Reindeer Games for Humans!

December 18, 2018

It’s that time of year again when families gather routinely end up watching sports on the big screen or sitting around awkwardly bored with nothing to do. Not this year! Plan ahead – even just a little bit – for some fun and games that will get you off the couch and challenge your wits and wiles for some holly jollies!

Holiday-Themed Family Activity Games for Kids & Adults

Leave it to Shutterfly to come up with 30 ideas for reindeer games for kids, adults and entire families to commemorate this special holiday. Here’s a rundown of some of our favorites for the whole family. 

Christmas Carol Pictionary

 You’ll need an oversized notepad or easel pad like the ones at Office Depot (23860 E. Orchard Rd. in Southlands, just five minutes from Southshore). Write down a list of Christmas carols on separate flash cards. Divide players into teams. One person draws from the pile of cards and has one minute to illustrate the Christmas carol. If their team guesses correctly, they get one point. Make sure to alternate the team artist. Teams take turns until one reaches twenty points.

Pin the Nose on Rudolph

Print out a picture of Rudolph (like one from Cool2BKids) and place it on the wall. And get a red circular piece of paper (for his nose) with a thumbtack or piece of tape. Then blindfold the participant, spin them in a circle, then have them try to pin the nose on Rudolph. Mark their attempt with their name. Give everyone a chance to pin the nose and whoever pins it most accurately, wins.

20 Questions: Holiday Edition

One player picks a holiday-themed object (tree, menorah, ornament, dreidel, star, garland, tinsel, lights, ribbon, presents – you get the idea) and all the other players ask that player 20 yes-or-no questions. If no one guesses correctly, he player-answerer wins.

Hallmark Movie Bingo

If you and the fam are planning to watch one of the 37 Christmas movies premiering on Hallmark this holiday season, you can make your viewing that-much-more fun by playing along with a Bingo card. Get the printable here – you’ll have to make your own “chips” for the card.

Guess that Smell

Put your sniffer to the test with this silly kids ‘game featuring all sorts of holiday scents like peppermint, pine, nutmeg and more. Get the tutorial at Kid-Friendly Things to Do.

The Saran Wrap® Game

We might be the only people on the planet who haven’t watched the viral video that made this game super popular in recent years. Here’s what you do. Collect some goodies that everyone wants: candy, toys, trinkets, a $20 bill then wrap things up one at a time, using sheets of Saran Wrap® or Glad Cling Wrap® — each going in the opposite direction (makes it harder to unwrap!). 

Once you’ve got everything in a nice basketball-sized bundle, the game is on. One player rolls a pair of dice while the other player starts unwrapping. Once doubles are rolled, the ball moves to the next player. The object of the game – get to the money!

For more games, including game-show inspired Christmas party games, check out the Play Party Plan site for holiday spins on Deal or No Deal, Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud! Or you might like the 16 holly jolly fun for little elves at Red Tricycle, or the Just-For-Adults games (we think cocktails might be involved!) at The Spruce.

The Best Board Games for 2018

For super easy, don’t-have-to-think-about-it games for the whole family look no further than New York Magazine. Editors actually talked with therapists to find out the best board games to help establish family bonds, create fun interactions and encourage teamwork rather than competition (is that fun?). We’ll take their word for it.

Included in the list of 10 recommended games is Pandemic, and “us against the world” game where players are disease-fighting specialists whose mission is to treat disease hotspots while researching cures for four plagues. Also on the list is Wits & Wagers, an award-winning party game where being wrong is just as valuable as being right. This one works for big groups and encourages lots of interaction!

For lots of games we’ve never heard of (that’s not necessarily a bad thing), check out Popular Mechanics slideshow of the 50 Best New Board Games. And for a last-minute game you can buy and play on your phone, check out Heads Up. It’s a fast-paced guessing game available on iOS, Android and on traditional card stock.

Fun and Games in Southshore!

Friends and families in the master-planned community of Southshore, love a good game! The connectedness is genuine in this lakeside community and if you’re looking for a new home you can help design, explore the amazing variety of models from Toll Brothers, Richmond American Homes or Century Communities. Available in ranch and two-story designs, Southshore homes are priced between the upper $300s and the $700s.