PeterPan Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 The whole dynamic of our Christmas has changed from little kids to GROWN kids, and I'm looking for something we could do at a family Christmas party that would keep some pizzazz going now that we're not doing gifts. As I'm typing this, I realized games might be cool! I was assuming some kind of craft project? Ok, I'm so caught in a time warp, lol. So it's a big family get together and all the kids are now in that 15-25 range with probably 20 of them (including spouses, dates, sig others) and genders about half and half. If the guys don't want to do it, that's their problem. They usually sit around and talk hunting anyway, lol. What would the girls (10-12 of them) like to do? It can cost maybe $10-15 each if it needs to. They have a lot of spirit, so in the summers they've done matching t-shirts. Could we somehow decorate sweatshirts? Mugs? Nobody needs mugs, mercy. Make ornaments? Something totally different I'm not thinking of? Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 We play board games or arrange competitions of Minute to Win It games. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 (edited) The young women I know would simply want to talk. I've never been to a party where there wasn't plenty of animated conversation and where planed "activities" would have intruded on that. Edited December 8, 2018 by regentrude 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 Build a gingerbread house from a kit. Play that Saran Wrap-oven mitt game. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lecka Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 I like to get out a puzzle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halftime Hope Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 (edited) Minute to Win It Games -- there are a bunch of them online. We did them last year with everything from adults to little kids. We divided into two teams, and anyone who didn't feel like playing or cheering their team on was welcome to sit out. The game that was the surprising hit was "Cotton Balls". divide into two teams; each person has one straw, and each team had a small bowl of cotton balls. Each person had to suction up a cotton ball on the end of their straw and walk run it to the end of long dining table, dropping it into a second, empty bowl. We had done about four games prior to this one, and took one look at the bowls full of cotton balls, and decided to count out twenty cotton balls per team (about two balls per person, so everyone had two turns) and call it good! The first team to move all their cotton balls won. The older folks had a harder time with it because it requires sucking in air while moving, so the kiddies excelled at the game, evening the odds a bit. :-) Edited December 8, 2018 by Halftime Hope 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted December 8, 2018 Author Share Posted December 8, 2018 18 minutes ago, prairiewindmomma said: Minute to Win It games Ok, that's something I totally had not thought of!! 15 minutes ago, Lecka said: I like to get out a puzzle. Ooo you're right, I've had one out the last couple years and it lures them in! I could put out a new one. Actually, I think my error there, hmm, was making the table too small. If I put it out on a bigger table, more people could work on it, duh. It's usually just me, so I do puzzles on a smaller able. That's really smart! 17 minutes ago, alisoncooks said: Build a gingerbread house from a kit. Play that Saran Wrap-oven mitt game. Ooo, like!! I'm seeing knives coming out for that saran wrap, lol. 24 minutes ago, regentrude said: The young women I know would simply want to talk. I've never been to a party where there wasn't plenty of animated conversation and where planed "activities" would have intruded on that. Very true! 12 minutes ago, Halftime Hope said: The game that was the surprising hit was "Cotton Balls". Fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 I remember a big Christmas party we had one year. I had set out stuff so kids could make easy ornaments - card stock cutouts, glitter, various other things. When the kids abandoned that to go play (which did not take long), most of the teens and adults wandered over there. It was really fun to see the dads, in particular, messing around with glue sticks and glitter! It was just a fun ice-breaker. Mostly people ate, drank, and talked. As a very shy introvert, I don't like to play games much. But I am happy to watch other people play, as long as I am not pressured to play. I was like that even as a younger person, so it's not just 'cause I'm old now. :-) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted December 8, 2018 Author Share Posted December 8, 2018 21 minutes ago, marbel said: As a very shy introvert, I don't like to play games much. But I am happy to watch other people play, as long as I am not pressured to play. Good point! 22 minutes ago, marbel said: I had set out stuff so kids could make easy ornaments I'm gonna have to ply my mind with this, might be fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 We always do games and decorate sugar cookies. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 Tell ghost stories. It's traditional, after all! And if we're being traditional, how about parlor games? Anybody care to snatch raisins out of fire? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivey Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 We usually play a few rounds of charades after dinner. There's no prep work, so no one is put out if people don't feel like playing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 Apples to Apples went over really well in our last family game play.....it's uncomplicated play, there's a huge potential for humor, and it's easy to join in or walk away from... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acadie Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 The game Telestrations always gets our family and friends of all ages laughing and interacting with everyone. Amy 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 I’d go with putting out simple charade/word guessing type games and ornament making things, but not pressuring everyone to play/decorate. I agree with regentrude that sometimes those things just take away from what I want to do, which is talk to everyone. But some people would rather be doing something with their hands while they talk, or would rather play as a way to interact, so I’d prepare for both types of people. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 Cards are a big draw on my husband’s side if the family. They like Rook but any card game would do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmsurbat1 Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 I second the "Make an easy ornament" idea. We live overseas so when we head stateside for the holidays (about every 2-3 years), we are in a rented home, so with few things of our own. Two years ago I went to Michael's and picked up (on sale! 70%off the week before Christmas!) foam ornament kits--a whole bunch for little $$. We didn't need to provide anything additional except scissors. Choices for everyone, easy enough to work on while chatting, very cute to hang up and decorate our rented spaces, cheap enough that no one felt obligated to hold on to it if they didn't want to. It turned out to be a big success! 🙂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 (edited) N/M, read the question wrong. Edited December 9, 2018 by DawnM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 Pictionary, but with a large easel and dry erase board. Two big teams. You can also have the teams make up what the other team has to draw and have it themed by rounds. So, each team might come up with three Christmas Carols, three types of breakfast foods, three countries, etc. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 I was thinking a cookie decorating station that can be visited as desired. Pictionary as described by Hoggirl Catchphrase, if you have it. We don't play in teams or keep score. We just pass it around and everyone plays together. Play outside. If there's snow, build a snowman, or build a living room out of snow. If it's dry, play some sort of a tossing game and other yard games. Then, come in for some hot chocolate or hot apple cider. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted December 9, 2018 Author Share Posted December 9, 2018 58 minutes ago, Hoggirl said: Pictionary, but with a large easel and dry erase board. Two big teams. You can also have the teams make up what the other team has to draw and have it themed by rounds. So, each team might come up with three Christmas Carols, three types of breakfast foods, three countries, etc. Oh that's hilarious. A big easel with paper or a whiteboard in the living room would definitely draw people, lol. 15 minutes ago, Suzanne in ABQ said: Play outside. Ooo there's an idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted December 10, 2018 Share Posted December 10, 2018 10 hours ago, Suzanne in ABQ said: Play outside. 10 hours ago, PeterPan said: Ooo there's an idea! How about a flag football game? I have some friends who play football with their brothers, sisters, and cousins, every Christmas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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