Guides

Printable Christmas Bingo for a Large Family

Christmas bingo is one of the few games that works for a four-year-old and a great-grandparent at the same table. Nobody needs to read fast, nobody needs to be good at trivia, and a round takes ten minutes. The tricky part with a big family is logistics: more people than cards, kids who can't read yet, and the cousin who gets competitive. Here is how to run it smoothly.

1. Count players, then decide: individuals, pairs or teams

Most printable bingo sets come with a fixed number of different cards. If you have more players than unique cards, you have three good options:

• Pair up. Put a reader with a non-reader (a grandparent with a preschooler is a classic). Pairs halve the number of cards you need and keep little ones engaged.
• Play in teams. For 20+ people, split into tables or households, one card per table. Teams make it louder and more fun, and one shared win feels fine.
• Print duplicates and use a tie rule. If two people hold the same card, they will bingo at the same moment. Decide before you start: both win, or the tie goes to a quick rock-paper-scissors.

Avoid giving everyone duplicates of only two or three cards. When half the room has the same card, rounds end in a pile of simultaneous winners.

2. Make cards last all evening

Print on cardstock if you can, or slide each card into a clear sheet protector so players can mark it with a dry-erase marker and wipe it between rounds. Otherwise use markers you already have: wrapped candies, cereal, buttons or pennies. Small candy is the most popular choice, but keep it away from toddlers who might choke and check for allergies first.

Print at 100% or "Actual size" so the squares stay the size they were designed for. If your printer is short on ink, print in grayscale; the pictures still work.

3. Pick a caller and a calling method

Cut the calling cards apart, fold them and put them in a bowl, a stocking or a Santa hat. Give the job of caller to someone who wants it: older kids love it, and it's a nice role for a relative who doesn't want to play. Ask the caller to say each picture clearly and hold it up, and to set called cards aside in a row so you can check a winning card later.

4. Vary the rounds so it doesn't get old

• Classic: five in a row, across, down or diagonal.
• Four corners: fast, good for a warm-up.
• Letter shapes: an X, a T or an L. Slower and good for older players.
• Blackout: cover the whole card. Save it for the last round and the best prize.

A typical large-family evening is four or five rounds. Stop while people still want to play one more.

5. Prizes that don't cost much

Prizes are optional, but they help. Ideas that work for every age: picking the next movie, first choice from a bowl of wrapped candy, a coupon for "skip one chore," a small ornament, or simply being the next caller. If you want to give a few dollar-store prizes, wrap them so the reveal is part of the fun. In big groups, let each person win only once, then hand their card to someone who hasn't won yet.

6. Make it fair for little kids and fair for adults

Picture bingo levels the field because nobody needs to read. For toddlers, let them play "find it" instead of strictly following the rules: when the caller holds up the picture, they hunt for it on their card. For adults who get bored, run a side bet with nothing at stake, like guessing which picture will be called last.

7. Combine bingo with other printable games

Bingo works best as one part of an evening. Between rounds, hand older kids a word search or a maze while the adults refill drinks, or put a stack of Would You Rather cards on the table for dinner. An indoor scavenger hunt is a good way to burn energy before everyone settles down to play.

Quick checklist

• Cards printed (cardstock or sheet protectors), plus calling cards cut apart
• Markers: candy, cereal or dry-erase pens
• A bowl or hat for calling cards
• Small prizes, or free "privileges" as prizes
• Agreed rules for ties and for how many times one person can win

Where to get the cards

If you'd like a ready-made set, the Merry Sets No.02 Family Christmas Games Pack ($6) includes Christmas bingo with 8 unique cards plus calling cards, a scavenger hunt, 2 word searches, 2 mazes, 16 Would You Rather cards and answer keys, in US Letter and A4. For more than eight players, use the pairing or team ideas above. You can also try a bingo card for free in our free sample pack first.