Christmas party games by age, easy crafts, festive food, Santa visits and a simple 2-hour plan for a kids Christmas party at home, in a hall or at school.
A kids Christmas party is one of the easiest parties of the year to get right. Children arrive already excited, the theme is one everyone knows, and half the decorations are probably in your loft. The hard part is usually timing: December is the busiest month of the year for children's entertainers and party venues in London, so the parents who book in October and November get the best choice. This guide covers games, crafts, food, entertainment and a simple running order, whether you are hosting at home, hiring a hall or helping out with a class party. Short on time? Plan my party tells us what you need and we will match you with local vendors for free.
A party at home. Best for up to around 12 children. Keep it short (two hours is plenty), plan one craft, a few games and food, and you are done. Christmas jumpers instead of fancy dress keeps it simple for every family.
A hall or venue party. For a bigger group, a whole class or a joint party with friends, a church hall or community centre gives you space for games and a disco. Saturday afternoons in December go first, so if you can, look at a Sunday or a weekday after school in the last week of term. Browse party venues on Festaday to see what is available near you.
A school, nursery or club party. These are usually shorter and more structured: one activity, a few games, a snack and a visit from Santa. The games and crafts below all work well in a classroom.
A December birthday with a Christmas twist. If your child's birthday falls in December, see the section near the end on keeping it a birthday first and a Christmas party second.
From late November, entertainers, Santa performers, face painters and DJs are juggling school fairs, office parties and family parties on the same weekends. If you want a particular performer or a Saturday slot, aim to book by mid-November.
If you are reading this in December, it is not too late. Weekday and Sunday slots are much easier to find, and many entertainers have short gaps between bookings. Our last-minute party guide has more tips. You can browse local vendors to see who covers your area, or use Plan my party to tell us your date and let us find who is available.
You do not need much. Pick three or four of these and children will feel the festive atmosphere the moment they walk in.
A colour scheme. Classic red, green and gold, or a frosty silver, white and blue if you want a winter wonderland feel. For icy, snowy ideas, our Frozen party guide and the Frozen theme page are full of inspiration.
Fairy lights everywhere. The single cheapest way to make any room or hall feel magical. Battery lights in jam jars on the tables work well if plug sockets are scarce.
A Christmas photo spot. A sheet of red or white fabric, some tinsel, a few wrapped empty boxes and a Santa hat on a stool. Add a balloon garland if you want it to look professional. Balloon decorators can create Christmas arches in red, white and gold, which also make the photos.
A Santa's workshop table. Cover a table in brown paper and set out the craft supplies for your arrival activity (see below). It doubles as decoration and keeps early arrivals busy.
Paper snowflakes. Cut them in advance or make them with the children. Hang them from the ceiling with thread and they look great in photos.
The best Christmas party games are the classics with a festive twist. Children already know the rules, so you spend less time explaining and more time playing.
A craft is the best arrival activity: it gives early guests something to do, calms the room down, and gives every child something to take home.
At a Christmas party children are excited and snacking, so finger food is the way to go. Name cards turn ordinary food into festive food at no extra cost:
For something sweet, mince pies are not usually a hit with children, so add chocolate coins, iced gingerbread men or a chocolate yule log. A warm drink like hot chocolate is lovely for older children, but serve it lukewarm and only if you have a table where they can sit down.
As with any party, ask about allergies and dietary needs on the invite and label the food. Our kids party food guide has quantities and more ideas, and you can find party caterers if you would rather not cook.
If you hire one thing, make it entertainment. A good entertainer runs the games, manages the energy and frees you up to sort the food.
A visit from Santa. For under 8s, nothing beats it. Arrange for Santa to arrive about two thirds of the way through, sit in a "grotto" chair, and hand each child a small present that parents have provided in advance (named and in a sack). Ask a friend or relative to play the part, or book a professional Santa through a children's entertainer. Many entertainers offer a Santa package in December.
A children's entertainer. Christmas magic shows, festive puppet shows and party games with prizes keep a big group together for an hour or more. See our guide to children's entertainers in London for what to ask before you book.
Face painting. Reindeer, snowmen, robins and Christmas trees are very popular in December. A face painter can usually get through around 10 to 15 children an hour, so book a longer slot for a big group.
A Christmas disco. For ages 6 and up, a party DJ with Christmas songs, freeze dance, limbo and a few party games is a great fit for a hall party.
Christmas film corner. For a calmer finish, especially with younger children, set up blankets and cushions and put on a short Christmas film or a favourite episode while parents arrive.
This running order works for most groups aged 4 to 8. Adjust it for your age group.
For a step-by-step countdown of what to book and when, use our kids party checklist. Once you know your date, send the invites with a free RSVP page so you know exactly how many children to plan for.
Keep party bags small: children are getting plenty at this time of year. Good festive fillers include:
Red paper bags tied with ribbon, or a small named stocking, make them feel special. For more ideas, see our party bag ideas guide.
December is busy for everyone, so send invites three to four weeks ahead and give a clear RSVP date. Mention whether children should wear Christmas jumpers and whether Santa is coming (some parents will want to know, especially for presents).
Festaday's free RSVP page lets you share one link on WhatsApp and see replies, dietary needs and headcount in one place. For wording ideas, see our invitation wording guide.
If your child's birthday falls in December, they often feel it gets lost in Christmas. A few things help:
You can find more ideas on our Christmas party ideas page and winter party ideas page.
When should I book an entertainer for a kids Christmas party? For a Saturday in December, aim to book by mid-November, and earlier if you want a specific performer or a Santa visit. Weekday afternoons and Sundays are much easier to find, even at short notice. Plan my party lets you send one request and hear back from available entertainers in your area.
What are good Christmas party games for kids? Musical statues (freezing like snowmen), pass the parcel, pin the nose on Rudolph, wrap the snowman with toilet roll, and Christmas charades are all easy to run and work for a wide age range. For older children, a Christmas quiz or minute-to-win-it challenges go down well.
How long should a kids Christmas party be? Around two hours is right for most ages. Under 5s can manage 90 minutes. Leave time for food and a calm finish, as children are often overexcited and overtired in December.
How do I organise a Santa visit at a kids party? Ask parents to drop off a small, named present in advance (agree a price limit), put them in a sack, and have Santa hand them out from a decorated chair. Book a professional Santa early, as they are in very high demand in December, or ask a willing relative with a good costume.
What food should I serve at a kids Christmas party? Finger food works best: sausages, mini sandwiches, cheese and crackers, fruit and popcorn, with chocolate coins, gingerbread men or a yule log for something sweet. Festive name cards make ordinary food feel special. Always ask about allergies on the invite.
How do I track RSVPs for a Christmas party? Create a free RSVP page on Festaday and share the link on WhatsApp or email. Parents reply in a few taps, and you see the headcount and any allergies in one place, with no app or account needed.
What can I do for a Christmas party at school or nursery? Keep it simple and short: one craft (baubles or reindeer headbands), two or three games such as musical statues and pass the parcel, a snack, and a visit from Santa if possible. All the games in this guide work in a classroom.
Ready to plan? Send invites with a free RSVP page, or tell us what you need on Plan my party and we will connect you with local Christmas party entertainers, decorators and venues, completely free.