How do I prepare and use Christmas word games in one pack?

Quick answer: Print one proof copy and check the print preview. Before the party, fill in the blank 12-by-12 word-search grid and mark a separate host copy. Then print one set for each team of two or three, plus two spare sets if they would be useful, and keep the answer keys with the host. On the day, play the five games in order: the scramble, the word search, the A-to-Z race, the cryptogram and hangman. You can also pick just one or two. The example session below takes 45 minutes.

Christmas word cards to print

Use the cards for clues and caller words. The five game sheets and host keys below give players somewhere to write.

Family word gamesSuggested for ages 5 to 12; pair children who are not reading yet with a reader.Seated puzzles with a timed letter race.

How to play

Print the word cards and game sheets; keep the answer keys with the host.
Prepare the word search before making player copies, then put out pencils and a timer.
Start with the scramble, then play the word search, race, cryptogram and hangman in the order below.

Random word card

Draw one when the room is ready

GELHIS (6) — it carries the big man rooftop to rooftop

GELHIS (6) — it carries the big man rooftop to rooftop
THGSIL (6) — they twinkle on the tree
HEARTW (6) — green and hung on the door
WOMANNS (7) — three circles and a carrot
NASAT (5) — he knows if you have been bad or good
NEERDIER (8) — they pull the sleigh
GLEJIN (6) — what the bells do
CACOO (5) — a warm mug on a cold night
NETTIM (6) — one for each hand
KINCTOSG (8) — it hangs on the fireplace
DANGERBRIGE (11) — bake it, build it, or print it
GOGGNE (6) — a creamy holiday cup
TIPSTOENIA (10) — the red winter flower
MANTENOR (8) — it hangs from every branch
RAGLAND (7) — greenery strung in a curve
PEACEFILR (9) — crackling on Christmas Eve
NYACCANED (9) — hook it on the tree
YOLHL (5) — trimmed with red berries
LISTEN (6) — shiny strands on a tree
SOMETITLE (9) — kiss under it
BEDCREME (8) — the merriest month
WOKEFLANS (9) — each one is one of a kind

SLEIGH
LIGHTS
WREATH
SNOWMAN
REINDEER
JINGLE
MITTEN
STOCKING
GARLAND
FIREPLACE
HOLLY
TINSEL
MISTLETOE
SNOWFLAKE

A — it tops the tree or sings in the choir
B — ring them, string them, or tie them
C — a striped hook of candy or the man in red
D — the merriest month or a prancing animal
E — a helper with pointy shoes
F — it crackles and glows
G — bake it, build it, or print it
H — green leaves with red berries, or a warm chocolate drink
I — frozen water or a roof's sharp teeth
J — what bells do
K — steal one under the mistletoe
L — string them on every branch
M — say it with cheer
N — the French word for Christmas
O — it hangs from branches
P — the winter flower with red leaves
Q — what the night was, midnight and clear
R — the one with the shiny nose leads them
S — he slides down the chimney
T — trimmed and decorated evergreen
U — wrap it, then do this
V — the name of one of Santa’s reindeer
W — circular greenery on a door
X — short for Christmas
Y — a log, or the season itself
Z — the pattern lights make along a roofline

Tier 1, ages 4 to 6: STAR (4 letters)
Tier 1, ages 4 to 6: ELF (3 letters)
Tier 1, ages 4 to 6: SLED (4 letters)
Tier 1, ages 4 to 6: TOY (3 letters)
Tier 1, ages 4 to 6: BOW (3 letters)
Tier 1, ages 4 to 6: TREE (4 letters)
Tier 2, ages 7 to 9: SNOWMAN (7 letters)
Tier 2, ages 7 to 9: SLEIGH (6 letters)
Tier 2, ages 7 to 9: CANDLE (6 letters)
Tier 2, ages 7 to 9: HOLLY (5 letters)
Tier 2, ages 7 to 9: WREATH (6 letters)
Tier 2, ages 7 to 9: JINGLE (6 letters)
Tier 3, ages 10 and up: GINGERBREAD HOUSE (16 letters)
Tier 3, ages 10 and up: CANDY CANE (9 letters)
Tier 3, ages 10 and up: CHRISTMAS STOCKING (17 letters)
Tier 3, ages 10 and up: PAPER SNOWFLAKE (14 letters)
Tier 3, ages 10 and up: MERRY AND BRIGHT (14 letters)
Tier 3, ages 10 and up: HOT COCOA REFILL (14 letters)

What you get in the Christmas word games pack

The pack has five Christmas word games that you play with pencils at a table. The word cards give the clues and the words for the caller. The five answer sheets give players space to write. The host keys let you check answers. Teams of two or three work well, or the whole table can solve the puzzles together.

