Homemade Christmas memory game with drawings

Age: 6+ · Time: 75 min · For: Ages 6–9 Ages 10–12

A memory game you made yourself is twice the fun: first drawing all the pictures, then playing with them at Christmas. Children love seeing their own snowmen and reindeer on the cards, and it is a great game for all ages around the table.

Picture ideas

Christmas tree, star, snowman, bauble, reindeer, stocking, candle, mitten, present, bell, gingerbread person, sleigh, holly, a mug of hot chocolate, a snowflake and a house in the snow.

Tips

Draw both pictures of a pair at the same time so they look alike.
Bright colours make the pairs easier to spot for little ones.
Sturdy backs that all look the same make it fair.

You need

sturdy cardboard, for example from a large box
white paper
a ruler, a pencil and scissors
a glue stick
felt tips or colouring pencils
one sheet of wrapping paper or coloured paper for the backs
wide clear tape to protect the cards (optional)
a small box or envelope to keep the game in

Steps

Draw 32 squares of 6 x 6 cm on the cardboard and cut them out. A grown-up can help with thick cardboard.
Glue wrapping paper or coloured paper on one side of every card. These are the backs, so they must all look the same.
Cut 32 squares of white paper slightly smaller than the cards.
Think of 16 Christmas pictures together, such as a star, a tree, a snowman, a bauble, a reindeer, a stocking, a candle and a mitten, and draw each picture twice.
Glue the drawings on the front of the cards.
Cover the cards with wide clear tape if you want them to last longer.
To play: shuffle the cards face down. Take turns turning over two cards. If they match, keep them and go again. The player with the most pairs wins.