Festive Holiday Party Games Kids Will Love

Table of Contents

1. Sparking Joy with Active Holiday Games
2. Nurturing Communication with Creative & Imaginative Games
3. Engaging with Minute-to-Win-It Style Challenges
4. Encouraging Thought with Calmer & Cognitive Games
5. Making Every Moment Count with Speech Blubs
6. Conclusion
7. Frequently Asked Questions

The holiday season arrives like a flurry of twinkling lights, warm spices, and a joyful, albeit often chaotic, energy. For many parents, it’s a magical time filled with family gatherings and festive celebrations. But as the excitement builds, so does the age-old question: “How do we keep all the kids entertained and engaged amidst the merriment?” The truth is, children thrive on interaction, discovery, and play, especially during these special times. Simple, thoughtfully chosen holiday party games can transform potential meltdowns into cherished memories, turning your living room into a hub of laughter and connection.

At Speech Blubs, we understand the power of play, not just for fun, but as a foundational element for learning and communication. Our mission is to empower children to “speak their minds and hearts,” a commitment born from our founders’ own experiences with speech challenges. We know firsthand the desire for tools that make communication accessible, joyful, and effective. That’s why we champion “smart screen time” experiences and screen-free activities that blend scientific principles with the magic of play. This blog post isn’t just about giving you a list of games; it’s about providing you with creative, communication-boosting activities that will help your children build confidence, reduce frustration, and develop crucial language skills, all while making unforgettable holiday memories. We’ll explore a variety of games, from energetic relays to calm cognitive challenges, ensuring there’s something for every child and every festive occasion. Ready to deck the halls with laughter and learning? Let’s dive into games that will make your holiday parties shine. You can learn more about how we help families foster joyful communication by visiting our homepage.

Sparking Joy with Active Holiday Games

Holiday parties, with their abundance of treats and excited chatter, often leave children with a surplus of energy. Channeling this energy into structured, active games is a fantastic way to keep them engaged, burn off some steam, and, importantly, create opportunities for speech and language development. These games encourage gross motor skills, listening comprehension, and expressive language through movement and interaction.

Reindeer Relay Race

Divide the children into teams and hand each participant a pair of inflatable reindeer antlers (or homemade paper ones). Set up a simple course across the room or yard. The first child on each team “gallops” to a designated point and back, then tags the next teammate. The first team to have all their “reindeer” complete the race wins.

• Speech Connection: This game is perfect for practicing action verbs (“gallop,” “run,” “tag”) and following multi-step directions (“gallop to the chair, turn around, and come back”). Encourage children to cheer for their teammates, using encouraging phrases like “Go, [Name], go!” and “You can do it!” For a child who might be a “late talker” and loves animals, practicing the “gallop” sound or imitating a reindeer’s prance can be a fun way to engage them. Our Animal Kingdom section within Speech Blubs uses video modeling to help children imitate animal sounds and movements, which can be a great pre-game warm-up!

Snowball Toss Challenge

No real snow needed for this indoor favorite! Crumple up white paper, use soft foam balls, or even white cotton balls as “snowballs.” Set up several buckets or baskets at varying distances across the room, assigning different point values to each. Children take turns tossing snowballs, aiming for the highest score.

• Speech Connection: This game reinforces counting (“one, two, three snowballs!”), spatial prepositions (“in,” “out,” “over,” “under”), and descriptive language (“It went in the red bucket!” or “That was a big throw!”). For children working on sentence structure, you can prompt them: “I threw the snowball in the bucket.”

Santa Hat Musical Chairs

A festive twist on a classic! Arrange Santa hats (or elf hats, reindeer antlers, etc.) on the floor in a circle, one fewer than the number of players. Play cheerful holiday music, and have the children walk or dance around the hats. When the music stops, everyone scrambles to grab a hat. The child left without a hat is out, and one hat is removed for the next round.

• Speech Connection: This game hones listening skills and quick reaction times. It’s excellent for practicing instructions like “walk,” “dance,” “stop,” and identifying body parts (“Put the hat on your head!”). The laughter and excitement provide natural opportunities for spontaneous exclamations.

Present Stacking Challenge

Gather a collection of empty boxes, wrapped in festive paper, of various sizes and shapes. Challenge children to stack them into the tallest “gift tower” they can manage within a time limit (e.g., 60 seconds). Or, simply let them build freely, encouraging creativity.

