Holiday Games: Creative Sports to Play During Family Gatherings

The holiday season is nearly upon us. At this time of year, folks tend to forget about the hustle and bustle that bogarts their daily lives in order to make time for family. Family gatherings are part and parcel to this holiday time and what better way to bond with loved ones than through fun, active games?

Some readers might be shaking their heads at this, and to that, we say, why did you even click on this article in the first place? To the rest, the open-minded or family-spirited, we want to assure you that we haven’t been sipping too much egg nog. The truth is, playing sports during family gatherings is actually quite beneficial in a number of unforeseen ways. Not only does it manage to keep everyone entertained, it also promotes physical activity, strengthens family bonds, and creates memories for children that will likely last a lifetime.

That is why, in this article, we will be exploring the idea of holiday sports. We will offer readers a variety of creative sports and mini-games that are perfect for holiday get-togethers, along with highlighting the benefits those activities bring to kids and parents alike. So pour yourself a cocktail, grab a holiday cookie, and strap on the skates, we’re about to hit the holidays together.

Benefits of Playing Sports with Family

Before diving into the games themselves, we should probably explain why engaging in this type of frivolous holiday behavior is so important. Here at Cultured Athlete, we’re constantly espousing why playing sports is so beneficial. Kids who play sports develop positive emotional, physical, and mental qualities that will allow them to excel in many different parts of their lives. Well, playing sports or even just games with family members is also pretty beneficial. These types of activities offer numerous advantages for kids and adults alike:

Strengthens Family Bonds: Playing sports with people, whether they be one’s friends, teammates, or family members, fosters a sense of togetherness. It also strengthens family bonds, providing family members with a shared experience in which everyone is actively engaged, communicating, and working towards a common goal. Shared activities like these can help family members better understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, leading to increased empathy and respect.

In these times of political disparity and offensive cross-opinions between family members, such things could be considered a boon to any family. Whether it’s cheering on a team member or celebrating a win, the shared moments created by these fun-filled activities can create lasting memories.

Encourages Physical Activity: During the holidays, kids and adults alike can get caught up in holiday treats and the general busyness of the season. Playing sports is a fun way to sneak in some physical activity. It counters the sedentary activities like sitting around a table eating and watching TV. Sports like indoor soccer, balloon volleyball, and mini-games offer a chance to move, burn off energy, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Boosts Social Skills: Playing sports with family members helps children to develop important social skills that they might not have developed playing directly with their peers. Kids learn to take turns, share, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts as they happen; all in real time. After all, there’s no time for waffling about when there is only so much time before Santa Claus arrives. These experiences are invaluable, more invaluable than most parental readers might suspect, in fact, because they navigate social interactions in other areas of a child’s life.

By now, we know that sports create a safe and controlled environment where kids can learn to handle challenges, setbacks, and victories in a positive way. As they learn these things, kids also pick up on the importance of sportsmanship—cheering for others, congratulating team members, and accepting losses gracefully.

Promotes a Positive Attitude Towards Exercise: Introducing kids to sports in a fun, family-oriented environment is a good way to instill a more positive attitude towards physical activity. Look, no one likes to work out and even when kids do enjoy running around, the idea of sports can often feel more like a chore than an ideal activity. The thing is, instilling this desire for physical movement is absolutely crucial in this day and age. We live in a time when social media and screen time is king. As parents, we need to do everything we can to encourage lifelong habits of exercise and healthy living. Playing sports with family can help demystify that erroneous notion that physical activity is a chore, making it something our children look forward to rather than actively try to avoid.

Provides a Break from Technology: The holiday season is filled with screens. Kids watch movies, play new video games, or scroll endlessly through social media; and so do their parents! Each and every one of us could use an excuse for more family time and less screen time. Playing sports with family provides a much-needed break from those accursed digital devices. At the same time, such activity actively encourages face-to-face interaction, which is especially important for kids who may spend a lot of time on screens during the rest of the year. Additionally, these moments away from technology can help kids reconnect with family members they don’t always get to see; distant cousins, aunts, uncles, and even grandparents. Holiday games allow kids a rare opportunity to disconnect from the world wide web and enjoy the present moment.

Creative Holiday Sports for Family Gatherings

And now, the long-awaited list! Below, we have put together a helpful smattering of some of the most fun and creative sports and mini-games to play during the holidays. These activities are perfect for family gatherings because they are easy to set up, require minimal equipment, and can be played indoors or outdoors depending on the weather.

Indoor Soccer:

• Setup: To start, mark off a small playing area with furniture, pillows, or masking tape. Use a soft ball that’s safe for indoors, like a foam soccer ball or a soft rubber ball.
• Rules: Indoor soccer follows traditional soccer rules—try to score goals without using hands, but remember to play gently to avoid any unforseen indoor accidents. Kids and adults can join in, making it a true family affair. It’s a great workout that gets everyone moving and laughing.
• Benefits: Indoor soccer teaches kids coordination, teamwork, and strategic thinking. It also provides a decent cardiovascular workout even though its in a small space, helping everyone burn off some excess energy and that extra helping of fruitcake, without needing to go outside.

