Quick And Easy Christmas Games For Your Youth Group
According to the old Christmas song, “Tis the season to be jolly.” But when many youth workers start trying to put together a youth event around Christmas, the jolly quickly turns sour when looking for a good game or fun activity.
Well, help is here.
I have a file folder (a real file folder not one on the computer) just packed with great Christmas games I’ve used over the past thirty years. I’ve pulled out four of my favorites that are guaranteed to add that extra sparkle to your fellowship or get together. Here are four favorites I’ve had great success with over the years:
CHRISTMAS MATCH GAME
Purchase different types of inexpensive Christmas wrapping paper. Cut out squares from the wrapping paper based on the size of your group. Make sure you have two squares that match but make all the others different. Fold each square and place inside a separate plain envelope. Let each student pick an envelope then say, “The first two people who find matching squares will win a prize.” If your group is larger you can have more than one set of matching Christmas paper squares. Tell them to start then award the prize to the matching team.
An alternative idea is to have one or two matches for every square and give out a prize to the FIRST two people who match their squares. Another twist is to do this game in the dark and let students use a flashlight or the light from their cell phones to find matching Christmas paper squares.
CHRISTMAS CAROL SONG GAME
Take two 3×5 cards and write “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” on one card and “Joy to the World” on the other. Next take nine 3×5 cards and write one of the following songs on each card so that you have a different song on each one:
- Silver Bells
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
- We Three Kings
- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
- White Christmas
- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
- Oh Holy Night
- Do You Hear What I Hear?
- The Little Drummer Boy
Repeat the process until you have enough cards for everyone in your group but make sure you only have one card with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and one card with “Joy to the World.” Next lead the group in a time of singing Christmas carols and say, “If we sing the song on your card, stand up and you will win a prize.” Sing songs in the following order:
- The First Noel, Jingle Bells, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Deck the Halls, Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
You should have one winner after the 5th song and one after the last song.
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS PLUS
There was a story passed around youth ministry circles years ago that that Christmas song The Twelve Days of Christmas was created centuries ago somewhere overseas to teach the Bible to children who were not allowed express their faith. That has been proven to be a myth. However, the numbers one through twelve ARE very significant in Scripture so this is a matching game that pairs the items in the song with something in the Bible that has the same number.
Each pair of items below corresponds to a number 1 through 12. Match the items with the number. Each number is used only once:
- Geese A-Laying, Days of Creation (6)
- Drummer’s Drumming, Points of the Apostles Creed (12)
- Partridge in a Pear Tree, True Gods (1)
- Golden Rings, OT Books of Law (5)
- Turtle Doves, Testaments in the Bible (2)
- Lords A-Leaping, Exodus Commandments (10)
- Maids A-Milking, Beatitudes (8)
- Swans A-Swimming, Gifts of the Holy Spirit (7)
- French Hens, Persons of the Trinity (3)
- Pipers Piping, Faithful Apostles (11)
- Ladies Dancing, Fruits of the Spirit (9)
- Calling Birds, New Testament Gospels (4)
CHRISTMAS WORD SEARCH
You can create your own unique word search puzzles online by clicking here.
You can use whatever Christmas words you choose to create your own puzzle. I especially like using the names of all my students for an extra twist. Give a prize to the first person to find all the words.
I hope these games work as well for you as they have worked for me. Enjoy your Christmas season!
Downloaded the ym360 FREE Christmas Lesson Yet? (Why Not?)
The FREE Lesson (with Leader’s Guide and Student Guide) teaches students that the Christmas spirit of giving goes way beyond gifts!
CLICK HERE for more info and to download your FREE lesson!
ym360 has FREE Christmas Devotions for your Students!
We’ve created 5 days of devotions based on the Christmas Story.
Download them today to help your students stay focused on Christ this Christmas. CLICK HERE to download.
Richard Parker has been a student minister for the past thirty-one years, serving at First Baptist Church in Russellville, AL since 1989. He has written a three volume set of Character Education curriculum for schools and has written “Character,” a year long devotional book for students. Richard speaks in schools as well as at various church and civic conferences.
Thanks for the post. I will try them out. We always play a stage game where one person comes up and has to sing a classic christmas song. While they are singing they have noise cancelling ear muffs on and ipod ear buds in, so they can’t hear themselves sing. It is really funny.
We used your Christmas study last week. I think the students will look at giving a little differently this year. Thank you so much for the wonderful free material. We are planning to purchase Vivid to start the new year! May God continue to bless your ministry as you have blessed ours.
After the study we had students wrap a member of their small group then we judged them. (They can be the gift by giving of themselves.) Students really had fun with it.
Sandy,
It’s a privilege to be able to serve and equip you. And, we think you’ll love Vivid! It’s an awesome resource. If you have any questions, shoot us an email or give us a call. We’re always happy to help in any way. God bless!
just logged on to put the final plans together for our Christmas Party on Friday. Will definitely be using some of the game ideas. Thanks for the free content and all the support you offer during the year!
Our pleasure, Angela! Thanks for all you do for students. Let us know how we can help in the future.
Great Christmas Idea, will be using the Christmas Carol Plus with my youth group today