Christmas Memory Tray Game: Rules and Item List

The Christmas memory tray game tests how many items you can remember after a quick look. It takes five minutes to set up and works for every age.

How to Set Up

1. Gather 20 small items. Good ones include a candy cane, a jingle bell, a pine cone, a small ornament, a mitten, a cookie cutter, a spool of ribbon, a cinnamon stick, a snowflake, a stocking, a Santa hat, a star, a pencil, a gift tag, a bow, a key, a peppermint, a tiny candle, a pair of dice and a toy reindeer.
2. Place all items on a tray. Spread them out so each can be seen.
3. Cover the tray with a dish towel.
4. Give each player a sheet of paper and a pencil.

How to Play

1. Gather players around the tray, but ask them to stay quiet.
2. Remove the towel and start the timer for 60 seconds.
3. Players study the tray. No writing yet.
4. When the timer ends, cover the tray again.
5. Players have 2 minutes to write all the items they remember.
6. Uncover the tray and read the items aloud one by one.
7. Players mark each item they got right.
8. Count the points.

Scoring and Winning

Give one point per correct item. The player with the most points wins. A tie goes to the player who wrote their list fastest, or play a second round with a new tray.

Tips for a Fun Game

• Group items in a way that helps memory, such as all red things together, and challenge older players by scattering them.
• Do not let players take photos.
• Keep the towel handy for quick covers.
• For prizes, let the winner keep one item.

Variations

• Little kids: Use 8 items and let kids point and say the names instead of writing.
• What is missing? Remove one item while players cover their eyes and ask them to name it.
• Touch version: Put items in a bag and let players feel one and guess without looking.