Keep Your Kids Entertained All Through Holiday Break with These Awesome Games

Holiday break fantasy: Kids playing peacefully with their toys, mom in her new flannel PJs sipping cocoa near the crackling fire as snow gently cascades down outside the window.

Holiday break reality: Kids engaging in Art of War-style combat over their toys, mom getting conked in the head by flying sofa cushions launched by said children and spilling her cocoa all over her new flannel PJs while contemplating blizzard conditions outside that will leave the family housebound for five more days.

Yes, the holidays provide a great opportunity for extra family time, but they can also be a time when sibling rivalry can boil over and drive you completely bonkers. The key is to keep everyone entertained. We dug up some great games to keep on hand to stave off holiday break restlessness. If you act fast you might even be able to wrap them up as gifts (to yourself)!

A game that’s fun for every age group — place the noodles across the top of the bowl and sit the Yeti on top, then take turns removing the noodles one-by-one without letting the Yeti fall.

Place the card on your head and ask “What am I?” The first person to guess the animal, food, or object wins!

An electronic version of the classic Hot Potato game — if you get caught with the spud when the music stops, you lose.

Kids never tire of Go Fish. The board spins and the fish open and close their mouths. Use your fishing pole to catch the fish. The player with the most wins.

This game is guaranteed to bring major suspense. How it works: the pie-throwing arm could go off at any moment. Turn the handle, and if you don’t get splatted you score a point. But someone will eventually get pie in the face. (Watch it in action here!)

There is no substitute for classic Jenga. Pull out a block and hope the tower doesn’t come crashing down.

This version of charades is especially designed for kids — no reading required. Guess the charade before the time runs out and win!

A truly addictive game, bounce your balls into the right spots and win. There are dozens of ways to play.

This indoor sized parachute can provide hours of entertainment, and it encourages cooperative play.

Turn your living room into an obstacle course with these rubber stepping stones — each side has varying levels of steepness and difficulty. Brilliant!

This bean bag toss provides multiple ways to play. Great for play dates or solo play time. And it packs away nicely.

This kit lets you convert your kitchen table into a table tennis court! Includes retractable net, paddles, balls and a mesh carry bag.