • Pinterest3.7K
  • Mix
  • Yummly0

Filed Under: Crafts and Activities, Family Games

The 26 Best Christmas Party Games

By Sharla Kostelyk

  • Total245
  • Facebook1
  • Twitter0
  • Pinterest244
  • Mix
  • Yummly0

Playing Christmas party games at your family gathering, holiday party, office party, or youth event is a great way to break the ice and keep the fun going. a collage of images of people playing group party games with text that reads "The Best of the Best Christmas Party Games"Interactive activities are a great way to make lasting memories. These Christmas party games encourage participation and fun for all.

Christmas Party Games:

I love hosting large gatherings. Honestly, mostly it’s because of the food. I’m an appetizer girl. I love being able to sample little bits of lots and parties are the perfect excuse to do that. But while I have people over, it’s always good to keep them entertained, so we have become a family who loves playing games. These are the best Christmas party games out there.

Christmas Minute to Win It

Our family loves Minute to Win It games. Last year, I came out with Christmas Minute to Win It games that were hilarious to play and to watch. We all had a riot as we attempted to complete the challenges. It’s hard to pick a favourite, but mine was the Bobbing for Candy Canes game. All the Minute to Win It Christmas party games can be played in small or large groups and with all ages. This makes them great for pretty much any holiday event. They also require very little set up and the supplies needed are inexpensive. In fact, most of what you need, you probably have around the house already.

The Flour Game

This hilarious game is a family favourite of ours. It’s admittedly more fun to watch it for some than to play it depending on your personality, but if you’re looking for something that is sure to get people engaged and interacting, The Flour Game is a great activity for that.

The Bag Game

The Bag Game is perfect for group gatherings. You can play it regardless of age and it’s a lot of laughs. This is a good one for a youth event or for an office party. It also requires no planning other than to find an empty paper bag or cereal box, making it inexpensive as well.

Saran Wrap Ball

The Saran Wrap Ball Game is quickly becoming a favourite among both children and adults. Read the rules of the game, ideas for what to stuff it with and setup instructions. 

This is another one that is great for all ages. And everyone walks away a winner so there are no hard feelings, although it still has a competitive side to it too which is extra fun!hands unwrapping ball made of plastic wrap filled with prizes

Cookie Decorating Challenge

Set out store bought sugar cookie dough, holiday cookie cutters, icing, sprinkles, and baking sheets. Put everyone in teams and let the fun begin! It’s best to set a timer so that it adds another element of hilarity.

This is a great holiday activity because judging the results is almost as much fun as decorating the cookies. It’s also a great activity for mixing a variety of ages so that all family members from toddlers to grandparents can play.

Christmas Charades

The Joys of Boys has made an easy Christmas Charades printable party game that’s fun for families. It’s a fun holiday take on a classic.

Name That Christmas Carol

There are several variations of this game out there. I’ve included some below so that you can find the one that works best for you.

  • Christmas Carols by Another Name
  • Can You Name That Carol?
  • Name That Carol

Scavenger Hunt

A Christmas Scavenger Hunt can be a good party game or can be used to create a new holiday tradition with your family. If you’re creating one to use at a party, you can use little trinkets along the way so that everyone who participates gets a prize or a larger gift for the winner at the end.

Christmas Board Games

The Santa Claus GameThe Santa Claus GameThe Santa Claus GameChristmas Scavenger Hunt GameChristmas Scavenger Hunt GameChristmas Scavenger Hunt GameChristmas TriviaChristmas TriviaChristmas TriviaPin The Nose on The Snowman Christmas ActivityPin The Nose on The Snowman Christmas ActivityPin The Nose on The Snowman Christmas ActivityTis The Season Christmas Trivia GameTis The Season Christmas Trivia GameTis The Season Christmas Trivia GameSpot It! HolidaySpot It! HolidaySpot It! HolidayChristmas-opolyChristmas-opolyChristmas-opolySanta's Sleigh RideSanta’s Sleigh RideSanta's Sleigh Ride

Christmas Trivia Game

These Christmas Trivia Games are such a great way to get conversations started. If your gathering is something where guests will be seated around tables such as a women’s brunch or a potluck, trivia games are the perfect way to break the ice. There are printable sheets you can print out for everyone playing. The questions are challenging enough to really spark conversation.