Balloon Volleyball:

• Setup: First, blow up several balloons and create a makeshift volleyball net using a rope or a folded blanket. The net should be set to a height that is accessible for both kids and adults.
• Rules: As the game progresses, each team tries to keep the balloon from touching the ground on their side of the net. Players must use their hands or even feet to hit the balloon over the net without catching it. Rally back and forth, keeping the balloon in the air.
• Benefits: Otherwise known as keepie uppie, for the Bluey enthusiasts out there, this low-stakes sport is a good way to blow off some steam without making a big mess. Balloon volleyball stands as a fantastic game for improving hand-eye coordination and reflexes. It’s also great for kids to learn about the many values of team dynamics and communication, because they need to strategize and communicate with each other during the game.
• Lesson for Parents: This game can be a fun way to bond with your kids while showing them the importance of staying active. Simple as it might seem, this form of volleyball teaches kids the value of persistence and teamwork, helping them understand the rewards of cooperating with others to achieve a shared goal.

Tag Variants:

• Setup: We all know how to play tag….but in case you don’t, here goes. To begin, designate a safe playing area, indoors or out. Classic games like “freeze tag,” “tail tag” (where players have a piece of cloth tucked into their waistband that others try to grab), or “capture the flag” can be adapted for family play.
• Rules: Be sure to modify the rules as needed in order to accommodate younger children or older adults—perhaps make the game less physically intense or add more safe zones.
• Benefits: These games improve cardiovascular health and teach kids about strategy and quick thinking. Tag games also promote social interaction and enhance communication skills, especially if playing in teams.
• Lesson for Parents: Playing tag can help parents understand their children’s physical limits and coordination. It’s a great way to model healthy, active behavior and reinforce the joy of being physically active.

Bowling with Plastic Bottles:

• Setup: It’s best to play this one as soon as the soda has started diminishing. First, line up empty plastic bottles (filled with water for stability) as bowling pins. Use a soft ball or a small rubber ball as the bowling ball.
• Rules: One by one, players take turns rolling the ball to knock down the pins. This game can be set up indoors on a hardwood floor or a cleared-out carpeted area; either works well enough depending on your setup.
• Benefits: Bowling doesn’t need an alley to be fun! Bottle bowling can be an equally-enjoyable way for children to practice balance, hand-eye coordination, and motor skills. It’s also a great game for younger kids who are only just learning about aiming and control.
• Lesson for Parents: This simple game teaches children about fair play and the importance of patience and persistence. It’s also an extremely low-pressure game that allows for plenty of bonding time with parents and grandparents.

Obstacle Course:

• Setup: If you or a relative has a big enough basement, this game can be especially easy to get going. First, create an indoor obstacle course using chairs, pillows, and other soft items. For older kids and adults, obstacles might include crawling under tables, hopping over cushions, or jumping through hoops; just judge the group before building the course.
• Rules: Players take turns racing through the course, navigating every obstacle as quickly as possible. The goal is to complete the course with the fastest time; easy peasy.
• Benefits: Obstacle courses help kids develop physical agility, balance, and strength. They also teach children how to take direction, solve problems, and push through challenges.
• Lesson for Parents: Setting up and participating in an obstacle course is an excellent means for teaching children about goal-setting and the rewards of physical challenges. It’s also an effective way for parents to show support and join in on the fun, demonstrating that exercise can be enjoyable and family-oriented; even if you’re full of wine and latkes.

DIY Mini Golf:

• Setup: If you’ve got a few solo cups and ping pong balls, you could play…well, mini golf actually. To start, create a mini golf course indoors using a combination of household items, cups, rolled-up towels, books, or shoeboxes. Use whatever you can to create obstacles, you want it to be fun and interesting. Players use a soft ball or a small toy golf club to hit the ball into a designated “hole.”
• Rules: Each player takes turns hitting the ball into the “hole.” The player with the fewest strokes wins the game.
• Benefits: Mini golf is not necessarily for tourist traps. when played at home, it represents a great way to teach kids about precision and patience. It also helps with hand-eye coordination and understanding angles.
• Lesson for Parents: This game can be used as a way to help parents introduce their kids to basic physics concepts, like momentum and gravity, but in a fun and practical way. If science isn’t your aim, it’s also a low-pressure activity that encourages thinking and problem-solving skills.

Cultured Athlete Says…

As you can see, playing sports during family gatherings is more fun and easy than one might think. We don’t all have to resort to yahtzee and LCR to bond with family, we can get the kids involved in a way that doesn’t necessitate dice. Holiday sports are a wonderful way to bring everyone closer together while enjoying some physical activity. The mini-games mentioned above are not only fun and easy to set up but also provide valuable opportunities for children to bond with distant relatives and learn important life skills. So light the menorah, trim the tree, and get ready to game like you never have before!