Ready to play? Print out one Christmas Bingo card per person (we have six different ones). Print the bingo pictures and cut them into squares. You’ll put those in a bowl, and the caller (the one who pulls the squares out of the bowl) will pull them out individually to play the game. The caller can also play. If you want to use the cards more than once, grab something for the players to use to mark the squares instead of crossing through them with a pen or marker: dried beans, pieces of Christmas candy, or blank scraps of paper.

If you want to make Christmas Bingo even more enticing, have little prizes for the winner: a Hershey’s Kiss, “pick the Christmas movie” privileges, tickle mom for 10 seconds, a cup of hot chocolate, or a Christmas cookie. Want more fun Christmas activities? Here’s a Christmas Scavenger Hunt, Christmas This or That Questions, and the Story of Christmas in a printable version.

Here are some different versions to help you put the J-I-N-G-L-E in B-I-N-G-O.

Snow Out Christmas Bingo:

This version is called “blackout” in regular bingo. To win, players have to cover every spot on their card instead of just a row. (Use white paper to mark the spots and create a visual snow out.) You can use multiple cards to make this version last even longer.

Single Player Christmas Bingo:

In this version, the single player competes against the clock to see how quickly he can get bingo. The player pulls out the squares one at a time. When bingo is achieved, the player notes the time. In subsequent games, he can try to beat that time.

How Low Can You Go-Ho-Ho-Ho:

Another version of single-player Christmas Bingo is having the player see how many papers he or she has to pull from the bowl. The goal is to get bingo in as few pulls as possible.

What’s another version you like to play?

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In the days leading up to Christmas, I keep activities for my children at the ready. That way, when they do get cranky, bored, or I need to keep them occupied so I can wrap those presents, they can jump right into something fun. iMOM’s Christmas This or That printable fits that description perfectly. My kids can play it with me or on their own. They can print it for a night out to dinner or lie on the couch and ask each other the questions. If we’re out running Christmas errands, I can distract them from bickering by pulling out the Christmas This or That questions (or one of iMOM’s other Christmas printables).

Kids really do love to answer this or that questions. I think it’s because they like being heard and enjoy the power of choosing what they want without any rules attached. If your kids can read on their own, let them ask the questions to each other and to you. You can also build some anticipation for asking the questions by inviting them to a Christmas This or That party. Have your kids cut out the questions and put them in a stocking. Then, make some hot chocolate, get everyone cozy in their pajamas, and have your children reach into the stocking and take turns pulling out a question. We should warn you—some of these decisions are tricky!

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Moms know smooth mornings happen by preparing the night before and Christmas is no exception, so we thought of everything you need to do to make sure presents are ready, food is prepped, and Santa feels welcomed. If you’re scanning our Christmas Eve checklist and realize you’re missing something, don’t panic. We came prepared. We can’t produce a pack of double-A batteries for you, but we do have a link to 10 classic Christmas stories the whole family will enjoy reading together. They are free to download. And our Christmas Story printable is perfect if you don’t have a bible or want to put a fun spin on the story of the birth of Jesus. 

If you don’t finish everything on the list, it’s okay. Christmas won’t self-destruct just because you don’t have the casserole ready right when Grandma and Grandpa arrive. The goal of the Christmas Eve checklist is to get the essentials done and to be able to look at the other things that could make your Christmas morning a little easier. If your family doesn’t put out cookies for Santa, don’t sweat it! 

But do be sure to take a deep breath at the end of the night. Spend time thinking about how special these years are and say a prayer of gratitude for your children and their sense of wonder. These years go by so quickly and before you know it, you’ll be dragging your kids out of bed to come open presents. While Christmas Eve is exhausting (and Christmas Day is exhausting plus some), moms wouldn’t have it any other way!

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iMOM’s Christmas prayers printable page is special. Not only does it encourage you to reflect on what’s important at Christmas—like joy, peace, and hope—but we’ve also provided a Bible verse that will help connect each word to the life of Jesus. We hope that the time you spend praying and reflecting brings you peace and reminds you of the gifts that are present in your life every day. These Christmas prayers are great for kids too. Our graphic designer was so inspired she made three for you to choose from. If you need some help getting started praying with your children, try our 10 Ways to Teach Your Child to Pray resource.

We would love for you to add a prayer to the list in the comments. What do you pray for at Christmas?

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So make some hot cocoa and popcorn and sit back for a Christmas comedy show right in your living room. The kids can take it over the top, as one does at Christmas, and host a variety show complete with carols, acting, and, of course, jokes! iMOM’s Christmas jokes for kids free printable is a gift that will bring joy and laughter to your family and make plenty of merry memories!