The sheets are labelled Sheet 1 to Sheet 5. These labels name the games, not printed pages. Depending on your browser, the pack may print on more than five pages.

Sheet	Game	What players do	Host key
1	Christmas word scramble	Unscramble up to 22 Christmas words, using a clue and the number of letters for each	Scramble answer key
2	Word search	Find the 14 words from the word bank in a grid that you fill in before the party	Your own marked host copy
3	A-to-Z race	Write a Christmas word for each letter the host calls	Example answers for each letter
4	Cryptogram	Decode a Christmas message using a letter-swap key	Full solution
5	Hangman	Guess words from three suggested age tiers	Word lists by tier

What does the pack include?

Quick answer: Five games: a 22-word scramble, a word search you fill in from a 14-word bank, an A-to-Z race, a cryptogram and hangman with three suggested age tiers. The word cards, blank answer sheets and host keys are all on the pack page.

The pack is made up of printable sheets and keys. It does not include pencils, a timer or prizes, so get those yourself. Other Christmas printables on the site have their own contents, so do not assume the same games or sheets come with them.

How to print and prepare the sheets

Most of the pack is ready to play once printed. The word search is the exception, because you have to fill in the grid yourself first.

Print one proof copy with the print button on the page or your browser's Print command. Check the preview before you print several copies. Printer settings vary, so you could try half-inch margins and check that the grid fits on the page. Plain paper works, or use card stock if you want sturdier sheets.

The general steps for printable party games are the same: use the print controls, check the preview and keep host material apart. This pack still needs its grid checked and answer keys kept away from players.

If you like to prepare in stages, one schedule is to print and try a proof set a week before the party, make the player copies about three days before, and separate the keys the day before.

Print one set for each team of two or three. Add two spare sets if they would be useful.
Keep the scramble answers, race examples and cryptogram solution with the host. Cover them or cut them off before you copy the player sheets.
Put out one pencil for each player and have a timer ready.
Write team names on the sheets before play starts.

Decide the teams before you count copies, thinking about who needs a reader and avoiding public picking. Mark where each team gathers and how to add a late arrival. See choosing teams without hurt feelings.

Do I have to prepare the word search?

Quick answer: Yes. Fill the blank 12-by-12 grid with the 14 bank words, add random letters in the empty squares, and mark a host copy before you make player copies.

Write one letter in each square. Words can run across, down or diagonally. For younger players, write the words forwards only. Words can share a letter where they cross. You could try overlapping three pairs, but you do not have to.

Put each bank word in the grid once. When you add random letters, check they have not spelled a bank word by accident. Then mark every word on a separate host copy. A grid you make yourself has no ready-made answer key, so your marked copy is the key. If everyone uses the same grid, check answers against that copy. If teams make their own grids, they can swap grids once they finish.

How to play each game

Scramble: Allow 8 minutes for teams to solve as many of the 22 words as they can, using the clues and the letter counts. Players take turns holding the pencil. Give one point for each correct answer. CANDY CANE is written as two words, even though the scramble has no space.

Word search: Allow 10 minutes for circling the words. A player who finishes can call out "snow" and help check a teammate's sheet.

A-to-Z race: Set a five-minute timer. Call the letters in order and read the matching hint from the cards. The first team to write an answer you accept gets one point for that letter. Stop when the timer goes off or when you reach Z. Before you start, agree whether winter words and words from other holidays count. For example, dreidel is a Hanukkah word, so accept it only if you are playing a wider holiday round. The host examples are suggestions, not the only right answers. You can offer an extra point for answering X with "Xmas" if you announce that rule first.

