A Christmas scavenger hunt turns opening one special present into a whole adventure. Kids race from the tree to the fridge to the bathtub, reading rhyming clues out loud, and the last clue leads them to the prize.
This free printable hunt has 12 rhyming clues for spots that almost every home has, so there’s no rewriting needed. It works on Christmas morning, at a holiday party, or on a snowed-in afternoon when everyone needs to burn off some energy.
In this post
What’s in the printable
- 12 rhyming clue cards that lead from room to room and end at a final prize
- An answer key for the grown-up in charge, showing where to hide each card
- A “start here” first card so you can hand over the first clue with a little ceremony
Everything prints on standard US Letter paper. Card stock makes the cards sturdier, but regular printer paper works fine.
How to set up the hunt
Setup takes about 10 minutes. The trick is to hide each card at the spot the previous clue describes.
- Print and cut out the clue cards. Keep them in order using the answer key.
- Hide the prize first. The final clue points to the kitchen table, so put the gift there (or change that card if you want a different ending).
- Work backward. Clue 12 goes at the spot clue 11 describes (the clock). Clue 11 goes at the spot clue 10 describes, and so on.
- Keep clue 1 for yourself. Hand it to the kids to start the hunt. It sends them to the Christmas tree, where clue 2 is waiting.
- Skip any spot you don’t have. No bathtub or washing machine? Leave those cards out and hide the next clue in the previous spot instead.
Ages: 4 to 12Time: 15 to 30 minutesYou need: The printable, scissors, a prize
For kids who can’t read yet, pair them with an older sibling as a “clue reader,” or read each clue aloud and let them do the running.
The 12 Christmas scavenger hunt clues
Here are all the clues and where each one leads, so you can preview the hunt before printing. The printable has these on cut-out cards.
- Where the lights twinkle and ornaments shine, look under the branches for your next sign.
Leads to: Christmas tree - I keep the milk cold and the leftovers too. Open my door for your very next clue.
Leads to: Refrigerator - Cookies bake in me, warm, golden, and sweet. Peek in my drawer, but don’t touch the heat!
Leads to: Oven drawer - You hang it up high on Christmas Eve night. Look inside for a clue that’s tucked in just right.
Leads to: Stocking - At the end of the day, you snuggle in tight. Check under the pillow where you sleep at night.
Leads to: Bed - I’m full of stories, with pages galore. Look between my books for one clue more.
Leads to: Bookshelf - You sit on me cozy to watch a good show. Search under my cushions, that’s where you should go.
Leads to: Couch - Splish, splash, and bubbles, a rubber duck too. Pull back the curtain to find your next clue.
Leads to: Bathtub - Your socks and your shirts spin round and round. Look on top of me, a clue can be found.
Leads to: Washing machine - Mittens and scarves and a coat for the snow. Check where they hang by the door when you go.
Leads to: Coat rack or closet - Tick, tock, I tell you the time of the day. Look close beside me, your clue’s not far away.
Leads to: Clock - You’ve searched high and low, you’ve done it, hooray! Your present is waiting where we eat every day.
Leads to: Kitchen table (final prize)
Ways to change it up
For a group of kids
Print one set of clues per team and hide them in a different order for each team, so groups don’t just follow each other around. The first team to reach the prize wins a small treat, and everyone shares the final gift.
For older kids and teens
Swap the final prize for a gift card, concert tickets, or the big present they’ve been hinting at all year. You can also turn each clue into a mini challenge, like “sing one verse of a carol before you read the next clue.”
For a Christmas party
Run the hunt while the adults play Christmas trivia or other Christmas party games. It keeps the kids happily busy for half an hour.
For Christmas Eve
Put a pair of new pajamas, a holiday movie, and some hot cocoa at the end of the hunt. It makes a cozy tradition kids look forward to every year.
Prize ideas for the end of the hunt
The prize doesn’t need to be big. The hunt itself is the fun part. A few ideas:
- A new board game the whole family can play that night
- A small stack of books, a craft kit, or a puzzle
- One special gift saved from under the tree
- A “coupon” for a holiday outing, like ice skating or seeing the lights
- A stocking filled with treats (see our stocking stuffer ideas)
Christmas scavenger hunt FAQ
How many clues should a scavenger hunt for kids have?
Eight to 12 clues is ideal for kids ages 5 to 10. That’s long enough to feel like an adventure but short enough that nobody loses interest. For toddlers, three or four clues are plenty.
Can I do the hunt outside?
Yes. Swap a few indoor clues for outdoor spots like the mailbox, the porch, or the car. Just put the cards in a plastic sandwich bag in case of snow.
What if my kids find the clues out of order?
Number the back of each card so kids can see if they’ve skipped ahead. If they do, just send them back to the last clue they read.
