Christmas may be technically over, but if your family is anything like mine, you’ve still got several get-togethers ahead. There’s the extended family get-together, the far-away distant cousin get-together, the “oops, my kids were all sick over Christmas, want to get together now?” get-together. You get the idea!
Sometimes the conversation flows freely at these type of gatherings and other times… well, not so much. Here’s a list of fun, quick, and easy crafts and games everyone can participate in to get things moving along!
My Personal Favorite: Minute to Win It Games!
We played a few games at a recent gathering and even though it took a few minutes for everyone to warm up, people ended up having a lot of fun! The games we played were Cup Stacking, Do You Hear What I Here, and Hung With Care. We also played a version of Merry Fishmas during church last week and the kids loved it!
Our Version of Merry Fishmas! (Easy! Easy!)
Grab More Game Ideas At:
- Cloud 8: Not So Silent Night (GREAT PICTURES!)
- Room Mom 101: Christmas Party Ideas
- Children’s Party Network
- Christmas Games for Sunday School (includes instruction videos)
Skills kids are using: Fine motor, team work, estimating, sorting, gross motor and more!
Nativity Puppets
Got a little downtime and some little ones to entertain? Come prepared with some nativity finger puppets or make a set as an activity together! Here’s where you can find some simple puppets to use:
Find these at 2 Teaching Mommies
Find these at Making Friends
Find these at Scrapbook Scrapbook
Skills used: Scissor skills, shapes, imagination, sequencing, story telling
Activity Bags
Rachel over at the Kids Activity Blog has ideas for 20 Simple activity bags. Make these up ahead of time so you’ll be ready to whip one (or ten) out as soon as you hear the dreaded “I’m bored!”
Christmas Wreath
Simple. Quick. Rip up some paper. Cut a paper plate. Make a wreath. Anyone can do it!
Pinned on Pinterest, but I can’t seem to find the original post.
Skills used: Fine motor, creativity
Christmas Tree
Got some extra ripped up green paper? Make a Christmas tree while you’re at it! Use up some of that discarded tissue paper too! You could even make the whole tree out of old wrapping paper. You know how you sometimes LOVE a paper but don’t exactly know how to save it? Make it into a tree! Perfect.
Find the instructions over at Play and Learn with Dana.
Finger Print Light Strand
You may have spotted these around Pinterest recently. We did this project as part of the Truth in Tinsel Church Curriculum and the kids loved it. Parents thought it was adorable too! Grab some ink pads and away you go!
What About You?
What do you do to keep family get togethers lively and fun? Leave me a comment and tell me all about it!
About the Author
Lindsey Whitney is a blogger over at Growing Kids Ministry. A blog designed to help parents, teachers, and Children’s Ministry workers who want to help the kids they love grow in their faith. You can connect with her via twitter or on facebook.
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