If you’re looking for a holiday trivia game that children can also participate in, then I would recommend this one instead.

Gingerbread House Decorating Challenge

For those who love watching baking challenges, this one is a lot of fun. Set out the supplies for decorating the houses: gingerbread, icing, candy, icing sugar, sprinkles, candy canes, wafers, etc. Split everyone into teams and set a timer. The team to complete the best house (according to a majority vote) wins! Instead of gingerbread houses, we make Rice Krispie houses. That way, they can be shaped into trees or any type of building shape and can still be decorated the same way a gingerbread house would be.

Two Truths and a Lie Christmas Party Game

In this version of Two Truths and a Lie, there is a Christmas twist. Each person takes a turn saying the three worst Christmas gifts they’ve ever received. Two of them are true and one of them is a lie. The others have to try to correctly guess which one is the lie.

Snowman Building Contest

Break out into teams. Choose a set amount of time and start the timer. Each team has until the end of the clock to make the most unique or best snowman they can. The first, second, and third place winners are then chosen. If you want to, you can provide a prize for the winner.

Candy Cane Guess

Fill a medium or large container with small candy canes or another holiday themed candy. Set out small pieces of paper and pens. Have each person at the party write down their guess for how many candies are in the jar. Be sure to have them write their name on their paper. The player who guesses closest to the actual number gets to take home the jar full of candy.

Holiday Pictionary

Divide into two teams. Write down Christmas themed words or phrases on papers. One player on each team must draw what is on their paper while their team attempts to guess what it is. The team with the most points wins.

You can make the cards easy or more difficult depending of the age of people participating. For an adults only party, you can use ones that will be more challenging to draw and guess. Here are some ideas for what words or phrases to add to your Christmas Pictionary game:

  • White Christmas
  • reindeer
  • Santa Claus
  • nativity
  • 3 wise men
  • milk and cookies
  • Jingle Bells
  • Silent Night
  • Christmas tree
  • We Wish You a Merry Christmas
  • Happy New Year
  • Auld Lang Syne
  • Joy to the World
  • Let it Snow
  • Ho Ho Ho
  • Deck the Halls
  • mistletoe
  • poinsettia
  • Noel
  • ornament
  • It’s a Wonderful Life
  • carolling
  • baby Jesus
  • eggnog
  • Charlie Brown Christmas
  • stocking
  • O Little Town of Bethlehem
  • Frosty the Snowman
  • gingerbread house
  • Jack Frost
  • Merry Christmas
  • nutcracker
  • North Pole
  • Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
  • ugly Christmas sweater
  • ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
  • yule log
  • All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
  • I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
  • white elephant gift exchange
  • Deck the Halls
  • Little Drummer Boy

Candy Canes

This game follows the rules of the card game Spoon, but instead of spoons, you place candy canes in the middle of the table. The game lasts much longer because you have to spell out c-a-n-d-y-c-a-n-e-s. Good luck!

Guess that Carol

Get out someone’s phone and find Christmas music either on their playlist or on something such as Spotify or YouTube. Play 15 seconds or less of each song and see who can be the first to shout out the name of the Christmas carol. This works really well in teams if you have a large group.

White Elephant Gift Exchange

I still remember the first time I participated in a White Elephant Gift Exchange. There were a lot of laughs and quite honestly, also some hard feelings as not all of the kids playing wound up with the present they were hoping for.

There are many variations on a White Elephant Gift Exchange. Find the rules of a White Elephant Gift exchange as well as read about some of the common types that are played. One of my favourites is when you bring something from home that you’re no longer using as your gift. It’s a great way to reuse items that others may love that no longer bring you joy. It also means you don’t have to spend any extra money at what is already an expensive time of year.

Holiday Puzzles

I know this is not exactly a “game”, however I always have a table or two set up over the holidays with a puzzle set out. We know a handful of people who HATE playing games. Having a puzzle out gives them something to do if they choose not to participate in the other Christmas party games. We’ve found that by the end of the evening, we often have quite a crowd gathered around the puzzle table and it becomes very interactive and sometimes even a little bit competitive!

