Looking for a fun way to make Christmas morning last just a little longer?
A Christmas scavenger hunt is one of our favorite ways to turn one special Christmas present into an adventure. Instead of putting the gift under the tree, hide it somewhere unexpected and send the kids searching for it one clue at a time.
We created this free Christmas scavenger hunt template so you can easily make your own Christmas morning treasure hunt at home. Customize the clues for your family, print them out, hide them around the house and let the hunt begin.
Download the Free Christmas Scavenger Hunt Template
Our Christmas scavenger hunt tradition
We have many Christmas traditions at our home, some of which are a little less “traditional” than others.
One of my personal favorites has always been wrapping. Not just the frantic rush on Christmas Eve after the kiddos have gone down, with paper strewn everywhere, scissors being passed back and forth and everyone rationing the last roll of tape.
I mean capital “W” Wrapping.
The kind that starts days or even weeks before Christmas. The kind that may involve booby traps, duct tape and, if the child has been especially naughty, perhaps even a bag of concrete.
A few years ago, I decided it was time to shake things up a little. I wanted something that would make Christmas morning last longer and break up the rush of ripping through presents.
So instead of putting one of the kids' special gifts under the tree, we hid it.
In its place was a clue.
That clue led to another clue, which led to another, and before long the kids were running through the house solving riddles and searching in cupboards, drawers and places they normally wouldn't think to look.
Eventually, the final clue led to their present.
And just like that, a new family Christmas tradition was born.
How to make a Christmas scavenger hunt
Setting up your own Christmas scavenger hunt is easy, and you can make it as simple or challenging as you like.
- Choose a special Christmas gift. Pick one gift to hide somewhere away from the Christmas tree.
- Choose several hiding places. Use locations around your home that your child will recognize.
- Write a clue for each location. Each clue should lead to the place where the next clue is hidden.
- Hide the clues in reverse order. Start with the final gift and work backward until you reach the first clue.
- Place the first clue under or in the Christmas tree. We like to put ours inside an envelope addressed to the child.
Depending on the age of the child—or even the adult—you can make the riddles as easy or as difficult as you'd like.
Free Christmas scavenger hunt template
You can make your own clue cards from scratch, or use our free printable Christmas scavenger hunt template.
Download the template, personalize the clues for your family and print them at home. You can create a short five-clue hunt for younger children or build a longer Christmas treasure hunt for older kids and adults.
Download Our Free Christmas Scavenger Hunt Template
Christmas scavenger hunt clues for kids
Here is an example of how one of our Christmas scavenger hunts looked at our house.
Card one — In the Christmas tree
“Merry Christmas ya little squirt, you have one more gift so make sure to stay alert. Pay attention close and follow the clues, otherwise you might miss your last gift and have the blues. The first place I might start looking is where your Dad does all the cooking.”
The clue led to the oven.
Card two — In the oven
“Glad you came quick, it was getting a little stuffy in here—why not try looking behind the place that sees a lot of rears?”
Yes. The next clue was behind the toilet.
Card three — Behind the toilet
“Make sure and wash your hands, in fact I might wash them twice. At this point you might be wondering if you've been naughty, not nice. The next clue isn't found here, nor is it found there, but it might be found in your underwear.”
That clue led to the child's underwear drawer.
Card four — Underwear drawer
“I've heard all your wants and all of your wishes, why not try looking in the place that washes the dishes.”
Off to the dishwasher.
Card five — Dishwasher
“Now that we're cleaned up and ready to go, next try looking where we watch all the shows.”
The next clue was hiding behind the television.
Card six — Behind the television
“Don't give up yet, you are almost there—take a deep breath, a deep breath of air. You've done really good, you've made it so far, for the last clue, look where we park the car.”
The final gift was waiting in the garage.
One year, though, the final clue led to a shovel in the backyard.
Yeah...sometimes we really take it far.
