WORDS BY ERICA NEWTON, MYFIRSTGYM CO-FOUNDER
Christmas is one of those magical, slightly chaotic sugar-fuelled marathons. You’re exhausted and overcaffeinated by 9am. The wrapping paper pile threatens to escape the living room, make its way down the hall and infiltrate the kitchen. The dog has eaten AT LEAST one gift tag. The kids have already begun trading the presents you agonised over: ‘I’ll trade you a mini LOL doll for one of your Cadbury stocking chocolates.’ By 3pm, everyone is stuffed full of food and the idea of going for your usual afternoon kick of soccer in the park is definitely off the tinsel-laden table.
However, I’m here to tell you that Christmas is the perfect opportunity to get everyone moving without anyone realising they’re doing anything remotely fitnessy. (This is key. If you use the words ‘burpees’ or ‘cardio’ at any family gathering, someone will suddenly need to “check on the ham.”)
Take a quick trawl through Instagram and you’ll find hundreds of Christmas themed games designed to get your festive crew laughing, moving and maybe even prevent the usual 3pm sugar crash:
1. Santa Sack Shuffle
All you need is an old pillowcase, some competitive spirit and a lawn that hasn’t been destroyed by December heat. Kids vs adults make this one particularly entertaining. Spoiler: the adults always think they’ll win. Spoiler #2: they never do.
Great for: leg strength, coordination, ego-management.
2. Ornament Spoon Relay
It’s the classic egg&spoon race with a Christmassy twist. Grab a couple of large spoons, some tree baubles you’ll feel fine about being dropped (obviously leave Nana’s bespoke hand-blown glass ornaments on the tree!) Race across the lawn or the loungeroom: add in a crabwalk, hop or spin leg for extra cardio.
Great for: balance, focus, and spectacular slow-motion near misses.
3. Candy Cane Hunt
I’m not a great fan of this because: sugar, but the kids LOVE it and planned correctly, will keep the kids occupied for at least 30 minutes. Simply hide (very well!) a packet of candy canes throughout your backyard or home. Pro-tip: count the candy canes. The hunt hasn’t finished until all are found.
Great for: agility and strategic thinking (“check the esky, Nana always hides one in there”).
4. Reindeer Antler Toss
The inflatable version is available from Big W: someone wears the antlers, the other sees how many inflated ‘rings’ they can toss onto the ‘reindeer’. This is great especially if you have an immobile grandparent who still loves a bit of fun (just remind the kids to be gentle with Grandpa!)
Great for: aim, coordination, and making Uncle Dave look majestic.
5. Reindeer’s Nose
Wonderful for those with a pool: an inground for capable swimmers or a paddling pool for the little ones. All you need is some tennis or ping pong balls; it doesn’t matter, as long as they float. From one end of the pool to the other, participants need to push their ball along using only their nose (no hands!)
Great for: coordination, cardio and keeping cool.
Christmas Day is always a little sedentary: there are long lunches, longer dessert line-ups and a solid stretch of “digesting on the couch” which doubles as “recovery from waking up with the birds thanks kids.” But our children NEED movement. They thrive on it. And Christmas Day is the perfect reminder that fun and physical activity are actually the same thing. Plus, when kids experience movement as joyful, playful and part of everyday life, it sets the foundation for confidence, coordination, stronger motor skills and healthier habits all year round.
As someone who lives and breathes kids’ movement, these simple games feel like tiny Christmas-wrapped gifts for their wellbeing disguised as family fun. Plus who knows, maybe you’ll beat your first-born in that Santa Sack race: what a wonderful gift that would be 😉
Want a Christmas gift that lasts longer than the batteries?
This year, consider giving the kids something that won’t break, get lost or mysteriously stop working by New Years Eve.
A MyFirstGym Membership is the ultimate gift!
Imagine their faces when they unwrap a year of jumping, climbing, tumbling, balancing, ninja-ing and flipping. It’s healthy. It’s screen-free. Indoors, air-conditioned, supervised and a whole lot of fun, it’s a win for them, you and your furniture!