We often set up two puzzle tables. One is a more complicated puzzle with a lot of pieces and the other is an easier one for kids. You don’t have to choose a holiday themed puzzle. You can choose one that is meaningful for your family or one that is quirky or fun. It can be reminiscent of a vacation or childhood memory or represent an interest or hobby. These are some of our family’s favourites:

Fishing Cove Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceFishing Cove Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceFishing Cove Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceDownton Abbey 3D Jigsaw Puzzle 890 PieceDownton Abbey 3D Jigsaw Puzzle 890 PieceDownton Abbey 3D Jigsaw Puzzle 890 PieceCandylicious 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleCandylicious 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleCandylicious 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleChildren of the World Floor Puzzle 48 PiecesChildren of the World Floor Puzzle 48 PiecesChildren of the World Floor Puzzle 48 PiecesCookies & Christmas 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleCookies & Christmas 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleCookies & Christmas 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleSushi Puzzle 1000 PieceSushi Puzzle 1000 PieceSushi Puzzle 1000 PiecePotato Chips 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzlePotato Chips 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzlePotato Chips 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleDonuts Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceDonuts Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceDonuts Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceFriends in Winter 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleFriends in Winter 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleFriends in Winter 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzlePeaceful Night Christmas Puzzle 550 PiecePeaceful Night Christmas Puzzle 550 PiecePeaceful Night Christmas Puzzle 550 PieceA Child is Born Christmas Puzzle 550 PieceA Child is Born Christmas Puzzle 550 PieceA Child is Born Christmas Puzzle 550 PieceWinter Playground Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceWinter Playground Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceWinter Playground Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceSea Shell Treasures Jigsaw Puzzle 550 PieceSea Shell Treasures Jigsaw Puzzle 550 PieceSea Shell Treasures Jigsaw Puzzle 550 PieceVintage Nancy Drew Puzzle 1000 PieceVintage Nancy Drew Puzzle 1000 PieceVintage Nancy Drew Puzzle 1000 PieceTea Cups Boxes 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleTea Cups Boxes 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleTea Cups Boxes 1000 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleCat Bookshelf Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceCat Bookshelf Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceCat Bookshelf Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 Piece100 Piece Ballet Recital Jigsaw Puzzle100 Piece Ballet Recital Jigsaw Puzzle100 Piece Ballet Recital Jigsaw PuzzleKnock Knock Jigsaw Puzzle 1,000 PiecesKnock Knock Jigsaw Puzzle 1,000 PiecesKnock Knock Jigsaw Puzzle 1,000 PiecesAmsterdam Aglow Jigsaw Puzzle 550 PieceAmsterdam Aglow Jigsaw Puzzle 550 PieceAmsterdam Aglow Jigsaw Puzzle 550 PieceTropical Fish Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceTropical Fish Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PieceTropical Fish Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 PiecePeriodic Table Illustrated Puzzle 200 PiecePeriodic Table Illustrated Puzzle 200 PiecePeriodic Table Illustrated Puzzle 200 PieceStarry Night 500 Piece Van Gogh PuzzleStarry Night 500 Piece Van Gogh PuzzleStarry Night 500 Piece Van Gogh Puzzle

What is your favourite game to play at a Christmas party?

Looking for more ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

Check out some of our other holiday ideas:

Family Time Capsule Ornament

Christmas Calm Down Kit for Kids

Melted Snowman Sensory Bottle

Holiday Scented Christmas Slimea swirly clump of glittery green slime with bright coloured pompoms (red, light blue, yellow, and pink) in the slime and on top of it

  • Total245
  • Facebook1
  • Twitter0
  • Pinterest244
  • Mix
  • Yummly0

Filed Under: Christmas, Family Games

Minute to Win It Camping Games

half a watermelon with a playing card sticking into it, a girl in a white hat stacking golf balls, ingredients for a s'more being assembled with chopstick on a picnic table and text that reads "Minute to Win It camping"

By Sharla Kostelyk

  • Total7.1K
  • Facebook22
  • Twitter2
  • Pinterest7.1K
  • Mix
  • Yummly1

Want to make your camping trip even more memorable? Our family loves Minute to Win It games. They are great for large group gatherings, parties, family connection, and laughter. On our recent camp trip, we tried out some Minute to Win It camping games. half a watermelon with a playing card sticking into it, a girl in a white hat stacking golf balls, ingredients for a s'more being assembled with chopstick on a picnic table and text that reads "Minute to Win It camping"

Because I didn’t want to pack a lot of extra supplies, I tried to come up with games that would use what we already had with us or small inexpensive items. These are all easy to set up and easy to play for all ages.

