Fun Family Party Games for Toddlers to Grandparents
Are you looking for the best inclusive fun family party games to play at your next family gathering?
If you’re lucky enough to have a big family who get together a lot, then you may be considering what games to play for Christmas, Easter, or some other event. If you’re after some fun, inexpensive, or even free, games enjoyable for all ages, then you are in the right place.
I mean, toddlers are going to struggle a bit with scrabble, but the older generation probably don’t want to be playing Mouse Trap!
It’s not always easy finding that sweet spot that pleases everyone, or at least pleases the majority. We all have that one awkward family member, right?
Everyone deserves to be included in the family games, regardless of budget, so I have split my list into two categories.
The first is free games that you can play using objects that most people have in their homes. The second is games you can buy if you’re looking for something a bit more unusual.
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Free (and Fun) Inclusive Family Party Games
Charades
This is my personal favourite as it has been my families traditional after-dinner Christmas game for as long as I can remember.
I loved it as a kid and I still love it as a mum. My kids started playing this at the age of 2 years old and now at 4 and 7 they still love it.
My grandparents are now in their late 80s and always smile when we play this game. They may sometimes forget what film or book they have chosen part way through or accidently talk instead of use the signs, but that just adds to the fun!
This game always ends in us all doubled over in stitches! Even when my brothers went through that awkward teen stage where they didn’t want to join in, they still really enjoyed watching everyone else act things out and trying to guess the answers.
It really is an inclusive game for everyone. You can buy a pack of cards with suggestions, but we just choose our own to act out. This makes it quick, easy, and free. Win-Win-Win!
The Tray Game
The tray game is another family favourite.
I’m not even sure if this is the official name for it, but it’s what we have always called it. I have such fond memories of my dear Granny setting this game up for us all.
This is a great game if you have older relatives who struggle to move around much and the team element means that everyone is included, whether it’s the toddler with a short attention span or the grandparent with a bad memory.
It’s super simple.
Someone gets a tray and puts out a number of random household items on it. We usually aim for around 30 items if we can fit them so it’s a challenge for everyone.
Common items we use are things like a paperclip, pencil, blue tac, fork, toy car, thimble, needle, grape etc.
Then the tray is covered with a tea towel and brought into the room. When everyone is ready with a pen and paper, the tea towel is removed and each item is held up and named. We often do this twice through.
Then the tea towel is put back on and everyone starts scribbling furiously trying to remember as many items as they can. Some of us do this individually and some are in teams, especially the kiddies!
To make it more of a challenge you can set a timer to go off, or you can just wait until everyone gives in. Then you swap paper and the tea towel is removed and items held up while everyone marks each other.
Hide the Thimble
My lovely Granny introduced me to this one too. It’s another great one to include everyone.
Someone goes out of the room (or covers their eyes if you trust them!) Then everyone else decides where the thimble should be hidden in the room.
The person comes back in and starts to search while everyone else shouts out if they are getting hotter or colder.
This one is especially great for little kids. You can alter the difficulty level by giving less clues and hiding it better for older participants.
It can also be made more competitive by playing it in teams and by setting a time limit.
Who am I? (Name on the forehead)
This is a great game for inclusivity, especially for less mobile members of the family.
You get some stickers you can write on, or you can get some paper and cellotape. Then one person writes on the stickers people’s names that you all know. This can be celebrities or people you all know as a family. Then that person sticks one name to each person’s forehead without them seeing the name.
Everyone then takes turns to ask yes/no style questions to try to discover who they are.
We do it where we go round in a circle and everyone has a turn asking a question and then when you think you know you can say, ‘Am I …?’ This game can be quite funny, especially when ‘Grandad’, asks if he makes his living as a dancer!
Empires
This is a family favourite that we play all year round.
Someone has a notebook and pen and waits in another room for all players to come through one at a time to tell them a name. This can be a celebrity, family member, or a made-up name – anything goes!
Then that person comes through and reads out all the names on the list in a random order.
Then someone starts off by asking someone else, are you ‘insert a name from the list’? If the person is then they say yes and join that persons ‘empire’. When someone joins an empire, they take their own empire with them!
The person who guessed correctly has another turn and all those in their empire can help them guess. If the answer is no, then the person who said no has a turn to ask someone.
The winner is the one with the biggest empire at the end.
Affordable Fun Inclusive Family Party Games
Spot It
I bought this one for my kiddos last year. They were 4 and 7 years old at the time and we all enjoyed playing it as a family, with grandparents as well.
A great easy, fun, inclusive family Game.
Beat that!
‘Beat that! The Bonkers Battle of Wacky Challenges’ is such fun!
Some of the challenges require a certain level of concentration that may be a challenge for the younger family members.
Other challenges are a bit more energetic than some may manage.
However, there are a wide range of challenges so there should be plenty of options to suit every age and ability.
The challenges are fun and silly and you can get as competitive or be as relaxed as you choose.
Check out ‘Beat That!’ on Amazon
Soundiculous
I personally love this game.
You can only make sounds to help your team guess what’s on your card. There’s no talking, and no actions involved so you can do this from your seats.
While it says age 8+ if you have an adult teamed up with a child to help them read the card, or to do the sounds together, then this is an inclusive game for the whole family.
There are various difficulty levels, so you can start easy, with a lion for example, and then work your way up to the hard level.
Check out ‘Soundiculous’ on Amazon
The Yes or No? Game
I grew up playing this game and it can definitely be played by kids younger than 8 years, with a little help.
Failing all else, they can be in charge of hitting the bell if they hear someone say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
The basic idea is that one player reads questions off the card in creative ways to try to make their opponent answer with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. If they say either word, they’re out with a ring of the bell!
This is great fun, easy for everyone to understand, and pressing that bell to put someone out is just an added bonus! Especially if it’s a sibling!
Check out the ‘Yes or No?’ Game on Amazon
This is probably also a good time to add that if you find your little one gets a bit over-excited at Christmas (or any holiday) and struggles to cope, there are things you can do to help. I have discovered numerous little things to help us keep Christmas calm with young kids. Check out this article for ideas.
Would You Rather? Campfire Edition
A hilarious game, almost guaranteed to have you in stiches!
This one is ideal for all ages. In fact, sometimes hearing your toddlers answers or Great-Granny’s thoughts on the matter are the funniest part of this laugh-out-loud family game!
Check out ‘Would you Rather? Campfire Edition’ on Amazon
Fun Inclusive Family Party Games
I hope this list has given you some good ideas for games to play with your family over the holidays, or just anytime you all get together.
Family is so important and there is such a range of games out there to suit everyone so there is never any need for anyone to feel left out.
My kids just love playing big games with all their extended family. I do too, if I’m being honest!
There’s something really comforting about family traditions and a couple of inclusive family games are part of that for us.
You may also like:
The Best Christmas Party Games for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Family Christmas Traditions that Focus on Making Christmas Special for Others