Ideas to get a guest involved in Christmas "fun"

[CandlesandClemantines]

We have a very sweet guest coming whose ultra sensitive, lives alone and is hyper sensitive on their needs and why they are the way the are (brilliant BTW)
I think because they live alone they don't have that interaction with someone helping to move on from things.
They are wonderful company and we are low on family and I do love hosting them but I wish they would do a tenny bit more interaction with Xmas games.

For the dc so it's not adult talking.

He doesn't like anything that seems to test his intellect.
Murder mystery? Anything like that anyone can recommend?

Cereal box game?
the one where you hold phones or iPads on head - think it’s callled guess the word

he struggles to accept some TV he's super sensitive

What kind of TV does he struggle with? This sounds extremely odd.

My cousin's adult DD forces us to play Xmas games all day. I HATE it. I feel like a toddler at playtime. Some family enjoy it, but being expected to participate is excruciating. Does it at every family event.

So don't force, but offer.

We do play one game that's lighthearted and breaks up between courses. It's called the left--right game. It's a bit like pass the parcel where you pass your parcel in a direction whenever you hear the person reading a story script say 'left' or 'right' or 'across'. You'll need a small parcel per person, but this can be anything cheap like lollies or an ornament (not breakable).

What part of watching tv tricky? Is he embarrassed about sex scenes/has no time for immature humour/doesn't like fantasy etc?

You could download a couple of more appropriate films (let the kids take part in this so they will have some say in it too?).

Watch out for the Christmas cracker games suggested above as they are often for a minimum of six people.

What age is the guest and what ages are the kids?

Your guest might be happy to chat (monopolise) the conversation but you will have to accept that you need to be the one to say that you have to go/play with the kids whether he wants to join in or not.

It sounds like you are trying hard to make sure everyone is happy. and putting a lot of pressure on yourself. My advice honestly is to stop and what will be will be.

Not a murder mystery but we did a Puzmat one year that we were a bit sceptical about but proved to be great fun. Give him the option to spectate if that's what he prefers or chip in to help if he feels like it.

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Oh, good age for non kiddy games then! And good to keep them engaged rather than slumping off to their rooms. Have you asked them what they fancy doing though? Are they family games type kids or will it be met with cringe snd eye rolling all round?

What about these, or something along these lines? Having it in the crackers gives it a natural introduction into the afternoon.

Talking Tables 6 x Christmas Crackers with Who, What, Where am I’ Games, Party Hat, Botanical Holly White Design Eco-Friendly Xmas Tableware, Recyclable https://amzn.eu/d/j8zy1Su

Or if he likes acting, and is familiar with the show, get one of the Taskmaster games and ask him to be the Taskmaster?

Poor kids having to have their Christmas geared entirely around Mr Sensitive’s wants and needs. He is one lucky bloke having you bend over backwards this much op.

@CandlesandClemantines does your guest have serious mental health issues?

Charades??

Charades? If he likes acting. You said he was great company in your initial post, but since then you've given a long list of things that he doesn't like/hates and told us that he talks all the time. He doesn't sound like good company to me!

The issue for some games haters is being the focus of attention, they fear failure in front of an audience and they freeze. Could this be it? In which case he’ll do much better in a team where he can quietly contribute (or not).

So you’re inviting an odd bloke round for Christmas as he talks and your DH doesn’t? Who doesn’t like games but you do but and you can’t play them if he’s there. Ok he’s probably spectrumy and I’m a terrible person but that it sounds like a strange Christmas .

Organised charades and "fun" is my idea of hell but these look great. Just ordered one for us and one for my sister and her family.

The BBC have a new Wallace and Gromit film on Christmas Day - sure not to offend even the most sensitive of souls. Get some modelling clay, everyone tries to make themselves as a clay character, or make an existing character (you can get kits with step by step instructions to make a character, if anyone is struggling to freestyle).

One of my favourite ever Christmas presents was a make your own Wallace and gromit kit! I was probably at a similar age to OP’s kids so that might be a good idea

what’s the sock game?

Some fun suggestions here:

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a30269945/dinner-party-games/

No, not at all. He’d probably much rather have that! Can everyone just do what makes them feel comfortable? If he wants to join he’ll join.

Christmas isn’t your child’s birthday party, and I think enforced games are only appropriate for a child’s birthday party to be honest.

Think the last time I was made to play a game in someone’s house I was 11!

In what way is this man wonderful company? It sounds as though he just talks all the time and doesn't want to do anything that you all want to do or to interact with the children. He doesn't even let you watch what you want on TV. How can he be sensitive about that?

Have some freshly baked cookies and a bunch of tubes of icing and jars of sprinkles and have a decorating contest?
Or instead of cookies tree ornament to paint. Not games but interactive and ok for many ages.
We never played games so I'm not much help.

@DrZaraCarmichael Me too! I'd rather die than play charades and I'm terrible at card games but really enjoyed the Puzzle mat. Just a warning, we initially thought from the instructions that it was going to be really complicated but as soon as we got into the swing of it then it all made sense.

@Maurepas @gmgnts charades is a big no no.
We all had a fabulous time last year when he couldn't make it playing it.
I got some crackers with charades in it and the dc joined in.

Re TV he can't tolerate anything Disney like cartoon films.
He does like some comedy but not Morecombe and wise.

@elizzza I think he could tolerate Wallace and grommet but dd 2 hates clay animation and always has! She didn't like Shaun the sheep or chicken run etc 🤣🤣

I'd suggest:
Telestrations - picture drawing game, very popular in our non game playing family.
Lakeland have a version of the Traitors as a game in crackers which sounds like what you were talking about before.
https://themysteryagency.com/ These games are amazing, really high quality props. Expensive but we buy one per year as a Christmas treat. They're escape room puzzle style rather than competitive.

But also this; "fine to say "James, I've promised the kids that we'll have a Dobble (or whatever) tournament but we won't be at all offended if you want to sneak off and read/watch the telly." "

Re TV he can't tolerate anything Disney like cartoon films. He does like some comedy but not Morecombe and wise.

You mean it isn't his cup of tea. Bring unable to "tolerate" a harmless TV programme is ridiculous. Can't he just suck it up for one day?