• Speech Connection: This activity sparks rich descriptive language. Children can talk about the boxes (“This one is big,” “This one is wobbly,” “It’s square“), spatial relationships (“on top,” “underneath,” “next to“), and problem-solving vocabulary. It also encourages turn-taking if playing in pairs or small groups.

Plastic Wrap Unwrapping Game

This hilariously fast-paced game involves wrapping small, inexpensive prizes (like candy, small toys, or stickers) in many layers of plastic wrap to create a giant ball. Players sit in a circle, and one player wears winter gloves or oven mitts and tries to unwrap the ball while the next player rolls two dice. As soon as the next player rolls doubles, it’s their turn to wear the gloves and unwrap. Any prizes unwrapped on their turn are theirs to keep!

• Speech Connection: This game fosters turn-taking and introduces the concept of “waiting.” Children practice counting as they roll the dice and can express excitement (“I got doubles!”) or mild frustration (“Aww, not yet!”). Describing the prizes they uncover also builds vocabulary.

Gift Wrapping Race

Set up a table with wrapping paper, scissors (child-safe, if needed), tape, and various awkwardly shaped household items (e.g., a stuffed animal, a ball, a remote control). Challenge players to wrap as many items as possible within a time limit, or simply to wrap one item as neatly or creatively as possible.

• Speech Connection: This activity is excellent for practicing sequencing (“First, cut the paper; next, put the gift on it; then, tape it!”), descriptive adjectives (“This paper is shiny,” “This gift is bumpy“), and following multi-step instructions. You can encourage children to narrate their wrapping process aloud.

Nurturing Communication with Creative & Imaginative Games

While active games are great for burning off energy, creative and imaginative activities are vital for developing higher-level language skills, narrative abilities, and emotional expression. These games allow children to “speak their minds and hearts” in unique and personal ways.

Christmas Charades

Write down holiday-themed words, phrases, movies, songs, or characters on slips of paper (e.g., “Elf,” “The Grinch,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Jingle Bells,” “building a snowman,” “decorating the tree”). Children take turns picking a slip and acting it out without speaking, while others guess.

• Speech Connection: This game is a fantastic way to practice non-verbal communication, which is a crucial precursor to verbal expression. When guessing, children use expressive language, asking questions (“Is it a movie?”), making predictions, and expanding their vocabulary related to holiday themes. For children working on identifying emotions, charades can also be a way to express feelings through actions.

Holiday Storytelling Circle

Gather everyone in a circle. Start a holiday-themed story with one sentence (e.g., “Once upon a time, on Christmas Eve, a little elf lost his bell.”). Then, each person adds one sentence to continue the story. Encourage wild imaginations and silly plots!

• Speech Connection: This game directly targets narrative skills, sequencing events, and building vocabulary. It helps children understand story structure (beginning, middle, end) and develop their imagination. It’s a beautiful way to foster the ability to “speak their minds and hearts,” allowing them to express their creativity. For children struggling with sentence formation, this low-pressure environment can encourage them to contribute, even if it’s just a few words. Our app’s emphasis on natural speech through video modeling helps children build the confidence needed for such interactive storytelling.

DIY Holiday Prop Shop

Set out a variety of simple craft materials like construction paper, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, cotton balls, glue sticks, and crayons. Give children a theme (e.g., “Create a prop for a holiday song,” “Make an accessory for Santa”) and let them design. Afterward, they can use their props to perform or tell a story.

• Speech Connection: This activity encourages descriptive language as children talk about their materials (“I need the fuzzy pipe cleaner”) and their creations (“This is my sparkly reindeer nose”). It also provides opportunities for following instructions and narrating their actions. The performance aspect builds confidence in using their voice and expressing themselves.

Engaging with Minute-to-Win-It Style Challenges

Minute-to-Win-It games are perfect for holiday parties because they are quick, require minimal setup, and create instant bursts of laughter and excitement. Many of these challenges are ideal for encouraging imitation and quick, focused communication.

Gingerbread Shuffle

Each player places a small gingerbread cookie on their forehead. On cue, players must get the cookie from their forehead to their mouth without using their hands. It’s trickier (and funnier) than it sounds!

