Christmas Left Right Game Printable Story for Gift Passing
A gift exchange runs more smoothly when everyone knows exactly when to pass and when to stop. This short story gives the reader a clear sequence of direction words and gives the group a definite ending, so the prize does not drift around the circle indefinitely.
Print the story and start the game
Seat players in a circle and hand one wrapped gift to any player. One person reads the story aloud. Each time that reader says a bold direction word in the story, the player holding the gift passes it once in that direction. At the end, the person holding it opens the gift.
Download high-resolution printable
The Missing Bell story
Nora set a gift to the RIGHT of the tree. Sam turned LEFT to find the music, then stepped RIGHT around the chairs. A jingle came from the LEFT side of the room. Nora looked RIGHT and saw a bell beside the cookies.
She turned LEFT to Sam, who pointed RIGHT toward Grandpa. Grandpa searched LEFT, then RIGHT, then LEFT once more. The bell was RIGHT behind the cocoa pitcher, just LEFT of the gingerbread. Nora placed it RIGHT beside the tree, and the carols began.
Keep the exchange clear
Practice one pass in each direction before reading so everyone uses the same idea of left and right. Read slowly enough for the gift to reach the next person before saying another direction. Do not skip a cue when two appear in one sentence; each bold word means one separate pass.
This version uses one wrapped gift and one winner. If every guest brought a gift, give each person one to hold, then have all players pass their gifts together at every cue and keep the gift they hold at the end. Agree on that version before starting so nobody changes the rules halfway through.
Save and print the page
Click the preview to open the full size image, or use the download button to open it in a new tab, then save it from there. Check the print preview so the complete story fits on the page. Keep the sheet with your party supplies and choose a reader who can pause naturally after every cue.