Minute to Win It Camping Games:

If you’d like to create your own Minute to Win It camping challenge, you can use all or some of the games below.

I’ve provided a list of supplies used to play all of the games as well as broken them up per game to make it easier for you to plan. As you can see, there are very few supplies needed to create a lot of fun. As you’ll see from the list, many of these are things that you likely already have with you when camping.

Supplied needed:

  • golf balls
  • watermelon
  • playing cards
  • rubber bands
  • empty cans
  • chopsticks
  • graham crackers
  • chocolate
  • marshmallows
  • balloons

Note that due to the nature of some of the supplies such as the balloons, elastic bands, and marshmallows, adult supervision is required.

Caddy Stack

Supplies needed:

  • 3 golf balls (or 6 if you are playing head to head)

The object of this game is to stack 3 golf balls on top of each other. The balls must remain stacked for 3 seconds to win. You can either play head to head or individually. If playing head to head, the first one to complete their stack and have it stay in place for 3 seconds is the winner.

Card Ninja

Supplies needed:

  • watermelon
  • deck of playing cards

To set up this game, slice a watermelon in half and prop it up on a picnic table or other flat surface. Have each player stand at a distance from the watermelon and throw cards one at a time in an attempt to get a card in the watermelon. The object of the game is to get one of the cards to stick in the watermelon in under a minute.

You can determine the distance away that the players have to stand based on their age. If you’re playing with a large group with many ages, you can allow younger kids to stand closer if you like.

Rapid Fire

Supplies needed:

  • rubber bands
  • 6 empty pop cans (12 if playing head to head)

Set the cans up in a pyramid on a flat surface such as a folding table or picnic table. Give each player elastics. The object of this game is to knock over all 6 cans using elastics in under a minute. Again, you can determine how far away players must stand depending on age.

If you want to play this game head to head, set up a second stack of cans a bit of a distance away from the first. In this version, the first player to knock over all the cans is the winner.

S’more Fun

Supplies needed:

  • chopsticks
  • graham wafers
  • chocolate
  • marshmallows

Give each player a set of chopsticks, 2 graham crackers, a marshmallow, and 1 or 2 pieces of chocolate. The object of this game is to assemble a s’more using only the chopsticks in less than a minute.

When the timer starts, begin with one graham cracker, top it with the chocolate piece(s), then a marshmallow, and finish with the last graham cracker.

In the head to head version of this game, players race to be the first one to assemble their s’more using the chopsticks.

Defying Gravity

Supplies needed:

  • balloons

Blow up the balloons. You’ll need 3 if doing this individually or 6 if you’ll have people competing head to head. The goal of this one is to keep all 3 balloons in the air for 60 seconds without having any of them touch the ground.

If two players are competing at the same time, you can either declare the winner the person who keeps all 3 from touching the ground for the longest or give a point to each player if they both complete the challenge in one minute.

You’ll need a bit of space for this one, especially if there are two people playing at the same time. Some campsites may be large enough (ours was quite large) or you may need to complete this in a field or open space.

All of these Minute to Win It camping games work well for large groups such as at a camp, day camp, family reunion, youth group, or party.

Looking for more ideas for super awesome family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

Be sure to check out all our other Minute to Win It games:

Minute to Win It Family Fun

Dollar Store Minute to Win It Dollar Store Minute to Win It party

Christmas Minute to Win It Games

  • Total7.1K
  • Facebook22
  • Twitter2
  • Pinterest7.1K
  • Mix
  • Yummly1

Filed Under: Crafts and Activities, Family Games

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Categories

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Copyright © 2023 • The Chaos and the Clutter • Site Design by Jeni @ The Blog Maven

Return to top of page

Copyright © 2023 · Chaos and the Clutter 2.0 on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in