More Christmas scavenger hunt hiding places
Need more ideas? Here are some easy places to hide Christmas scavenger hunt clues around the house:
- Christmas tree
- Refrigerator
- Oven
- Dishwasher
- Bathroom
- Washing machine
- Dresser drawer
- Coat closet
- Bookshelf
- Pantry
- Television
- Fireplace
- Garage
- Mailbox
- Child's bed
Simple Christmas scavenger hunt clue ideas
You don't have to write complicated poetry for every clue. Simple riddles work just as well.
Christmas tree
Look where ornaments sparkle and Christmas lights glow.
Refrigerator
I'm cold inside and filled with things to eat.
Washing machine
Dirty clothes visit me before becoming clean again.
Coat Closet
When it's cold outside, this is where warm jackets wait.
Bookshelf
Stories stand together here, but they never make a sound.
Pantry
Snacks and treats are hiding behind this door.
Bed
You visit this place every night, but hopefully not during the scavenger hunt.
Mailbox
Letters arrive here, but this time there's something waiting for you.
Christmas scavenger hunt ideas by age
Ages 4–6
Keep the clues short and obvious. You can even use pictures of the hiding locations instead of written riddles.
Ages 7–10
Simple rhymes and riddles work well. Make the children think for a moment without making the clues so difficult that the hunt becomes frustrating.
Ages 11 and Up
Older kids can handle harder clues. Try riddles, word scrambles, trivia questions, simple codes, math problems or inside jokes.
Adults
There is absolutely no rule saying Christmas scavenger hunts are only for kids. For adults, use harder riddles, family memories and inside jokes.
Just remember that grown adults can become surprisingly competitive when Christmas presents are involved.
Make your Christmas scavenger hunt feel like it came from Santa
One fun way to make the scavenger hunt even more magical is to have Santa introduce the hunt himself.
Instead of simply leaving the first clue under the tree, put it inside a Letter from Santa.
Santa could say something like:
“I had one more surprise for you this Christmas, but it wouldn't fit under the tree. The elves helped me hide it somewhere nearby. Follow the clues carefully and see if you can find it!”
If you'd like to create your own Santa message, you can start with our free Letter from Santa template.
You can also learn how to send a Letter from Santa and make the experience feel even more believable.
Christmas Eve scavenger hunt ideas
Your scavenger hunt doesn't have to happen on Christmas morning.
A Christmas Eve scavenger hunt can lead to:
- Christmas pajamas
- A Christmas movie
- Hot chocolate supplies
- Cookies for Santa
- A Christmas book
- A family game
- A special Letter from Santa
It's an easy way to create a fun family tradition without adding another expensive gift.
Christmas scavenger hunt frequently asked questions
Is the Christmas scavenger hunt template free?
Yes. Our Christmas scavenger hunt template is free to download and can be personalized with your own clues and hiding places.
How many clues should a Christmas scavenger hunt have?
For most families, five to ten clues works well. Younger children may enjoy a shorter hunt, while older children and adults may prefer a longer challenge.
What age is a Christmas scavenger hunt best for?
Almost any age can enjoy a Christmas scavenger hunt. Simply adjust the difficulty of the clues to match the people playing.
Where should I hide Christmas scavenger hunt clues?
Good hiding places include the Christmas tree, refrigerator, oven, bathroom, dresser, dishwasher, closet, television area, pantry, mailbox and garage. Always choose locations that children can safely reach.
What should be at the end of the Christmas scavenger hunt?
A special Christmas present works perfectly, but the final clue could also lead to stockings, Christmas pajamas, a family activity, a Letter from Santa or another Christmas surprise.
Can adults do a Christmas scavenger hunt?
Absolutely. Make the clues harder by using riddles, trivia, family memories, inside jokes or multi-step puzzles.
Download the Free Christmas Scavenger Hunt Template
Christmas doesn't have to be about rushing through a pile of presents.
Sometimes it's the anticipation, silliness and little family traditions that become the memories everyone talks about years later.
Hide a present. Write a few clues. Make the kids search the entire house.
And if somebody ends up digging through the underwear drawer on Christmas morning, you'll know you're doing it right.
Leave a comment: