This year was my first year helping out in a school class room for a holiday party. I wasn’t sure what to expect … but I did anticipate 20 wild, overstimulated 6-year-olds. Luckily, the experienced room moms showed me the ropes and explained we would divide the class into 4 small groups and rotate through stations: two games, a craft, and story time.
Class party moms, I’ve got you covered with an easy, cute Bingo set that includes 8 unique cards plus larger flashcards that you cut out, draw from a hat, and can show the younger audiences to make sure everyone knows which square to cover.
After one hour in the kindergarten classroom, playing Bingo for 60 straight minutes, I have a renewed appreciation for all that teachers do, and I think next year I’ll just gift them cases and cases of wine instead of gift cards. They deserve it, and they need it.
Bingo doesn’t have to be limited to class parties though. The boys and I have been playing all weekend, and we’re bringing it with us to our Christmas parties to play with family and friends.
Here’s everything you need to play Bingo this holiday season!
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy for all the boring details.
Easy Holiday Bingo Game for Kids with Cute Free Printable
What You’ll Need
- Bingo cards for all players (free printable includes 8 unique cards)
- Cut-out of all Bingo squares (see Pages 9-10 of the free printable)
- Something to draw the Bingo cards from
- Holiday M&Ms or mini erasers to use as markers
- Bingo daubers or markers (optional)
- Assorted small prizes (pencils, candys, stickers, temporary tattoos)
Download free printable:
#NeverDoneWithFun Holiday Bingo (PDF)
Print Bingo cards for all players. If you’re using candy or erasers as markers, you’ll only need one board per player because the boards can be reused. If you’re using bingo daubers or other markers, you’ll need multiple copies of the boards.
Our school doesn’t allow candy at the holiday parties, so my original idea of using M&Ms to mark the spaces was quickly trashed. Luckily, my sister, a first-grade teacher, advised me to get over to the Target Dollar Spot for mini holiday erasers. For $4, I left with 180 mini erasers (way more than I needed, but I also ended up giving them out as prizes at the end). Amazon has a bunch of inexpensive options as well.
If you don’t want to mess around with all the tiny pieces or candy, just print lots of copies of the boards and use bingo daubers or washable markers instead.
Print the Bingo picture flashcards from Pages 9-10 of the free printable. Cut out each square and fold in half.
Add flashcards to a bucket, bowl or other container to draw from.
Distribute 1 card and 10-15 mini erasers to each player. Remind the players to mark the free space in the center of their card.
Start drawing the cards and go!
For prizes this year, I looked for inexpensive options that could be delivered by (you guessed it) Amazon Prime. I opted for holiday pencils and mini holiday pinball games. If I had had more time instead of planning this one day before, I would have run around to the dollar store to see what I could find there. I know pencils would have been cheaper there!
Tips for Success
- Playing with kindergartners, I made sure to show the flashcard around to all players so they knew what they were looking for on their boards.
- Depending on the amount of time you’ll be playing, decide how you can get the most winners fastest. (Because kids get frustrated when they don’t win quickly enough.)
- For each 15-minute block, we got through 3 rounds where we cleared the kids’ cards after 1 winner was called. On the 4th round, we let them keep going after the first winner to help hand out more prizes more quickly.
- For under $20 total, each child went home with 1 pencil, 1 mini pin ball game and 4 erasers. I still have enough erasers to play again with a class next year.
- When playing at home or in a relaxed setting, let the kids take turns being the bingo caller. Turns out Sawyer is an excellent caller (and accurately knows his holiday icons as well!)
Now that I’ve got this Bingo thing figured out, I fully plan to use this for every single Christmas class party all through elementary school. And I bet I’ll reprise the same role at Halloween too.
If your family plays #NeverDoneWithFun Holiday Bingo this season, snap a pic and tag me on social media! I’d love to see your fun.