After the laughter has died down, take the screen-free moment as an opportunity to turn back time and do something low-tech yet Christmasey. iMOM has a ton of fun ideas, like a Christmas scavenger hunt. Or you can turn down the lights and read a Christmas story from our 10 downloadable classics. And as the days creep closer to the 25th, be sure to talk to your kids about the story of Christmas with this fun printable.  

Whatever you do, remember that what matters most to your kids is that you’re together. So don’t stress about capturing it in photos or posting it with the perfect hashtag. Just be present, enjoy the moment, and celebrate your family.  

Need more laughs? Find 100 more jokes for kids here!

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So gather your little ones around with some warm cocoa and read these stories that capture the wonder and miracle of Christmas! They are older stories which are in the public domain—and free.

1. “The Little Matchgirl” by Hans Christian Andersen

2. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

3. “Little Piccola” by Nora A. Smith

4. “The Other Wise Man” by Henry Van Dyke

5. “The Three Kings” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

6. “The Boy With the Box” By Mary Griggs Van Voorhis

7. “Little Gretchen and the Wooden Shoe” by Elizabeth Harrison

8. “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry

9. “The Legend of the Christmas Tree” by Lucy Wheelock

10. “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams

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Here are 8 ideas for using The Story of Christmas.

1. Use your own manger scene figures with the story, or cut out the figures we have provided.

2. Stage each part of the story in a different part of the house.

For example, the angel may have appeared to Mary in the kitchen. Today’s version of the manger could be the garage. The shepherds would be outside in the yard. King Herod would be in your best room.

3. Read one part of the story every night for a week before Christmas.

Or load up the camel (that would be Dad) and give the kids a ride from place to place all in one night.

4. Give each of the children a story figure to hold and allow them to act out the story as you read it.

5. If your children can read well, allow them to narrate the story.

6. Incorporate household props to make it fun.

For example, a dishtowel with a shoelace tied around a child’s head makes a great shepherd hat.  Crowns can be cut out from this template for the kings. A pastel sheet wrapped around a child and tied with a rope makes a great Mary dress. Wrap your angel with a white sheet and put a little garland on her head.

7. The Magi were the gift givers from which we get the gift-giving tradition of Christmas.

An effective way to limit gifts and point children back to the real meaning of gifts at Christmas is to tell your children they will get 3 gifts just as Jesus received 3 gifts. If your children believe in Santa you can throw in a fourth gift from him or have Santa fill the stockings. Here are 13 ideas for stockings or gift baskets.

8. End your story with a birthday celebration – A Baby Jesus Birthday Party.

We recommend red velvet cake as a festive tradition your children will beg for.

Tell us! How will you use the Christmas Story printable?

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I don’t know how long it took my mom to come up with all of those riddles, but I’m sure she had to scratch through a few and start over more than once. She always had a stash of those stick-on gift tags, so now I know that if I’m wrapping gifts and run out (or more likely forget to buy them altogether), I can pop over to her house and grab one or two. 

But what happens if you find yourself with a pile of wrapped gifts and no labels? Chances are you don’t live down the block from my mom and all of the stick-on gift tags. You don’t want to leave them unlabeled because, if you’re like me, there’s a good chance you’ll mix up the gift meant for Uncle Mike with the one meant for the elderly woman next door and she’ll wonder what she’s supposed to do with a mug that says “#1 Uncle.” 

iMOM to the rescue! These cute Christmas gift tags are whimsical, merry, and free to print. Print them on cardstock and attach them to all of your Christmas presents for a unique look that will share the Christmas cheer.

Need a last minute gift? Print these Christmas Coupons and give them to your kids for special time with you.

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Like all our other printable lunchbox notes, we’ve included love messages. But because it’s Christmas and calories don’t count, we’ve tossed in notes for those days you feel like sneaking in a bonus treat or want to invite your kids to an evening snuggle on the couch with hot cocoa. And of course, with all the talk of presents, these printable lunchbox notes will also help you remind your kids that they are the greatest gifts you’ve ever received. 

So keep them in a secret (but handy) place, and after lunch is packed, grab your scissors and cut out the note that you think will bring a smile to your child’s face. You could even print the notes on adhesive paper and stick one right on the plastic wrap around your kiddo’s PB&J to help you countdown to the big day. If you’re into holiday surprises, you can use one of these free printable Christmas lunchbox notes to get them excited about a spontaneous after-school outing. 

Christmas is a great time to pause and tell our kids how precious of a gift they are to us. Leaving them lunchbox notes is a simple way to do that right in the middle of their school day. We have so many more free lunchbox notes, including holidays like Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, and everyday notes designed specifically for boys, girls, and even highschoolers.

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