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Santa Says

Give Simon Says a Christmas twist with reindeer hops, elf steps, and plenty of listening.

👶 Ages 3–9 ⏱ 10 min 🏠 Nothing needed 👪 Play together
Four children balance and copy the child leader during a cheerful game of Santa Says

Know before you start

At a glance

Setup
0 min
Cleanup
0 min
Mess
low
Energy
active
Adult help
nearby

Before you start

  • Refresh the one rule: only obey commands that start with 'Santa says'.
  • For 3-4 year olds, drop the catch-you-out part entirely, just follow fun commands together.
  • Stock a few themed commands: ho-ho-ho, fly like a reindeer, sneak like an elf, wrap a present.

Step by step

Let’s play

  1. Crown Santa. One player gets the hat and the command power.
  2. Commands fly. “Santa says stomp like a snowman!”, everyone stomps. “Ho ho hop!”, nobody moves (it didn’t start with Santa says!).
  3. Catch the movers. Moving on a trick command earns a laugh, and in gentle mode, nothing else.
  4. Pass the hat. Every player gets a turn running the North Pole.
  5. Sleep till Christmas. Final command lands everyone flat on the rug, miraculously quiet.

The child’s-eye view

Why kids love it

The commands invite big, silly movements, and every player eventually gets to lead. Because no one needs to be eliminated, mistakes can become part of the fun.

Built into the fun

What they’re learning

Inhibitory control

Waiting for the words 'Santa says' asks players to pause an automatic response and listen before moving.

Auditory attention

Players must parse every command's opening before moving, sustained careful listening disguised as chaos.

Expressive leadership

Taking the leader role gives children practice choosing clear directions and speaking loudly enough for the group to hear.

Make it fit your child

Ways to change the game

No-elimination mode

Under 5s: nobody is ever out; a caught move just earns a group 'ho ho ho' and the game rolls on.

Elf says / Reindeer says

Rotate characters with matching voices, squeaky elf commands, snorty reindeer commands.

Freeze finale

End with 'Santa says sleep until Christmas', the whole room drops and holds still, conveniently right before dinner.

Real-life fixes

If it’s not going to plan

Young players move on every command regardless

That's developmentally expected before ~4. Play the follow-along version and add the catch rule next Christmas, the game grows with them.

Getting caught causes tears

Make being caught a promotion: caught players become Santa's helpers who invent the next command together with Santa.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What age can kids play Santa Says?

From 3 as a pure follow-the-command game, from about 4-5 with the classic catch-you-out rule. Older kids enjoy speed rounds and increasingly absurd commands.

What are good Santa Says commands?

Mix movement (hop like a reindeer, march like a toy soldier), sounds (ho ho ho, jingle your bells), and pretend tasks (wrap a present, climb down a chimney, check the list twice). End on calm ones to land the plane.

Kidtivity Lab activity guide · Last updated

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