Christmas Activities for Seniors: 40 Games, Crafts & Party Ideas for December

December is the busiest month on the activity calendar, and the most meaningful. For many residents, Christmas is tied to decades of memories: the family tree, church on Christmas Eve, a special recipe, the sound of a favorite carol. A well-planned December brings those memories back into the community and gives residents plenty to look forward to, from the first decorations to the last cup of cocoa.

Below are 40 Christmas activities for seniors: party games, crafts, music, food, reminiscence, and giving back. You'll also find a ready-made 12 Days of Christmas plan and tips for residents in memory care. Start planning now. The best holiday seasons are mapped out by early November, right after fall activities wrap up.

Why the holidays deserve extra planning

The holidays are joyful, but they can feel especially lonely for older adults who have lost a spouse or live far from family. Loneliness is already common. In 2024, 33% of adults aged 50 to 80 said they felt lonely at least some of the time, and 29% felt isolated, according to the University of Michigan's National Poll on Healthy Aging (Michigan Medicine). A full, welcoming December calendar helps. So does quietly checking in on residents who are grieving or who won't have visitors.

Christmas party games for seniors

• Christmas bingo. Holiday words or pictures instead of numbers. See our full guide to bingo for seniors.
• Name That Carol. Play the first few notes on a piano or speaker; teams race to name the song.
• Holiday trivia. Christmas movies, traditions around the world, and "Christmas in the 1950s" rounds. Build your own from our trivia for seniors.
• White elephant gift exchange. Wrapped, low-cost gifts with gentle "stealing" rules. Seated versions work fine.
• Pass the parcel. A gift wrapped in many layers, with a small treat in each layer, passed while music plays.
• Christmas word scramble. Unscramble holiday words on the TV. More ideas in word games for seniors.
• Guess the number of candies. A jar of wrapped mints; the closest guess wins the jar.
• Christmas Pictionary or charades. Draw or act out "sleigh," "snowman," "stocking."
• Ornament toss. Toss plastic ornaments or bean bags into a bucket for points.
• Left-right gift game. Read a holiday story aloud; every time you say "left" or "right," the gifts move.

Christmas crafts for seniors

• Ornament decorating. Clear plastic ornaments filled with ribbon, glitter, or photos.
• Handmade Christmas cards. Stamps, stickers, and pre-folded cards for family and staff.
• Pinecone crafts. Paint the tips white for "snow," or turn them into bird feeders.
• Paper snowflakes. Pre-folded paper makes cutting easier. Hang them on every window.
• Mason jar snow globes. Waterproof figurines, glycerin, and glitter.
• Wreath making. Silk greenery, ribbon, and bells on a foam or wire base.
• Salt-dough ornaments. Roll, cut, bake, and paint. The dough itself is a lovely sensory activity.
• Felt stockings. Pre-cut felt and glue, personalized with each resident's name.

For step-by-step instructions and low-mess tips, see our craft activities for seniors guide.

Music and caroling

• Carol sing-along. Large-print song sheets and a piano or playlist.
• Visiting choirs. Invite school, church, and community choirs. Many are glad to perform.
• Hand-bell choir. Color-coded bells make it easy for anyone to join.
• Room-to-room caroling. A small group of residents and staff carols for residents who can't leave their rooms.
• Holiday classics listening hour. The crooners, big bands, and choirs residents grew up with.

Food and festive socials

• Cookie decorating. Pre-baked sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles.
• Hot cocoa bar. Toppings, candy canes, and holiday music.
• Family recipe exchange. Residents share a treasured recipe; the kitchen makes one each week.
• Gingerbread house building. Use graham crackers and milk cartons for an easier, sturdier version.
• Holiday tea party. Fine china, finger sandwiches, and a festive dress code.
• Ugly sweater contest. Residents and staff vote on the most festive (or most outrageous) sweater.

Reminiscence and quieter activities

• "Christmas when I was young" circle. Prompts like first gifts, family traditions, and holiday dinners.
• Vintage ornament show-and-tell. Residents and families bring heirloom decorations.
• Classic Christmas movie matinee. Popcorn, blankets, and a film from residents' younger years.
• Holiday light tour. A bus ride or wheelchair walk to see neighborhood lights.
• Christmas story hour. Classic stories read aloud by a staff member or volunteer.
• Holiday photo slideshow. Families send old Christmas photos to show on the TV while residents share the stories behind them.

Giving-back activities

Giving is one of the most meaningful parts of the season, and it gives residents a sense of purpose:

• Cards for troops or hospital patients.
• Knit hats and scarves for a local shelter.
• Toy drive wrapping party for a children's charity.
• Staff appreciation. Residents make thank-you cards and treats for the team.
• Adopt-a-family. The community sponsors gifts for a family in need.

Not every resident celebrates Christmas, and some are grieving this time of year. Include winter-themed options (snowflake crafts, cocoa socials, winter walks) and other traditions such as Hanukkah, so everyone has a place in December. Looking for more hands-on pastimes that carry into the new year? See our guide to hobbies for seniors.

A 12 Days of Christmas plan for your community

Traditionally the 12 days of Christmas run from December 25 to January 5, but many communities run them as a countdown to Christmas instead. Either way, a 12-day program gives the season a clear shape and creates daily anticipation. Here's a plan you can adapt:

Day	Activity
1	Tree-trimming party with carols
2	Ornament decorating
3	Christmas bingo
4	Visiting school choir
5	Cookie decorating and cocoa bar
6	Classic Christmas movie matinee
7	Card-making for troops or hospital patients
8	"Christmas when I was young" reminiscence circle
9	Holiday trivia tournament
10	Holiday light bus tour
11	Ugly sweater contest and tea party
12	Family Christmas party with gift exchange

Christmas activities for nursing homes

In a nursing home, plan for residents who can't come to group events. Bring the season to them: room-to-room caroling, a small decorated tree or wreath for each door, one-on-one visits with a cookie and a card, and short hand-massage sessions with a seasonal lotion. Record or livestream the big party to the room TVs so bedbound residents can watch. Our nursing home activities guide has more ideas for mixed-ability groups.

Christmas activities for seniors with dementia

The holidays can be overwhelming for residents living with dementia: more noise, more visitors, and a changed environment. The Alzheimer's Association suggests adjusting expectations, holding celebrations earlier in the day if evening confusion is a problem, and keeping gatherings small (Alzheimer's Association). In practice:

• Choose familiar, sensory activities: smelling cinnamon and pine, folding napkins, stringing large beads, or singing well-known carols.
• Decorate gradually rather than transforming the unit overnight, and avoid blinking lights.
• Spread family visits across different days instead of one big crowd.
• Talk with one person at a time. Group "cross talk" is hard to follow.
• Watch for safety: salt dough and gingerbread can look edible, glass jars can break, and pinecone bird feeders often use peanut butter (an allergy risk).

For a full approach, see our dementia activities for seniors guide.

Plan all of December in one sitting

With ActivityBuilder, you can lay out your whole holiday season on the drag-and-drop activity calendar, from tree-trimming to the family party, and print it for residents and families. Then run Christmas bingo, holiday trivia, and word games right on the activity room TV. Type "Christmas" and ActivityBuilder builds a themed word-bingo set for you. Start a free trial and have December planned before Thanksgiving.