Christmas Charades Printable Cards for Family and Classroom Games

Charades is fun until someone draws a phrase that nobody can act, or the group spends more time debating rules than guessing. This small set uses visible holiday actions and one clear turn structure. It suits a family Christmas night, a classroom break, or a mixed age party where everyone needs a quick way in.

Print and cut the action cards

The sheet contains nine separate cards: Decorate a tree, Wrap a gift, Ring a bell, Bake cookies, Hang a stocking, Build a snowman, Sing a carol, Open a present, and Drink hot cocoa. Each prompt names something a player can show with gestures. Small pictures help children recognize the action, while the printed words let an adult confirm the intended answer.

Download high-resolution printable

Click the preview or use the download button to open the full size image in a new tab, then save it from there. Print one sheet and cut along the straight card borders. Fold the cards so players cannot see the words in the draw pile.

Play a simple round

Choose one actor and let that player draw a card without showing it to the group. The actor uses movement and facial expression, but no spoken words or sound effects. Everyone else guesses until someone says the printed action, or until your agreed turn time ends. Put the used card aside and pass the role to the next person.

Decide before play whether close guesses count. For example, a player miming a spoon and mixing bowl may be aiming for Bake cookies, even if someone first calls out cooking. A host can keep the game cooperative by letting the actor offer another gesture instead of ruling on every near answer.

Adapt it for children and larger groups

For early readers, let an adult whisper the prompt or point to the picture before the acting starts. Demonstrate one card together so children understand that actions, rather than objects alone, are the answers. Avoid a strict timer for younger players; give them a moment to think and encourage one clue at a time.

For a larger holiday party, divide into two groups and alternate actors. Each correct answer earns one point for the actor’s group, and the nine cards make one short round. Shuffle and replay with new actors, or stop when every guest has had a turn. In a classroom, skip scoring and let the whole room guess so nobody waits long between turns.

Keep the cards usable after the party

Keep the cut cards in an envelope labeled for your holiday games box. Heavier paper makes them easier to handle, but ordinary printer paper is enough for a single gathering. If younger players struggle with a phrase, have the host read it quietly and return the card to the pile for another round.

These prompts are deliberately concrete, so the actor can begin without props or a long explanation. The fun comes from the different ways family members show the same action. A short, successful round often invites another more naturally than a complicated score sheet.