• Speech Connection: This game generates lots of non-verbal communication through facial expressions, but also verbal expressions of effort, surprise, and laughter. The act of watching others and imitating their attempts to move the cookie to their mouth subtly reinforces our video modeling methodology – children learn by observing and mimicking their peers, just like in Speech Blubs!

Candy Cane Challenges

There are several fun variations using candy canes:

• Candy Cane Slide: Players hold a candy cane hook-down in their mouth and try to hook as many other candy canes onto it as possible in one minute.
• Bobbing for Candy Canes: Fill a bowl with wrapped candy canes. Players use a candy cane held in their mouth to hook and remove other candy canes from the bowl, placing them on the table.
• Candy Cane Relay: Two teams line up. The first player holds a candy cane in their mouth and must use its hook to pick up another candy cane from a cup across the room, then transport it back to the next teammate’s mouth. No hands allowed!
• Speech Connection: These challenges enhance fine motor skills, which are often linked to speech development. They also provide chances to practice counting (“How many did you get?”), following specific instructions, and expressing success or failure. They are excellent for turn-taking and patience.

Ornament Spoon Race

Give each child a spoon and a lightweight, plastic ornament. The challenge is to race across the room and back without dropping the ornament. For older kids, add an obstacle course.

• Speech Connection: This activity involves careful actions and descriptive vocabulary like “slow,” “fast,” “wobbly,” “steady.” It also encourages children to follow simple commands and narrate their movements, fostering a connection between action and language.

Jingle Bell Clock

Players place a wide craft stick in their mouth. In one minute, they try to line up 6-8 jingle bells across the stick. Use wider sticks for younger children and smaller ones for a greater challenge.

• Speech Connection: This game focuses on fine motor skills and spatial language (“line them up,” “on the stick,” “next to”). Children can verbalize their strategy or count the bells as they place them.

Encouraging Thought with Calmer & Cognitive Games

Sometimes, a quiet, focused game is just what the party needs. These activities provide a chance for children to engage their minds, practice critical thinking, and build vocabulary in a more relaxed setting.

Christmas Bingo & Trivia

Print out holiday-themed Bingo cards filled with festive images (Santa, stockings, candy canes, snowflakes). Call out the images, and children mark them off. For older children, create holiday trivia questions about movies, songs, or traditions.

• Speech Connection: These games significantly boost vocabulary recognition, listening for details, and answering questions. Bingo is great for picture identification and matching. Trivia encourages information retrieval and verbalizing answers, making it a fantastic tool for language processing and expression.

“Santa Says” (Holiday Simon Says)

One person plays “Santa” and gives commands, but children only follow the command if Santa says “Santa says” first. For example, “Santa says hop like a reindeer,” but “Touch your nose” should not be followed.

• Speech Connection: This game is a powerhouse for receptive language skills, requiring children to carefully listen and process instructions. It also practices identifying body parts, action verbs, and helps children develop self-regulation and impulse control. For children who struggle with following directions, this game provides repetitive practice in a fun, low-stakes environment.

Guess the Candy in the Jar

Fill a clear jar with a variety of holiday candies. Children write down their guess for how many candies are inside. The closest guess wins the jar of goodies!

• Speech Connection: This simple game strengthens number concepts, estimation skills, and quantity words (“more,” “less,” “a lot,” “a few”). Children can practice asking and answering “how many” questions, and describing the candies inside.

Letters to Santa & Holiday Coloring Pages

Set up a cozy station with festive paper, crayons, stickers, and envelopes for writing letters to Santa. For younger children, provide holiday-themed coloring pages or blank cards for drawing and decorating.

• Speech Connection: These activities encourage narrative skills (dictating their wishes to Santa), descriptive language (describing their drawings, colors, and stickers), and pre-writing skills. It’s a wonderful opportunity for children to express their thoughts and feelings, aligning perfectly with our mission for children to “speak their minds and hearts.” For parents unsure if their child could benefit from more targeted language support, our quick 3-minute preliminary screener can provide an assessment and next-steps plan, along with a free 7-day trial of Speech Blubs.

Making Every Moment Count with Speech Blubs

While holiday party games offer fantastic opportunities for natural language development, we at Speech Blubs are here to provide consistent, joyful support for your child’s speech journey every day. Our app is designed to be a powerful supplement, transforming screen time into “smart screen time” that actively engages children in learning. We provide an immediate, effective, and joyful solution for the 1 in 4 children who need speech support, all from the comfort of your home.

