Winter “Say it Without Saying It” Game (Free Printable)
Winter is here, and with it comes the perfect opportunity for some cozy indoor fun with family and friends! Our Winter “Say It Without Saying It” Game is a free printable that puts a seasonal twist on the classic game of Taboo.
This game is great for kids and adults alike, providing laughter and excitement as players race against the clock to guess as many winter-themed words as possible.
This Winter “Say It Without Saying It” Game is the perfect pick! Inspired by the classic game of Taboo, this printable version adds a festive winter twist that’s sure to bring lots of laughter and excitement.
Be sure to check out some other winter printable activities like our Winter I spy and our Winter word search.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Game
- Fun for All Ages: This game is great for kids, teens, and adults, making it perfect for family gatherings or classroom activities.
- Seasonal Twist: The winter-themed cards add a cozy seasonal vibe, featuring words like “Snowman,” “Polar Bear,” and “Hot Chocolate.”
- Easy to Play: Simple setup and clear instructions mean you can jump into the fun in no time.
Materials Needed
- Printable game cards: You can grab the whole set of cards and instructions in the pdf file at the end of this post.
- A timer
- A buzzer: optional for incorrect guesses
- A score sheet and pen/pencil
The Printable
The free printable includes:
- Game Instructions: A detailed guide on how to set up and play the game.
- Winter-Themed Word Cards: Over 50 cards featuring a main word (e.g., Snowman) with four “taboo” words listed underneath (e.g., Frosty, Winter, Carrot, Hat).
- Fun Examples and Suggestions: Clear examples of good and bad clues to help players understand the rules.
Simply download the printable, print the pages, and cut out the cards to get started!
Instructions
Game Setup
Divide players into two teams. Shuffle the Winter “Say It Without Saying It” cards and stack them face down.
Assign a timer to one team and a buzzer to the other.
How to Play
One player from the active team acts as the clue-giver. The clue-giver draws the top card and gives hints about the main word without saying any of the “taboo” words listed.
Example:
- Main Word: Snowman
- Taboo Words: Frosty, Winter, Carrot, Hat
- Good Clue: “It’s a figure made of snow with three stacked parts.”
- Bad Clue: “You put a carrot for its nose.”
Rules
- Clue-givers cannot say, spell, or rhyme the taboo words.
- No physical gestures, facial expressions, or sound effects are allowed.
- Teams have 1-2 minutes to guess as many words as possible.
Scoring and Winning
- Teams earn 1 point for each correctly guessed card.
- If a taboo word is used, the opposing team buzzes, and the card is discarded with no points awarded.
- The team with the most points at the end of the game wins!
Educational Uses
This game is more than just fun—it’s a great way to build valuable skills like:
- Critical Thinking: Players must come up with creative ways to describe words under pressure.
- Teamwork and Communication: Teams work together to interpret clues and guess correctly.
- Vocabulary Building: Kids and adults alike will learn new words and expand their understanding of word associations.
It’s also a wonderful activity for classrooms, helping students practice descriptive language and listening skills in an interactive setting.
Grab the Free Printable
Ready to start playing? To grab the free printable, put your name and email in the pink box below. We’ll send it straight to your inbox. We’ll also let you know when we have new free printables.
This is for personal or classroom use only please, not for commercial use. Thank you!
This free printable winter taboo game is a fun way to get kids and adults figuring out how to rephrase things in a fun and interesting way. It’s great at building critical thinking and communication skills.