For a different word game, Christmas category game sheets use one letter drawn from a mug and Christmas prompts, rather than calling letters A to Z. They're a separate game with their own rules.

Cryptogram: Each normal letter is replaced by a code letter. To decode, find a code letter in the bottom row of the key and write the normal letter shown above it. For example, code letter K stands for C. Give players both rows of the key. If they want more of a challenge, show them half the key at a time. The group can solve it together instead of competing.

Hangman: The caller picks a word from the cards without letting the guessers see it, then draws one blank for each letter, with gaps between words. When someone guesses a correct letter, fill in every place it appears, and cross out each guessed letter on the alphabet strip. Tell players before you start that each word allows 10 wrong guesses. In team play, the winning team picks the next word from one tier below its own. If there is no lower tier, it uses Tier 1 again.

What if a team gets stuck on a letter?

Quick answer: In the A-to-Z race, let each team swap one letter. Give that team a different letter and use the host examples to help you judge their answers.

If your group finds the race frustrating, try a category word game next time, with one letter for every category. Its scoring rules are separate, so finish the current round with the one-swap rule.

Explain the one-swap rule when you explain the race scoring, before the timer starts. That way nobody thinks it is unfair halfway through. Hard letters such as Q, X and Z are a common reason a team gets stuck.

Agreeing on scoring before a timed round helps prevent disputes. Rotating jobs, such as who writes, also helps. Keeping party games from getting too competitive has more ideas, alongside your one-swap rule.

An example 45-minute game session

This is one possible order, not a promise of how long children will stay interested. The five games take 38 minutes, and explaining the games and changing sheets add 7 more, for 45 minutes in total.

Check that the full 45 minutes fits around arrivals, food and cake before committing to all five games. The party-day timeline helps you add up every part and compare it with your invitation.

Time	What happens
0:00–0:04	Explain the games and hand out pencils. Read a sample clue and show teams where to write.
0:04–0:12	Solve the scramble (8 minutes), then check the answers.
0:12–0:22	Find the words in the word search (10 minutes).
0:22–0:25	Change sheets and explain the race scoring and the one-letter swap.
0:25–0:30	Play the A-to-Z race (5 minutes). Stop when time is up, even if letters are left.
0:30–0:38	Decode the cryptogram (8 minutes), together or in teams.
0:38–0:45	Finish with short hangman rounds (7 minutes).

How long should we allow?

Quick answer: The example session takes 45 minutes, including 7 minutes for explaining the games and changing sheets. Shorten a round or skip one if the children are ready to stop.

If you only need a short activity, play a single sheet. The race takes 5 minutes, and the scramble or cryptogram takes about 8 minutes each in the example.

If you'd like a different short activity, Christmas activity placemats offer ready-to-use text activities: an eight-word scramble, jokes and would-you-rather questions. They're a separate pack, and their picture puzzles, such as the reindeer dot-to-dot and mouse maze, are optional extras you'd draw yourself.

Worked example: working out how many sets to print

Here is an illustrative example. Suppose 12 people will play, counting the birthday child and any siblings or adults who want to join in. Do not count adults who will only watch.

Your player count also decides how you play: around one shared table or in small teams. Our guide to party games for your group size starts with counting the people who will actually play.

Twelve players in teams of three makes four teams. Print four sets, one for each team, plus two spare sets, so six sets in total. Put out 12 pencils, one for each player. You also need one host copy with the marked word-search grid and all the keys.

If the same 12 played in teams of two, you would have six teams and need six sets, or eight with the two spares.

Including younger children and mixed ages

The hangman tiers are a guide: short words for ages 4 to 6, longer words for ages 7 to 9, and phrases for ages 10 and up. Adjust them to how much reading the children have done. Example words are STAR and ELF for Tier 1, SNOWMAN and SLEIGH for Tier 2, and CANDY CANE and HOT COCOA REFILL for Tier 3.

If even short hangman words are too much reading for some children, consider games where they match pictures or move instead. In picture bingo, the caller holds up each picture so pre-readers can match it, and Santa Says needs no reading. Christmas party games for families lists suggested ages, space and supplies for each game, as a starting point rather than a promise.

