CHRISTMAS | HOLIDAY GAMES & CRAFTS

Easy, festive crafts include ornament-making, paper garlands and snowflakes, gingerbread decorating, and holiday card making. Look for kits with the pieces pre-cut so kids can dive in. Set up on a wipeable surface, and choose a craft that matches their age so it stays fun rather than frustrating.

Crowd-pleasers include a gift-swap or white-elephant game, charades or a guessing game with holiday clues, a wrapping-paper relay, and classic minute-to-win-it challenges. Pick a couple that work for the ages in the room, and keep small prizes on hand to make it merrier.

Have a few activities ready: a craft set out on a tray, a holiday game, and a simple baking or decorating project. Rotating between a quiet craft and an active game keeps energy balanced, especially during the long stretch before gifts or while dinner is cooking.