Thursday, June 19, 2025
Advice & InspirationFamily Friendly

5 Team-Building Games to Enjoy with Your Family During the Holidays

When you’re thinking about fun games to play with your family during the holidays, you’re mostly thinking of board games, right? They are fun, no doubt, but what if you want to play something that also helps with team building?

Team building with your family during the holiday season sounds boring. But it is not; it is actually so much fun. And if you don’t think that it’s fun, you probably haven’t tried playing these games with your family.

Photo by Zachary Keimig on Unsplash

#1 Escape Room Games

If you haven’t tried an escape room yet, you’re missing out on one of the most thrilling family adventures out there. These aren’t just games; they’re full-blown experiences. You’re locked in a themed room and have to work together to solve puzzles and figure your way out before time runs out. Whether it’s a creepy haunted house or a futuristic lab, exciting escape rooms will challenge your family in the best way.

Escape rooms can be particularly fun in cities where most other family entertainment places are crowded during the holidays. 

For instance, last year, over 200,000 people made their way through LAX during the holidays. A lot of them had arrived in Los Angeles to spend the holidays there, and it’s pretty much the same scenario every year. So why not try an escape room in Los Angeles if you’re in this part of the country during this time of the year?

What makes escape room games so perfect for the holidays is how immersive and engaging they are. You’re not just sitting around playing a board game. You’re racing against time, shouting out ideas, and high-fiving each other when a clue finally clicks.

According to 60out Escape Rooms, for families that love a bit of adrenaline, escape rooms are the ultimate choice. They’re designed for thrill seekers but also for teams, which makes them a brilliant team-building activity.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

#2 Home-Grown Scavenger Hunts

You’d be surprised how wild things can get with a simple scavenger hunt around the house. Scavenger hunts can be customized for all ages, and you can get creative with clues. 

Think rhymes, riddles, or silly challenges that have to be completed before moving on. The beauty is in the ridiculousness and how everyone has to work together to find that last elusive object. There’s always that one family member who takes it way too seriously, but that just makes it more fun.

Besides, scavenger hunts offer a wealth of benefits. From enhancing cognitive and physical skills to fostering teamwork, these hunts are perfect for team building.

Photo by Askar Abayev/Pexels

#3 The Great Holiday Charades Challenge

Charades might sound old-school, but with the right crowd, it turns into pure comedy gold. Picture your uncle acting out “frostbite” while hopping on one foot. Maybe your little cousin is trying to mime “Santa is stuck in a chimney.” There’s something about non-verbal guessing games that brings out the goofy side of everyone.

To level things up, you can theme the game around holiday movies, seasonal songs, or winter activities. It forces your team to think outside the box, make wild guesses, and somehow win just by being weirdly in sync with each other. 

The best part? There’s no prep needed and zero learning curve.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

#4 Blanket Fort Trivia Night

Build a massive blanket fort in the living room. Yes, even if you’re all adults. Then pile inside with cocoa and host a family trivia night. 

Pick categories that everyone can chime in on, things like holiday traditions, family history, or fun guess-who questions.

It’s not just about the trivia; it’s about the setting. Being crammed together in a cozy fort makes everything feel more connected. Suddenly, the quiet cousin starts cracking jokes, and the teens forget they were too cool for games. 

You’re not just answering questions. You’re reconnecting, laughing, and probably arguing over whether Die Hard counts as a Christmas movie.

Photo by RDNE Stock Project/Pexels

#5 The “Build a Thing” Game

This is one of those make-it-up-as-you-go games that ends up being a family favorite. Give each team a bunch of random household items, like tape, cardboard, or whatever you’ve got, and a challenge. 

Maybe they have to build a bridge, a holiday-themed sculpture. Or maybe a contraption that can carry an ornament across the room without breaking.

It’s messy, chaotic, and surprisingly competitive. It also encourages teamwork like nothing else. Someone has to be the builder, someone has to be the idea person, someone needs to keep time, and everyone has to work together. 

By the end, you’re all cheering (or laughing) at the final results.

So go ahead, get silly, get competitive, and most importantly, get connected. The board games and cookies can wait. This is about laughing until you cry and remembering what makes your family yours.

Vacationer Staff

Vacationer Magazine's writing staff works hard to bring you all the latest LGBTQ travel articles to help inspire and inform.

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