Reindeer Games - Rudolph's Wreath Game

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​Tis the season for colored lights, pine trees, candy canes, and so good fun Christmas-themed ice breakers! That's right, youth worker, Christmas is here, and that means we have a chance to bring out some of our favorite Christmas-themed games!

This week I am reposting a few of my most favorite Christmas-themed games for students. So if you're looking for some last minute holiday game ideas, here you go!

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During the holiday season, one of my favorite places to shop in my local dollar stores. I visit these stores and wander through the holiday aisles looking for ideas, particularly game ideas. A couple of years ago, while shopping, I found everything I needed for three of my favorite Christmas Ice Breakers! So let me refresh these old posts and let's share with you a few Christmas Games.

I call them my Reindeer Games, and I spin as a games Rudolph and his buddies might play way up north! I'll share the game and the directions, and provide a materials list along with any other tips or tricks to make the game successful. Let's kick off our Reindeer Games with our first game, Rudolph's Wreath Toss!

I love Rudolph's Wreath Toss. I've played this game a number of times and it is always a huge success! Based on the tradition Ring Toss game we've all played as kids at our birthday parties. This is a super easy, super low cost game to play.

Here's what you'll need...

Materials List:

• At least 6 - 6" Christmas wreath's with wire frame to hold its shape. The wire frame is important as students will throw these wreaths like frisbees.
• A set of of headband reindeer antlers. The antlers pictured here have thin metal inserts to help the antlers keep their shape. These antlers are also wide enough for opening of the wreath. I have seen antlers in various designs, so just make sure you have a set that work with the wreaths you use. 
• In your game space, marked a distance where the actual game will be played.  This distance should be no more than 6' to 8' between tosser and receiver. I set up 2 chairs, 1 the tosser had to stand behind, and 1 the receiver sat in. You can see that in the pictures below.

​Back when I purchased these items, I was able to get all of them at our local Dollar Tree. Total cost: $7.00 plus tax. That was about 6 or 7 years ago, so I expect similar items today are going to cost you a little more.

Let's play the game...

So the game itself is pretty simple. Like the party game, the object is to toss the ring wreaths and land them on the antler or antlers atop the receivers head. Here's what I did.

With the tosser standing behind a chair and a receiver sitting in a chair about 6' to 8' away, the team is given 2 minutes to toss the rings. The receive was allowed to move around, but they're not to leave or move the chair. If the wreaths hit the floor instead of their mark, the tosser can run up and grab the rings, return to the throwing position and toss again. After the 2 minutes, 1 point is given for each ring that found it's spot around the antler. If all 6 land on the antlers in under the 2 minutes, give bonus points.

Depending on your time, you can mix this game up with all sorts of variations. We often run a guys vs. girls challenge, playing games over a number of weeks. Students compete, earning points to capture the title, Girls vs. Guys Championship. Rudolph's Wreath Toss was part of our Fall Quarter Challenge.

The night we played this came we ended up with a tie. In our challenge, the girls were ahead in the points. So since both teams landed 5 rings we had an "all or nothing" tie-breaker. Each team was given 3, and only 3, rings which they were to toss one at a time. After they tossed their rings, it was over. No re-do's or second chances. If a ring hit it's mark, a point was given. If all three missed, that meant the end of their game.

The girl's went first. Three rings. Three tosses. Three misses.

Then it was the guys turn. The first toss was a miss.

The second almost landed...but fell off.

​The third...A RINGER!!!! The guys went nuts!!

Simple. Easy. Low cost. And, Rudolph's Wreath Toss was a huge hit!

Be sure to check in again later this week for our second installment of the Reindeer Games series.

Thanks for reading. Please feel free to share the article with your friends, but please include a link back to this post in your shares.

​​Merry Christmas, friends!

​- jay

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Meet Jay...

Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 30 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay has been married to Amy for 27 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is also the host of the podcast, Conversations with Every Day Youth Workers! Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and connecting and networking with youth workers to help them serve their students with passion and excellence.