Games to play with a 3 year old on Christmas Day ?

Squeak Piggy Squeak - mine always loved. One DD called it "Peak Squiggy Peak"!

Sardines. One person hides, the others look for them and each has to squeeze into the space the original hider is in once the hider is found. I think this is usually done with the lights off, but not with a three year old. paper games where each has a long strip of paper, everyone draws a head, folds it down so it cannot be seen and passes on to the next person who draws the arms and the folding down and passing on continues until the person is complete. Unfold and there are lots of silly people. A 3 year old will probably need help.

We have lots of simple board games we play, Flounders, Scaredy Cat, a bagatelle game. look at the Early Learning Centre stock of games. Choose games the child will enjoy and up tosix people can play.

There is a start, I am sure you will get many more suggestions.

Jenga or pick up sticks.

Hide the ball (thimble too small) has always been DGS favourite.

Memory game - where you have a deck of picture cards turned upside down and you turn up 2 at a time until you find matching ones, and you have to remember where the first one was. You get simple ones with big pictures for little children. My children loved that game from very small. Come to think of it - good for granny too

Another memory game. Put a dozen or so items on a tray and let the child look for a few minutes, then cover with a tea towel and secretly remove one item, uncover them and ask the child to remember what is missing. I think this called Kim's game.

Dare I say , but hardly think One Day for a 3 year old is going to have a lasting impression !
Just saying, will they really truly remember, don"t think so .!

I don't think organised games are necessary on Christmas day, Father Christmas will have just been and the child will want to play with their new toys.

Yes you can always play with the new toys together. I find the little ones enjoy playing with the grown ups and it doesn't always have to go to the lowest common denominator, if you are playing a game of charades, for example, the little ones can be partnered with an adult and help the acting out, or hand out the cards, or spin a wheel or whatever game it is.

Kim's game is to put a load of items out then try to remember what they all were. Used to play it in guides. Excellent for memory training.
Named after Rudyard Kiplings Kim!

Thank you all so much, grannys, for your very helpful ideas. I shall definitely use some of these. It will be the makings of traditional Christmas Days as you are never too young to play!