This Christmas party game is perfect for the preschool classroom,  or you can play at home with the family. The cardboard game board is easy to make, and the Christmas tree cutouts are ready to print. Enjoy this simple lift-the-flaps with the kids over the holiday.

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Who's ready for some holiday fun with a simple board game? This activity is perfect for small group time in the classroom, or for playing at home with family and friends.

It's always a good idea to have an activity or two you can pop out of your toolkit as needed. This is a simple -and fun! - game to play, with lots of surprises along the way.

The activity is easy to put together, with a little help from your preschoolers. The game pieces are Christmas tree cutouts, ready to print and color. The game board is made with cardboard and a few more Christmas tree cutouts.

• You can always make the game ahead of time and invite kids to play. But if you want the kids to help make the game, there are a few options for their participation.

The holidays just got a little boost in entertaining the kids with this simple Christmas tree matching activity.

Christmas lift-the-flaps game

Here's what you need to make the activity.

Print the Christmas trees.

Christmas tree cutouts for preschool game

Print one set of trees for game pieces, and one set for the game board.

I printed the game pieces on regular paper, and the game board trees on green cardstock.

Make the Game pieces

Color the little decorations on each tree with the markers, then color each tree with a green crayon. Glue each paper cutout to a craft stick, and add a numeral from one to ten.

• If kids are coloring the trees, roll a small piece of tape under each tree cutout and secure it to a piece of plain paper, to keep it steady while being colored. Provide a variety of green crayons to add interest to the activity. Kids could also color the craft sticks if preferred.
  
  

• Alternately, you can prepare the trees before hand and ask the preschoolers to add a star sticker to the top of each tree cutout.

Make the Game board

Cut white cardboard, or sturdy paper like cardstock, to the size of the game board you want to use. If preferred, cover cardboard with Christmas wrap for a festive holiday touch.

• Cut out the trees on the green cardstock in squares. Tape each Christmas tree square to the game board. Tape at the top only so the card can easily be lifted to reveal a message underneath. Number the tree cutouts to correspond to the number of game pieces. 

         Hint: I like using a tape dispenser like this one for craft projects. Makes the job easier!

• Cut out a number of square cards slightly smaller than the Christmas tree card. Write an activity on each card, then glue or tape the cards under the trees on the game board. 

The activities you choose can be quiet - supporting language and cognitive skills - or active - supporting large motor movement and energetic play. Here are a few ideas to get you started. 

     Say Ho Ho Ho like Santa.

     Sing and clap hands to Jingle Bells.

     Count the decorations on the Christmas tree cutout.

     Sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

     Pretend to ride in Santa's sleigh.

     Stomp your boots in the snow like Santa.

     Pretend to fly like Rudolph.

     Reach up high to put the star on the top of the tree.

     Pretend to lift a heavy gift box across the room.

Play the game

1. Place the game pieces in a jar. Pass the jar around the circle.

• The first time you play, introduce the game pieces and the game board.

     How many Christmas trees can you count on the game board?

     Let's count the Christmas trees in the jar.

Allow time for preschoolers to identify the numerals on their trees.

2. Invite kids one at a time to match the numeral on their game piece to the numbered matching tree on the game board.

• Lift the flap! Invite everyone to participate in the action.

That's all there is to it! This simple game can be played anytime, anywhere. 

Kids will look forward to this fun activity at Christmas time. You'll be glad you have it in your toolkit during the holidays.