How to Plan a Christmas Party for Kids

Whether it's for a class party or just a holiday party at home, these Christmas party ideas will work great with kids ages 6-10.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The book "The Gingerbread Man"
• 2-3 packages of Candy Canes
• Scrambled Christmas words on slips of paper
• a small gift for each child
• small paper bags
• gingerbread cookies & whipped topping
• hot cocoa
• Christmas movie

1. 
    

   Start the party out with a word scramble. Separate the children into small groups. Each group then receives a paper bag with scrambled Christmas letters inside. For example, edenire= reindeer. Have the children write the unscrambled words onto a piece of paper. The first group to finish unscrambling all of their words wins!

2. 
    

   Next is a relay game. Separate the children into two teams. Have the children on each team stand in a straight line. The first child in each line then puts a candy cane in between each of their fingers. The object of the game is to pass the candy canes down the line from one teammate's hands to the next all the way down the line without dropping any candy canes. (Candy canes must be passed from in between fingers). First team to get all the candy canes to the end of the line, without being, dropped wins.

3. 
    

   This game is best played last because each child will receive a small gift that needs to be unwrapped. Read the children's book "The Gingerbread Man" as the children sit in a circle around you. While you are reading, the children will be instructed to pass around a basket filled with the wrapped gifts. They are to stop only when the word "ran" is read from the book. Whoever is holding the basket when the word "ran" is read gets to pick a wrapped gift from the basket. At the end of the story, whoever was without a gift can pick one from the basket. Then, all children can open their gifts together.

4. 
    

   Any good Christmas party can end with a Christmas movie. Before beginning the movie, let children dress up their own hot chocolate with toppings like marsh mellows, caramel, powdered sugar, etc. Another great Christmas goody idea is to let children decorate gingerbread man cookies with whipped cream. It's a bit healthier, and it's less messy than frosting.

Tips & Warnings

• For fun, affordable gifts try a local party store or dollar store.
• Instead of buying thebook "The Gingerbread Man" for the game, reserve it at your local library.