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?

I love games but appreciate not everyone does, you cannot force people to enjoy something they don't enjoy. The only thing I can suggest is games where he can participate without playing. I.e twister he could just spin the spinner or bingo he could just call the numbers but only if he is comfortable.

Personally I'm a fan of letting people enjoy Xmas their way. We have relatives who get pleasure from watching everyone else play games and also relatives who prefer to just sit in another room and watch (doze in front of) the tv when the games come out. Leave him be if he's happy!

Don't do it. It's cruel.

Ask him what he would like to play, put the ball in his court. If he says he would rather not play anything, then ask your DC what they want to play and he can watch. Then tell him in advance that will be happening.

You're tip-toeing too much around him - no Disney, letting him dominate the conversation, only specific games...this is your DC's Christmas too.

He sounds a bit like my autistic ds - funny, a great conversationalist, but struggles with board games and finds animation deeply unsettling. I think it’s lovely that you’re trying to find a middle ground.

The murder mystery crackers sound great (I’m going to check those out myself). If we play a board game, ds either watches or will keep score, hold the timer, or be the banker in monopoly.

Even though he finds board games deeply dysregulating, ds is a fabulous dungeon master in D&D - absolutely brilliant at creating a world, spinning stories, voicing characters, and keeping track of hundreds of details. What does your guest do for fun? Maybe if you can start from there you might find a version that could suit everyone?

You're tip-toeing too much around him - no Disney, letting him dominate the conversation, only specific games...this is your DC's Christmas too.

I agree with this. It is everyone's Christmas.

Another vote here for Telestrations as @ProfYaffle suggested - it's extremely funny and there's no performance involved. A game of Celebrity might be another option - rules are here. Can also be very funny and everyone can choose e.g. five names to put in which means everyone will know someone. Plus it's played in teams so if someone needs to take a bit of a backseat that's fine.

Colour brain is a fun game
You all get 11 cards, all different colours, you can work in teams, so split into two it can be odd numbers and all questions are one/two/three...colours, like what colours are on a flag, or what colour is a children's character

It's quite quick, some questions harder than others.

There's something for everyone basically

Or the Would you rather? Cards/books, just fun questions, no real right answers, would you rather have wings or a tail? Would you rather it was night all the time or day all the time? You can listen, join in, then we just do a show of hands to see which is more popular.

How do you normally cope with him talking so much? I know men like that and its exhausting.

There's something for everyone basically

No, there isn't for someone who just doesn't enjoy games at all.

DH would just point blank refuse to join in anything.

Exactly. You do Christmas for your DC and he comes along and joins in where he wants to and not where he doesn’t. He may be perfectly fine watching charades and not taking part. It’s nice for him just to be included in your day.

Agree with pp- just do what you want and he can join in or not.

Not at all! Ask him if he wants to play and if he says no just carry on

I just find this whole idea of enforced "fun" awful. Everyone suggesting fun games for people who don't like playing games. 🙄

Just do what you want and let people join in, or not join in. No judgement. This idea that everyone MUST JOIN IN AND MUST HAVE FUN is what leads to raised expectations about the Hallmark jolly family Christmas and people getting the hump and posting threads on 27th about how Christmas was ruined by Aunty Doris not wanting to play Cluedo.

Just let him know it’s okay to go do things on his own (walk, activity) or to take some quiet time (bring a book, can go to his room and watch a film and you won’t be offended).

@Vanislife here:

https://www.johnlewis.com/asmodee-sock-board-game/p5606418?s_ppc=2dx_mixed_home_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrdO8m6rtiQMV55mDBx26VCjZEAQYBCABEgIrA_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I am not keen on charades etc but really enjoyed this! It's really daft and there is definitely no intellect involved!

Was going to ask this too! Sounds a bit like a family member

If he likes to chat then these might be good
https://www.amazon.co.uk/200-Family-Conversation-Cards-Meaningful/dp/B0891Y35LR/ref=asc_df_B0891Y35LR?mcid=df3ebf6e454736558131db261d7afbe6&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696351256698&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5884204934674093140&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9217556&hvtargid=pla-1209351098089&psc=1&gad_source=1
DH got them and I thought they’d be really cringe but lots are actually good conversation starters. We played it (well, used it-it’s not really a game) with a mixed age group-8-50 and even the teens joined in

He's very musical

@mindutopia that wouldn't go down well at all. I can see that working in a larger house where a guests is staying for a few days but I think he would feel that's rude.

@RampantIvy I agree too hence trying to find some middle ground to elevate the conversation and make it all more inclusive.

@Calling because he's very funny and has lots of interesting stories. I really like listening to them but he does repeat them. I actually could listen to them on repeat but my dc are like, why is he mentioning this again.

🤣🤣🤬.

OP it sounds like you invite him because you like his stories, you find him funny, you think he's sweet. What do the DCs and DH think? Because it seems like he has quite an impact on their Christmas and not in a good way.

Is this man related to you? Quite honestly I would really struggle to enjoy Christmas with somebody like him there. He's coming in on a family Christmas and yet controlling everything that happens and boring most people there at the same time. I really feel for your kids.

I'm not sure whether you understand what it's like being either ND, socially awkward or an introvert. Seems to me that the OP's guest might well fit into one or more of those categories.

If so then perhaps you should be good hosts and not play without him, find something else to do.