Fun and Games for Holiday Parties

The holidays are fast approaching and that means family get-togethers. Holiday parties are a great way to see distant relatives and friends that you may not see at any other time of the year.

Holiday get-togethers generally include several generations and finding ways to keep a wide assortment of age groups entertained can be a challenge. Games and other planned activities can be a fun way to break the ice with new family members or family you haven't seen in a long time. Here are a few to get you started:

For the Kids

Holiday Themed Coloring Sheets are a good way to keep the kids entertained. Have your young family members color a picture to hang on your fridge or tape to the windows to add a more personal touch to your seasonal decorations.

Pin the Nose on Rudolph is a fun variation on Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

You will need:

A Picture of Rudolph

Red Construction Paper

Clear Contact Paper

Double-sided Tape

Blindfold

Print off and color the picture of Rudolph and cover the picture with clear contact paper. Cut "nose-sized" circles from the construction paper and cover each of them with contact paper. Add a small piece of double-sided tape to the back of the "nose."

Hang the Picture on the wall (not too high for your younger players). Have an adult or responsible older child run the game. The adult blindfolds the youngster and spins her around a couple times (not too much). The blindfolded child then tries to put the nose on Rudolph.

The winner is the child that gets the nose closest to the correct spot.

Holiday Ornaments are a fun, creative craft that your family will treasure for years to come.

You will need:

Red construction Paper

Green Construction Paper

Glue

Ribbon

Bows

Crayons or Markers

Hole Punch

Scissors

And any other crafty scraps you have lying around the house

Set the box of supplies out and let the creativity take over. You may want to have older siblings help with scissors, hole punch and glue.

For the Adults

Charades is a wonderful way to rev up a party. Have guests divide into teams and act out titles of songs, movies and things with a holiday theme.

Holiday Trivia is a fun way to test your family's holiday smarts. Baby Center offers some good trivia questions that you can print. Don't want to ask trivia questions to your guests. Read up on holiday trivia and wow your family with your knowledge.

There are so many things you can do to keep your family get-together lively. With a little careful planning beforehand, your holiday party can be a smashing success.