Writing forwards-only words in the word search and solving the cryptogram together both make the games easier for a mixed group.

Can children who are not reading yet join in?

Quick answer: Yes. Pair them with a reader who can read the clues aloud and help them match letters. Use the shortest hangman words, or offer Christmas picture bingo as a separate game.

In hangman, a child who cannot read yet can suggest letters with help from a teammate. If written puzzles are not working for them, Christmas picture bingo is a separate game with its own printables. It is not part of this pack.

Christmas I Spy sheets are another visual option: children count and point while someone reads the questions. You'd need to draw the scene and test the questions first.

Checklist before the games start

Proof copy printed and checked in the print preview
Word-search grid filled in, checked for accidental bank words, and host copy marked
One set for each team of two or three, plus spare sets if useful
Keys taken off the player copies and kept with the host
One pencil for each player, a timer, and team names on the sheets
Race rules agreed: which words count, the one-letter swap, and any Xmas bonus
Hangman tiers chosen to suit the children's reading

No.	Scramble	Letters	Your answer
1	GELHIS	6	____________________
2	THGSIL	6	____________________
3	HEARTW	6	____________________
4	WOMANNS	7	____________________
5	NASAT	5	____________________
6	NEERDIER	8	____________________
7	GLEJIN	6	____________________
8	CACOO	5	____________________
9	NETTIM	6	____________________
10	KINCTOSG	8	____________________
11	DANGERBRIGE	11	____________________
12	GOGGNE	6	____________________
13	TIPSTOENIA	10	____________________
14	MANTENOR	8	____________________
15	RAGLAND	7	____________________
16	PEACEFILR	9	____________________
17	NYACCANED	9	____________________
18	YOLHL	5	____________________
19	LISTEN	6	____________________
20	SOMETITLE	9	____________________
21	BEDCREME	8	____________________
22	WOKEFLANS	9	____________________

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
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Letter	Team 1 answer	Team 2 answer
A	__________________	__________________
B	__________________	__________________
C	__________________	__________________
D	__________________	__________________
E	__________________	__________________
F	__________________	__________________
G	__________________	__________________
H	__________________	__________________
I	__________________	__________________
J	__________________	__________________
K	__________________	__________________
L	__________________	__________________
M	__________________	__________________
N	__________________	__________________
O	__________________	__________________
P	__________________	__________________
Q	__________________	__________________
R	__________________	__________________
S	__________________	__________________
T	__________________	__________________
U	__________________	__________________
V	__________________	__________________
W	__________________	__________________
X	__________________	__________________
Y	__________________	__________________
Z	__________________	__________________

Round	Tier	Draw the word blanks here	Incorrect guesses
1	______	________________________________________	__________________
2	______	________________________________________	__________________
3	______	________________________________________	__________________

Team: ____________________

Teams: ____________________ and ____________________ · Timer: ______ minutes

Team 1 points: ______ · Team 2 points: ______

Team: ____________________

Team: ____________________ · Caller: ____________________

Sources and further reading

Christmas word games in one pack

How do I prepare and use Christmas word games in one pack?

Christmas word cards to print

How to play

Draw one when the room is ready

Word scramble deck

Word search bank

A-to-Z race letter deck

Hangman word deck

What you get in the Christmas word games pack

What does the pack include?

How to print and prepare the sheets

Do I have to prepare the word search?

How to play each game

What if a team gets stuck on a letter?

An example 45-minute game session

How long should we allow?

Worked example: working out how many sets to print

Including younger children and mixed ages

Can children who are not reading yet join in?

Checklist before the games start

Sources and further reading

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How do I prepare and use Christmas word games in one pack?

Christmas word cards to print

How to play

Draw one when the room is ready

Word scramble deck

Word search bank

A-to-Z race letter deck

Hangman word deck

What you get in the Christmas word games pack

What does the pack include?

How to print and prepare the sheets

Do I have to prepare the word search?

How to play each game

What if a team gets stuck on a letter?

An example 45-minute game session

How long should we allow?

Worked example: working out how many sets to print

Including younger children and mixed ages

Can children who are not reading yet join in?

Checklist before the games start

Sources and further reading

Related questions

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