The best child-friendly Christmas crackers for kids

kids pulling christmas crackers

by Stephanie Spencer |
Updated on

Apart from the turkey and the scrumptious roast potatoes, Christmas crackers for kids and adults are the most integral part of any Christmas table. I mean, is it really Christmas if you're not competing for a silly paper crown and taking turns reading out the cheesy Christmas joke?

Nowadays, Christmas crackers are even more advanced than before, providing kids with hours of Christmas day fun. There are options for music aficionados, chocolate lovers (so, all kids on the planet), and even kids who love magic tricks. Brands are also looking to make Christmas crackers more eco-friendly than before by introducing 100 per cent recyclable packaging and by leaving out any unnecessary plastic, which is always a bonus.

To help take one extra thing off your plate, we've found the best Christmas crackers for kids to complete this year's Christmas table. Start shopping our top picks below.

Best Christmas crackers for kids

Best crackers for games

Aside from the classic hat and joke that you'll find in most Christmas crackers, these ones also include 24 'Who or what am I?' game cards, providing hours of endless fun. We know the kids will have a laugh as you try to guess if you're Santa or Peter Pan, and there's even a crown for the winner.

One reviewer said: "We had so much fun playing this on Xmas day. So much better than the cheap tat in other crackers."

Pros

  • Plenty of fun to be had.
  • Ideal for all ages (3+).

Cons

  • Found to be quite basic.

Best crackers for creativity

Why buy a ready-made set of crackers when you can make your own? Encourage a spot of creativity and festive fun with your kiddos with this cute Christmas cracker kit. Little ones can delight in colouring them in, and the kit includes all the essentials to go inside. You could even add your own gifts to surprise your loved ones.

One reviewer said: "I buy these every year there fun and easy to make and can as any prizes you want to them."

Pros

  • Creative and fun.
  • Cheao and cheerful.

Cons

  • Some found that pens smudged easily on the cracker card.

Best for Percy Pig fans

For any kids that love M&S' Percy Pig sweets and merch, this set of Christmas crackers will go down a treat. 100 per cent plastic free, each cracker comes with hats, jokes, and a Percy tail sticker, not forgetting the Percy poster sheet that comes in the box. Little ones will delight in playing 'pin the tail on the Percy' - and we're sure the adults won't mind getting involved either.

Pros

  • Eco friendly.
  • Features red raffia paper ties and come complete with hats, jokes, a Percy tail sticker and a Percy poster sheet with instructions.

Cons

  • No Percy Pig sweets are included.

Best crackers for the family

Why not try something different this Christmas? Instead of the usual Christmas crackers, this gorgeous set of Christmas matchsticks contains puzzles, fun brain teasers, and the obligatory Christmas joke for some Christmas day fun. The kids will have endless fun solving Rudolph's Nose, Sleigh Bells, Santa's Workshop, and more festive puzzles.

One reviewer said: "The product is perfect, a lovely alternative to crackers. Customer service was exceptional. There was a mix up with my delivery address (my fault), the company dealt with it efficiently and with kindness. Many thanks. Highly recommend!".

Pros

  • Unique and eco friendly.
  • Each box contains a seasonal matchstick puzzle, and Christmas party hat.

Cons

  • Some kids may find the puzzles too tricky to solve without help.

The best crackers for design

These little crackers are perfect for little hands. Brightly coloured with the 'Merry & Bright' decorative design, it's a modern take but with the classic Christmas reds and greens. Each cracker contains a hat, snap, gift and motto to make it that extra special. These crackers are really affordable and are also 100 per cent plastic-free.

One reviewer said: "Great crackers for children very colourful. Good selection."

Pros

  • Colourful and vibrant.
  • Each cracker features a character from Santa's squad to make it more fun for the children!

Cons

  • They are small so not ideal for bigger hands.

Best crackers for the family

These crackers are made for the whole family so are suitable for all ages. In your selection, you'll get 10 crackers, each with a sweet snowman or Father Christmas design - super festive and bound to look great on the table. Inside you'll get your hat to wear through Christmas lunch and beyond, a joke, and a gift.

One reviewer said: "I was very happy with these. They looked great on my Christmas table. They were a little bigger than I expected them to be so were good value for money and very sturdy. They were delivered quickly and were packaged securely. Would definitely recommend."

Pros

  • Filled With Fun surprises and toys for children. 
  • Good value for money.

Cons

  • Some found the hats to be a bit on the big side for little ones.

Best crackers for Disney fans

Any Disney-obsessed child will be a big fan of these crackers. In two designs featuring a very festive Mickey and Minnie Mouse, each cracker includes a hat and a motto. But kids will still get the chance to see other character favourites! In each cracker, there's a board hanging decoration, with each cracker hosting a different one of Mickey's friends. Which one will they get? They'll need to pull the cracker to find out.

Pros

  • Each cracker Includes a character board decoration that you can hang on your tree.
  • Plastic-free.

Cons

  • Decorations are made of cardboard, so they won't have the longevity of your usual Christmas decorations.

Best crackers for stocking fillers

In their classic red and white Christmas colours, these crackers will definitely add a touch of Christmas spirit to the dinner table. Once you've pulled the crackers, the kids can delight in a games while waiting for the Christmas turkey to finish cooking.

One reviewer said: "I generally buy these every year for use in my restaurant. They are fun, look good and are pretty good value for money."

Pros

  • Handmade.
  • A race track is included in the box..

Cons

  • Selling quite quickly.

Best crackers for gingerbread characters

An adorable gingerbread character, which contains a green tissue paper hat, a joke, an etched wooden gingerbread person and a paper race track. Inside the box are true and false paddles and a game play sheet - who will be the first to win the game?

Pros

  • Crackers are crafted from kraft paper, with gingham ribbons, pom poms and felt hearts.
  • Gold metallic cord.

Cons

  • Quite pricey.

Best personalised crackers for kids

If you want the crackers themselves to be reusable, why not buy your kids fabric crackers? Not only do they double up as napkins, but you can also get them personalised with their names beautifully embroidered. It's like an extra gift that'll make their Christmas dinner setting feel extra special. Choose from 18 colours with each cloth wrapped around a tube to create the 'cracker' look. They won't be able to pull them apart like a traditional cracker, but you can still add your own little gifts inside.

One reviewer said: "Beautiful, personalised crackers that should give years of pleasure and make a small contribution to waste reduction at Christmas. Our first year of using them so we've yet to see our family's reaction."

Pros

  • These fabric crackers are plastic free.
  • Personalised with a beautiful embroidered name or message.

Cons

  • Need to order early for a Christmas guaranteed delivery.

Best crackers for goodies

Themed to Santa's workshop, these crackers are packed with goodies for kids. It contains a box of 6 Christmas crackers, each filled with a tissue hat, motto, snap and a "Who Am I?" game with paper glasses, 12 game cards, score card and instructions, handy to keep the family entertained.

Pros

  • Plastic-free.
  • fun for the friendly.

Cons

  • A little pricey.

Are Christmas crackers safe for kids?

All options in our list are suitable for children over the age of three years, but supervision is always recommended, especially for younger children. Christmas crackers suitable for older children will typically stipulate this on the website or on the box, so make sure to read the fine print.

Please be aware that while most of our options are child-friendly, they are not suitable for children under three years due to small parts.

Stephanie Spencer is the Deputy Digital Editor at Mother&Baby and auntie to four aged 8 to 6 months old. With a particular interest in health, she loves discovering products that make parent’s lives easier.

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