Christmas picture bingo to print
Print the 24 Christmas calls above, a blank board below and a caller log for your next family or class party. Each call includes a drawing hint, from a red Santa hat to a penguin wearing a scarf. The calls are text, and the board is blank: add the matching pictures before playing with children who do not read. There is no finished illustrated board download on this page.
Once the pictures are ready, the caller says the name and holds up the card while everyone covers the matching square. You can play for a line, try four corners or keep going until the whole table finishes blackout.
Prepare your Christmas bingo boards
Use a 5 by 5 grid with a free center space. Put one of the 24 Christmas pictures in each remaining square, using every picture once. Keep the same drawing on the caller card and the boards so children can match what they see. Labels underneath can help readers, but labels alone will not make this a picture game.
For example, draw the candy cane as a white hook with two red stripes. Keep the round peppermint swirl separate: it has a red-and-white pinwheel. The wrapped present has a box and ribbon; the gift bow is just the bow. These differences help players distinguish similar calls.
Print a test page at 100% scale and check the print preview before making the full set. Card stock is an option if you have it. Use one board per page where your print settings allow it. The blank grid is for adding your own drawings; it does not generate different boards automatically.
Player: ____________________ Board number: __________
| B | I | N | G | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FREE | ||||
Arrange the pictures in a different order on each board before making copies. Compare finished boards if you want to avoid identical layouts; shuffling alone does not guarantee that every board is different. Keep two finished boards to demonstrate the game at the next table.
Different layouts change when a row, column or diagonal fills, but two players can still finish on the same call. Blackout is a shared finish: every board contains the same 24 pictures, so all correctly marked boards fill when the last picture is called. Use a line round if you want a competitive finish.
How many boards should you print?
Print one board per player plus two spares. You need only one set of the 24 calls for the whole group. The table assumes everyone has their own board; for pairs, count boards by pairs instead.
| Gathering | Player boards | Spares | Total boards | Caller decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family table of 8 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 1 |
| Class of 24 | 24 | 2 | 26 | 1 |
| Class of 28 | 28 | 2 | 30 | 1 |
| Party of 12 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 1 |
For two separate parties of 12, reuse the same 14 prepared boards and reshuffle the calls between parties. At holiday dinner, count one board per chair plus two for late arrivals.
Use these lines to work out your own print job:
| What to count | Your number or note |
|---|---|
| Players, or pairs sharing boards | ______________________________ |
| Boards needed, including two spares | ______________________________ |
| Caller decks | ______________________________ |
| Who will add the pictures? | ______________________________ |
| Where the finished boards will go | ______________________________ |
Keep the boards, caller cards and helper instructions together. The printable party games guide covers notes another adult can use if they take over.
How to call and check a round
- Give everyone a board and markers. Cover the free center before the first call. Announce the winning pattern: five squares across, down or diagonally for a line round.
- Shuffle the 24 caller cards. Put them face down in a bowl and draw one at a time. Use the printed cards for a round without repeated calls; the on-page picker can repeat a call from earlier in the round.
- Say the name and show the picture. Hold it up for a three-second count, then wait longer if someone is still looking. Players cover the matching square. Children who do not read need actual drawings on both the cards and boards.
- Keep the called cards separate. Write each name in the log below as it is drawn. Do not return it to the bowl during the round.
- Check a bingo before awarding the prize. Compare the covered line with the called cards and log. If more than one player finishes on the same call, recognize them as joint winners.
- Clear the boards for the next round. Leave the free center covered, return all calls to the bowl and shuffle again. A willing winner can be the next caller.
Caller log
Date: ______________ Caller: ______________ Winning pattern: ______________
| Call | Picture called | Call | Picture called |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ____________________ | 13 | ____________________ |
| 2 | ____________________ | 14 | ____________________ |
| 3 | ____________________ | 15 | ____________________ |
| 4 | ____________________ | 16 | ____________________ |
| 5 | ____________________ | 17 | ____________________ |
| 6 | ____________________ | 18 | ____________________ |
| 7 | ____________________ | 19 | ____________________ |
| 8 | ____________________ | 20 | ____________________ |
| 9 | ____________________ | 21 | ____________________ |
| 10 | ____________________ | 22 | ____________________ |
| 11 | ____________________ | 23 | ____________________ |
| 12 | ____________________ | 24 | ____________________ |
Winner or joint winners: ______________________________________________
Next caller: __________________ Notes: ________________________________
Six ways to play another round
These changes use the same prepared boards. Explain the new rule before drawing a call.
- No-reading round: show each picture for at least three seconds and let players match picture to picture. Pause when someone needs more time.
