The Santa’s Naughty or Nice Game is a lively Christmas group activity where kids listen carefully, make quick decisions, and move to the right side before Santa makes his final call. Fun, active, and easy to organize, this holiday game is perfect for classrooms, family gatherings, and Christmas parties. Designed by an early-childhood educator with over 10 years of experience creating group games, this activity blends movement, attention, and festive fun in a simple, stress-free format.
How the Santa’s Naughty or Nice Game Works
At its core, the Santa’s Naughty or Nice Game is a movement and listening challenge based on choice and reaction. Children must decide whether an action, behavior, or statement belongs on Santa’s “Naughty” list or his “Nice” list—then move fast.
To start, choose one player or adult to be Santa. The rest of the group stands in the center of the play area, with one side labeled “Nice” and the other “Naughty.”
This clear setup helps children understand the rules quickly before the game begins.
Kids who enjoy listening closely to holiday instructions will also love our Santa’s Secret Instruction challenge, which adds surprise rules to every round.
Game Sheet – Santa’s Naughty or Nice Game
Before starting the Santa’s Naughty or Nice Game, here are the key details to help you set it up quickly and keep the group engaged from the first round.
- Number of players: 6 or more
- Ages: 5+ (ideal for 6+)
- Setting: Indoors or outdoors
- Supplies: Two “zones” (Naughty/Nice) marked with tape, cones, or signs (optional)
- Game length: 10–20 minutes
With this simple setup, you’re ready to run an energetic Christmas movement game that works for classrooms, parties, and family gatherings.
How to Play Santa’s Naughty or Nice Game
Once everyone is in place, Santa reads aloud a series of fun Christmas-themed statements. After each one, players must move to the side they think is correct.
Basic rules
- Santa reads a statement (example: “Helping decorate the tree”)
- Players move to “Nice” or “Naughty”
- Santa reveals the correct answer
- Players who chose incorrectly sit out or perform a silly challenge
- The last remaining players become the next Santas
This structure keeps the game flowing while encouraging quick thinking and active participation. To transition smoothly, remind players that there are no wrong answers—only fun surprises.
Christmas Statements and Ideas
To keep the Santa’s Naughty or Nice Game engaging, mix easy, tricky, and funny prompts. A short explanation before the list helps adults adapt the game to different ages.
Examples include:
- Eating Santa’s cookies before Christmas Eve
- Helping a sibling wrap gifts
- Staying up past bedtime on Christmas Eve
- Sharing toys with friends
- Sneaking extra candy from the stocking
These statements spark laughter, discussion, and movement, making each round unpredictable and fun.
Fun Variations to Keep Kids Engaged
To extend playtime or adapt the game for different groups, you can introduce simple variations that add challenge without complicating the rules.
- Speed Round: Kids must choose a side within three seconds
- Reverse Santa: Players must move to the opposite side
- Silent Santa: Santa uses gestures instead of words
- Team Mode: Groups decide together before moving
- Last One Standing: Incorrect choices lead to elimination
These options keep the game fresh and allow adults to adjust difficulty based on age and energy level.
For another high-energy option based on quick reactions, try our festive Santa Says movement game, a Christmas classic kids instantly understand.
Why Kids Love the Santa’s Naughty or Nice Game
Children enjoy the Santa’s Naughty or Nice Game because it combines movement, humor, and suspense in a way that keeps everyone involved.
- Fast decisions make the game exciting
- Christmas humor creates laughter
- Everyone plays at the same time
- No complicated rules to remember
- Perfect for mixed-age groups
- Easy to replay with new prompts
This balance of simplicity and energy makes it a favorite for holiday events.
This playful atmosphere is similar to our Christmas Charades party game, where laughter and creativity take center stage.
Educational Benefits of the Santa’s Naughty or Nice Game
Beyond the fun, this Christmas activity supports important developmental skills. A short transition helps highlight its educational value.
- Listening skills: Children focus on verbal instructions
- Decision-making: Quick choices build confidence
- Gross motor skills: Movement supports coordination
- Social awareness: Kids reflect on behaviors and rules
- Self-regulation: Waiting, moving, and stopping on cue
- Classroom engagement: Keeps large groups focused
As an early-childhood educator, I design games like this to support learning through play without adding pressure.
Teamwork-focused games like this pair perfectly with our Decorate the Tree relay challenge, which encourages collaboration through festive action.
FAQ – Santa’s Naughty or Nice Game
Before playing, here are answers to common questions parents and teachers ask.
A Christmas group game where kids choose sides based on Santa’s holiday statements.
It works well from age 5 and up with simple adjustments.
No materials are required, just space to move safely.
Most rounds last 10–20 minutes, depending on group size.
Yes, it’s ideal for holiday classroom activities and parties.
For quieter group moments, many teachers also use our Christmas Trivia Quiz for kids as a calm but engaging holiday option.
Designed for Learning and Fun
You can also explore our full collection of Christmas group games, bringing together movement, listening, and teamwork for festive celebrations of all sizes.
At Party Games for Kids, we share group games that encourage movement, cooperation, and joyful learning. Created by an early-childhood educator designing children’s activities since 2013, our games are easy to organize and adaptable for families, classrooms, and celebrations.
- Simple rules and quick setup
- Games for small or large groups
- Supports attention, confidence, and teamwork
- Flexible for different ages and energy levels
- 100% screen-free play
Exploring our collection makes it easy to plan Christmas moments filled with laughter and meaningful play.
For families looking to extend the fun, our printable Christmas treasure hunts and mystery escape rooms on Treasure Hunt for Kids offer ready-to-play holiday adventures designed for kids ages 4 to 12.
