How to play Christmas charades with young children
Updated 30 October 2026 · By Rob and Chris, two Sheffield dads, and our families
Write Christmas things to act on slips of paper, then take turns to act one out without words while everyone else guesses. Little ones can act easy things like a reindeer or a snowman with a partner, while older players try whole scenes.
- Time: about 15 minutes
- Ages: 3 and up, with a part for each age
- In the Famoo calendar as: Christmas charades
What do you need?
- Prompts on slips of paper (ideas below)
- A timer, if you want one
How do you do it?
- Choose the level. Pick easy actions, trickier scenes or a mix. Younger players can act with a partner.
- Pick a prompt. Read a slip in secret, or ask a grown-up to whisper it.
- Act it out. Use movements and faces while everyone guesses. Allow sound effects in the easy version.
- Reveal and cheer. If nobody guesses, reveal the prompt. Cheer the acting, whoever gets it.
- Swap. Pass to the next actor, with an easier or harder prompt to suit them.
How can each age join in?
- Ages 3 to 5. Copy a partner acting out something simple.
- Ages 6 to 9. Try longer phrases, or two prompts together.
- Ages 10 and up. Act a short Christmas scene without any words.
What can you act in Christmas charades?
Copy these onto slips of paper. Easy ones for little ones:
- A reindeer
- A snowman
- Wrapping a present
- Pulling a cracker
- Eating a mince pie
- Decorating the tree
- Throwing a snowball
- Opening a stocking
- Ringing sleigh bells
- A penguin waddling
Trickier ones for older players:
- Santa stuck in the chimney
- A snowman melting
- Ice skating and falling over
- Untangling the Christmas lights
- Rudolph’s nose not lighting up
- Singing carols in the cold
- Building a snowman that falls over
- Wrapping a present that will not stay wrapped
Tip
Put the easy and tricky prompts in two different bowls, so each player picks the level that suits them.
Plan 24 of these into your family’s Advent calendar with Famoo
Famoo has 46 activities like this one, each with picture steps, an elf helper who reads every step aloud, and a part for each age so brothers and sisters can do it together. Join the beta, choose your 24, and a new door opens each day in December.
Famoo is a family app for UK homes, in beta, so things may change. Find out more about Famoo.
