Which Christmas Gift Exchange Fits Your Group?

The gifts are wrapped, the cocoa is hot and someone keeps asking when the swap starts. Pick the game around what you can actually host: one read-aloud story, a die and a host sheet, or a deck of action cards.

Answer six quick questions about your room, your supplies and your patience, and we'll point you to the one that fits.

Six questions to find your gift swap

Answer six hosting questions, or compare all three games below. The result is a starting point; check the supplies before you choose.

1. Can one person read aloud so the whole circle hears?

Yes, I'll be the storyteller I'd rather explain one turn at a time I'd rather guests read their own instruction

2. What's on the table besides the wrapped gifts?

Just one printed page A die and a printed page A shuffled deck of cards

3. How much prep can you do before guests arrive?

Print one page, no cutting Print one page and find a die Cut and shuffle 24 cards

4. What can your host keep track of all evening?

One story, start to finish Two rounds of rolls, seat by seat Two rounds of draws, one per guest

5. Who handles the instructions?

One reader; everyone else just listens The host matches each roll to six actions Guests read large-print cards themselves

6. How patient is your circle while gifts move?

We pass together, on cue We can wait while each person rolls We can wait while each person draws

Compare the games

Christmas left-right story

One reader can hold the whole room, and you want a clear, no-argument ending. Print one host copy of the left-right story and hand every guest a wrapped gift. Read aloud while gifts pass on LEFT and RIGHT cues. Everyone keeps whatever they're holding when the story ends.

Roll-and-swap gift exchange

You've got a die and a circle that can take turns. Six numbered swap actions sit on one host sheet, so there's no deck to cut. Wrap one gift per guest, find a standard six-sided die and play two full rounds. After round two, everyone keeps the gift in front of them.

Steal, keep or exchange cards

Your circle can handle turns, and you have time to cut before guests arrive. This download supplies 24 large-print action cards. Print, cut and shuffle them, then start everyone with one wrapped gift. Each person draws once per round; reshuffle for a second equal round.

Sort the gifts before anyone sits down

Each of these games starts with one wrapped gift per participant, so count heads first. Tell guests the gift budget and who is taking part before the gathering. Keep one spare wrapped gift for the guest who arrives empty-handed, and tell the group the gift budget in the invitation, not at the door.

Seat everyone in a circle with enough room to pass gifts safely. Clear mugs and dinner plates first, because a flying parcel plus a full cup is nobody's idea of festive. If passing or reading is awkward for someone, offer help without making them explain themselves to the room.

Know exactly how each swap ends

For the left-right story, a host reads aloud and guests pass on LEFT and RIGHT cues. Each guest keeps the gift held at the end. Make sure everyone can hear before you start reading.

The dice game uses one standard six-sided die and six numbered swap actions. After two full rounds, everyone keeps the gift in front of them. Keep track of turns so nobody loses a roll in the chatter. Mark the starting seat with a bow and you'll know when round one is over.

The card game has 24 cut-apart action cards. Cut and shuffle before the party, then give each guest one draw per round. Reshuffle for a second equal round. Don't save the cutting for the moment everyone is waiting. Do it the night before, with the radio on.

Warm up the early arrivals

The free Christmas this-or-that warm-up gives early arrivals something to argue about while you finish the gravy. No gifts, no scores. Run a few pairs, then start the swap when the circle is full.