- Speed round: try five calls per minute if everyone can keep up. Slow down when players are still finding squares.
- Four corners: cover all four corner squares to win. This is a separate pattern, not a line of five.
- Blackout: keep calling until every square is covered. With this 24-picture set, the whole table finishes together if every match is marked correctly.
- Team play: two players share a board and agree where to put each marker.
- Quiet table: raise a hand instead of shouting bingo. For other seated games, browse quiet party games.
You can run a line round for a prize, a shared blackout round, then another line round whose winner gets first choice of being the next caller. Let someone else call if the winner would rather keep playing.
Set out the markers and prizes
Paper squares are a simple marker option. You could also use cereal loops, buttons or mini marshmallows; choose markers appropriate for the children attending. Removable markers let you reuse the boards without printing again.
- Put one prepared board at each place and keep the two spares nearby.
- Set a small bowl of markers between every two players, with enough for both full boards including the free centers.
- Put the 24 caller cards in a bowl and leave space for the called cards beside it.
- Place the caller log and a pencil where the caller can reach them.
- Set out stickers, erasers or mini coloring sheets if you want nonfood prizes. If you offer candy, check its labels against the food requirements families have given you.
- Tell everyone what each round is for: a line prize, shared blackout or a turn as caller.
Markers: ____________________ Prizes: ______________________________
Caller cards stored in: ____________________ Helper: ________________
Clear the boards before serving food at the same table. The party food ideas guide helps you decide whether the break needs snacks or a meal.
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An example 40-minute bingo session
Here is one possible session once the drawings, boards and cards are ready. It totals 40 minutes. The 12-minute line slot and 20-minute blackout slot are planning allowances, not guaranteed round lengths; adjust them to the callers and players.
- 0:00–0:05 · Explain and demonstrate. Give out boards, cover the free centers and show one practice call. Return the practice card before shuffling.
- 0:05–0:17 · Play for a line. Check each winning line against the log. If the round finishes early, use the remaining time to clear markers and let a new caller practice.
- 0:17–0:20 · Reset the boards. Return and shuffle all 24 cards, replace the log and explain the shared blackout finish.
- 0:20–0:40 · Play blackout and put the cards away. Show every picture, check any missed squares together and gather the markers. If everyone finishes early, finish the session rather than stretching the calls.
Print and add pictures ahead of party day, then sort the marker bowls that morning. A line round can fit after food; a shared blackout can follow presents if the group wants another game. Use seasonal party ideas to arrange the rest of the gathering, or keep one of these easy party games ready if guests want a change.
What to play after Christmas bingo
Choose the next activity according to what the children want to do, rather than printing every pack.
- Act something out: Christmas acting cards for families offer a movement break after sitting at the table.
- Look for and count pictures: Christmas I Spy party sheets explain how to prepare a Christmas search scene.
- Solve word puzzles: Christmas word games in one pack suits guests who want a pencil-and-paper activity with reading.
- Make a character: the Christmas paper puppet craft kit uses lunch bags for a craft and puppet show.
For another occasion, use the drawing and setup guidance in Easter picture bingo, Valentine picture bingo, Thanksgiving picture bingo or Halloween picture bingo. Birthday picture bingo cards covers a birthday table, while New Year’s Eve bingo uses countdown-party pictures. Check each page’s materials before preparing a set; the picture lists and quantities differ. For a broader change of game, browse party games.
Christmas bingo questions
How many Christmas picture bingo boards do I need for a class party?
Print one board per student plus two spares: 26 boards for 24 students or 30 for 28. Prepare one set of the 24 caller cards. Add the pictures to the blank boards before the party.
Can 3-year-olds play without reading?
They can match pictures when the boards and caller cards have the same drawings. Show each card for a three-second count and pause longer when needed. The text calls supplied here need drawings added first; a helper can sit beside a child who needs support.
How long is one round?
Allow roughly 10–12 minutes for a line round and up to 20 minutes for blackout when making your schedule, then adjust to the group. These are planning allowances; call speed and time spent finding pictures change how long a round takes.
What do we use as tokens?
Paper squares let you clear and reuse the boards. Cereal loops, buttons and mini marshmallows are other options; choose what suits your guests. Put a bowl between each pair of players and enough markers out to cover both full boards.
What counts as a win?
A line is five covered squares across, down or diagonally, including the free center where the line passes through it. Four corners needs all four corner squares. Blackout means every square is covered; with the same 24 pictures on every board, it ends as a whole-table finish. Accept joint winners when a call completes more than one line board.