We believe in the power of video modeling, a scientifically proven method where children learn by watching and imitating their peers. This unique approach, combined with engaging activities and fun characters, helps build confidence and foundational communication skills. For example, a child who loves to make animal sounds in the “Gingerbread Shuffle” or “Reindeer Relay” can further develop those sounds and related vocabulary in our app’s themed sections.

Real Parents, Real Results

We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact Speech Blubs has had on families. Hearing from parents who tell us how their children are “speaking their minds and hearts” more clearly and confidently is why we do what we do. Many parents have shared stories of their children finding their voice and overcoming speech challenges with the help of our app. You can read some of their inspiring testimonials here. Our app has even been rated among the top tier of speech apps worldwide on the MARS scale, a testament to our commitment to quality and effectiveness.

Join Our Community and Start the Journey

We invite you to experience the Speech Blubs difference this holiday season. Imagine the joy of seeing your child confidently participate in conversations and express themselves with clarity. Our app can be a powerful tool for family connection, creating shared learning moments that go beyond passive viewing.

Ready to see the magic for yourself?

• Download Speech Blubs from the Apple App Store.
• Get it on Google Play.
• You can also create your account directly on our website.

When you sign up, we highly recommend choosing our Yearly plan. Not only does it offer incredible value, allowing you to save 66% compared to the monthly option (making it just $4.99/month vs. $14.99/month), but it also unlocks exclusive benefits:

• A 7-day free trial so you can explore all the features risk-free.
• Access to the extra Reading Blubs app to further boost literacy skills.
• Early access to new updates and a 24-hour support response time for peace of mind.

The Monthly plan, while an option, does not include these valuable extras. Choose the Yearly plan to get the full suite of tools and support your child deserves.

Conclusion

The holiday season is a precious time for creating memories, and engaging children through fun, interactive games is a wonderful way to foster connection and joy. From the boisterous laughter of a Reindeer Relay to the thoughtful engagement of a Holiday Storytelling Circle, these games offer more than just entertainment; they provide rich opportunities for children to develop essential communication skills. By incorporating these activities, you’re not just hosting a party; you’re nurturing an environment where children feel empowered to “speak their minds and hearts,” building confidence and reducing frustration.

Remember, every giggle, every guessed word, and every shared moment of play contributes to your child’s overall development. These games are designed to be played with adult involvement, creating powerful family learning moments. We at Speech Blubs are here to support you in this journey, offering a unique, scientifically-backed approach to speech development that makes learning effective and joyful.

Don’t let another holiday season pass without giving your child the gift of confident communication. Ready to transform holiday fun into a launchpad for speech and language growth? Download Speech Blubs today and start your journey towards clearer, more joyful communication. We encourage you to choose our Yearly plan to unlock your 7-day free trial and access all the exclusive features, including the Reading Blubs app, early updates, and dedicated support.

• Find us on the Apple App Store.
• Download from the Google Play Store.
• Or, sign up for your free trial on our website and select the Yearly plan to begin!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can these holiday games help with my child’s speech development?

Holiday games offer natural, fun opportunities for speech development by encouraging listening, following directions, using descriptive language, turn-taking, and social interaction. Many games promote vocabulary expansion, practice specific sounds, and build confidence in expressive communication through a playful, low-pressure environment.

What if my child is shy or reluctant to participate in group games?

It’s common for some children to be shy. Start with individual or small-group activities, or games that allow for flexible participation, like “Guess the Candy in the Jar” or “Holiday Coloring Pages.” Encourage participation without pressure, focus on the fun rather than winning, and let your child observe before joining in. Speech Blubs can also help build confidence in a controlled, personal setting, preparing them for group interactions.

Are these games suitable for all ages?

Yes, many of these games can be adapted for a wide range of ages. For younger children, simplify rules and focus on basic concepts like sounds, words, and actions. For older children, add more complex rules, incorporate problem-solving, or make them speed challenges. The key is flexibility and adjusting to the developmental stage of the children playing.

How can Speech Blubs supplement these holiday activities?

Speech Blubs complements these holiday games by providing consistent, targeted speech and language practice year-round. While games offer natural exposure, our app uses scientifically proven video modeling and engaging activities to specifically target sounds, words, and sentences children need to practice. It helps build a strong foundation of communication skills, making children more confident and ready to participate in social games and conversations during special occasions like holiday parties.