Left Right Christmas Game for Kids

Q: Can I print a story?

Yes. Print with blanks under the story prints it with a line where the reader, the class and the thing you pass go, to fill in by hand.

Pepper the Mixed-Up Reindeer

Pepper was the newest reindeer on Santa's team. Pepper could fly. Pepper could land on a roof without a sound. But Pepper mixed up two words: LEFT, and RIGHT.

On Christmas Eve, Santa called, "Pepper, turn LEFT!" Pepper turned RIGHT. The sleigh went round in a circle.

"Other way!" called Santa. So Pepper tried LEFT. Then, to be safe, Pepper tried RIGHT. The sleigh wiggled like a noodle.

The oldest reindeer had an idea. She tied a little bell to one of Pepper's front hooves. "The bell side is LEFT," she said. "The quiet side is RIGHT."

Pepper shook one hoof. Jingle! "LEFT!" said Pepper. Pepper shook the other hoof. Nothing. "RIGHT!" said Pepper.

Soon the sleigh flew over the school. Down below, a light was on for our class. "Turn LEFT," called Santa. Jingle! Pepper went LEFT. "Now turn RIGHT," called Santa. No jingle. Pepper went RIGHT.

"You did it!" said Santa. He dropped off a card for our teacher and a surprise for everyone in our class.

Pepper flew home, jingling all the way. Which side has the bell? LEFT! Merry Christmas, everyone. If you are holding a gift, hold it up high.

All 3 stories

Show the list

Pepper the Mixed-Up Reindeer A reindeer who mixes up the two words, about 2 minutes. LEFT 8, RIGHT 7. Every gift ends one seat to the left of where it started. Asks for 3 words: 1 × name, 1 × class name, 1 × thing to pass.
The Snowman Who Gave Directions A snowman points both ways for a lost penguin, about 2 minutes. LEFT 7, RIGHT 5. Every gift ends two seats to the left of where it started. Asks for 3 words: 1 × name, 1 × class name, 1 × thing to pass.
Nib and the Wrong Sleigh A small elf jumps into the baker's sleigh, about 2 minutes. LEFT 7, RIGHT 6. Every gift ends one seat to the left of where it started. Asks for 3 words: 1 × name, 1 × class name, 1 × thing to pass.

The kinds of words the game asks for

Name a first name; a made-up one is fine. More examples: Sir Reginald, Professor Plum, Doctor Noodle.

How these stories were written: Three stories written for this site on 2026-10-01 for ages 5 to 10. Only the words LEFT and RIGHT in capitals are passes, and a comma, a period or an exclamation mark follows each one so the reader can wait for small hands. Pass counts are counted from the final text. Licence: own work

How it works

A left right Christmas game for kids ages 5 to 10: read a story aloud, and every child passes a gift on each LEFT or RIGHT. A comma, period or exclamation mark follows every pass word, so you can wait.

Read the full guide

How to play

Sit in a circle, each child holding one wrapped gift. Read slowly. At every word in capitals, stop and wait until each gift has moved one child that way. At the last line, everyone keeps the gift they hold.

With no gifts

Pass one beanbag or candy cane round the circle and see who holds it at the end. Or stand the class in a line and take one step to the side at each pass word. Leave room: the line ends one or two steps to the left of where it began.

Before the story, have everyone hold up a LEFT hand, then a RIGHT hand.

Questions and answers

What is a left right Christmas game for kids?

A read-aloud passing game. Children sit in a circle holding a gift, and each time the story says LEFT or RIGHT, every gift moves one child that way. These stories keep to short sentences, with the pass words in capitals.

How long are the stories?

About 2 minutes each. Pepper the Mixed-Up Reindeer has 15 passes, The Snowman Who Gave Directions has 12 and Nib and the Wrong Sleigh has 13. Pick one from the Story list.

Does anyone get their own gift back?

No, in a circle of three or more. Each story has one or two more LEFT than RIGHT, so every gift ends one or two seats to the left of where it started.

Can I print a story?

Yes. Print with blanks under the story prints it with a line where the reader, the class and the thing you pass go, to fill in by hand.