Christmas Drawing and Listening Game
This week’s Christmas sensory play ideas are all about sound!
As far as I am concerned the best thing about Christmas is the music! Corny songs, everyone singing along, there is nothing better than that! My kids, on the other hand, are not quite as into daggy Christmas music as I am, but they LOVED this simple Christmas drawing and listening game.
You can play this Christmas drawing and listening game with as many people as you like, but you need to arrange a space where everyone can sit and draw, without seeing each other’s drawings.
We used a large sheet of cardboard to make a screen in the middle of the table for playing in pairs, but if you have a large group you kid sit everyone in a long line and have them rest the paper on the back of the person in front.
Everyone will need something to draw with. For a small group you can make it even trickier by giving everyone the same coloured pencils or markers and adding the extra detail of colour into the instructions.
You can download our free Christmas tree drawing prompt here.
This an A4 sized pdf file. If you are printing on US letter sized paper be sure to check ‘fit’ or ‘shrink to fit’ in your printer options.
To play the game select one person to give the instructions and one person to draw, or if you are playing in pairs you can take turns giving the instructions.
The instructor draws something on their Christmas tree and then explains, in words only, to the other drawers what they drew, where, and what colour. The drawer then follows the instructions, no questions allowed, and no peeking, and draws that item on their Christmas tree.
As we played my kids learned that more detailed instructions got better results.
They had to think about how to describe where on the tree the item was – left or right side? high or low? on the edge or in the middle? They had to think about how they would describe the item they drew – an angel with wings? a halo? a Christmas bauble as big as their thumb nail? And they had to think about the colours they used and where they used them.
The listeners also learned that it was best to wait until all the instructions were given rather than starting halfway through and making assumptions and mistakes – a great life lesson!
Once you are done drawing, take down the screen and compare your Christmas trees!
‘Don’t ring the bells’ obstacle course from Childhood101.
Holiday Bell Tota from Babble Dabble Do.
Jingle Bell Noise Maker from Meri Cherry.
Christmas presents sound match game from Toddler Approved.
And check out this fun Christmas ‘sight’ activity – free printable crazy glasses!
We will definitely be trying this. An after dinner family game, I think!
Ohhh these are soo much FUN!!! We havent done these since August! Looks like its time to start again! In our SLPD classes for my youngster, theyre called “barrier games”–if u google that you can find some other ideas too! Happy Holidays
I will be using this in my 2nd grade classroom for auditory instruction practice as well as fun practice with descriptive adjectives and nouns and location! Thanks so much for the idea!
So fun! Thank you so much for such a great idea! My kiddos thought I was the best mom ever for adding this into our curriculum today! I am so grateful when people, just like you, are kind enough to share their talents. Have a blessed day!
Thanks very much for sharing this game and printable!