Christmas Scavenger Hunt for Kids: Christmas Eve and Morning Clues for Every Age

A Christmas scavenger hunt gives kids something to do with all that waiting. On Christmas Eve it fills the slow hours before bed, and on Christmas morning it turns the walk to the stockings into a game. Write one clue per spot, hide the cards after the kids are asleep or busy, and end at something small and good.

Set up the route

Keep the hunt indoors and on one floor. Six to eight stops is a good length for most kids, and four or five is plenty for kids under 5.

Pick the final spot first and put the treasure there.
Choose spots at your child's eye level or lower. Nothing that needs climbing.
Write one card per spot. Each card leads to the next one.
Hide the cards working backward, so the first card ends up in your hand.

Keep the route away from lit candles, the fireplace, plugged-in tree lights and extension cords. The tree can be a stop, but put the card under a present at the front, not in the branches near the bulbs. Keep the kitchen off the route while anyone is cooking. Glass ornaments, tinsel and small decorations stay out of reach of kids under 3. If the stockings hang on the mantel, take them down for the hunt or make sure the fire is out and the screen is on.

Picture clues for little ones

Kids who don't read yet do best with a drawing or a photo of the next spot on each card. Add a short rhyme for an adult to read aloud.

Front door mat (picture of the door): "Boots go here when the snow comes in. Look under me, the hunt can begin."
Couch (picture of the couch): "Sit on me and read a book. Lift the cushion, take a look."
Toy basket (picture of the basket): "Teddy and blocks are sleeping in me. Look at the bottom and what will you see?"
Bathtub (picture of the tub): "Splish and splash, it's bath time fun. Look in the tub for the next one." (Dry, empty tub only.)
Your child's bed (picture of the pillow): "Where you sleep and dream all night. Look under your pillow, left or right."
Stockings (picture of a stocking): the treasure.

For kids under 3, skip anything small enough to fit in their mouth: no coins, small candies or tiny toys as prizes.

Riddle clues for older kids

For kids of about 7 to 10, use riddles. Each riddle below names its spot in brackets, so swap in spots you really have.

Towel cupboard [towels]: "I'm fluffy and dry when you step from the bath. Look in my folds for the next step on your path."
Bookshelf [bottom shelf]: "I hold many spines but no bones at all. Look on my lowest shelf, near the wall."
Shoe rack [shoes]: "We come in pairs and go on your feet. Look inside the left one for your next treat."
Coat closet [coats]: "I hang here waiting for snowy days. Check my pocket, the hunt still plays."
Clock [wall or table clock]: "I have hands but I can't clap, a face but I can't smile. Look below me for a while."
Piano or keyboard [bench or stand]: "I have keys but open no locks. Look on my bench, not in a box."

A code to crack at the end

For older kids, the last card can hold a code. Use letter numbers, where A = 1, B = 2 and so on:

19-20-15-3-11-9-14-7

That spells STOCKING, and it tells them where the treasure is. For a warm-up, write the word backward: GNIKCOTS. Ask them to read it from right to left.

Mixed-age cousins

When the cousins range from toddlers to tweens, give every child a job. Pair each younger child with an older cousin. The little one finds the card, the older one reads the riddle aloud. You can also run two trails at once: picture cards in one color for the younger kids, riddle cards in another for the older kids, both ending at the same spot so nobody finishes alone.

If treats are part of the prize, check allergies with every parent first, and keep nuts and hard candy away from small children.

Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

A Christmas Eve hunt works best in the afternoon or early evening, before the kids are too tired. End it at new pajamas, a book for bedtime, or the plate for cookies. A Christmas morning hunt can lead to the stockings, so kids have something to do while one adult is up and the coffee is on. Hide the cards the night before, once everyone is in bed.

A December birthday corner

X Marks The Party makes printable birthday treasure hunts, personalized with your child's name and built around hiding spots you choose at home. It's a birthday hunt with no Christmas theme, so it fits a child whose birthday lands in December. The Explorer level uses pictures and simple rhymes with a grown-up reading along, for kids of about 4 to 6. The Detective level adds reading, riddles and puzzles, for about 7 to 10.

You pick a theme, enter your child's name and your hiding spots, and see a free preview first. The full PDF is $29.99 USD, emailed when it's ready, and you print it at home.

See the fall scavenger hunt for kids, the Thanksgiving scavenger hunt, and the Christmas present treasure hunt.

See the Christmas present hunt page.

FAQ

How many clues should a Christmas scavenger hunt have?

Six to eight for kids 5 and up. For toddlers and preschoolers, four or five cards in plain sight is enough.

Where should I hide clues around the Christmas tree?

Under a wrapped present at the front, or tucked under the tree skirt at the edge. Keep cards out of the branches and away from the lights.

How do I run a hunt for cousins of different ages?

Pair younger kids with older cousins, or run two color-coded trails that end at the same place.

Can the hunt end at the stockings?

Yes. On Christmas morning, the stockings make a good last stop, and the code STOCKING gives older kids a reason to solve the final card.

What are good prizes for a Christmas hunt?

Pajamas, a book, a small craft kit, or a treat. Check allergies first. For kids under 3, skip small parts and check age labels, and for any age keep toys with coin batteries or small magnets away from younger siblings.

Is there a Christmas-themed personalized hunt?

No. The X Marks The Party hunt is a birthday hunt personalized with your child's name, with no Christmas theme. If your child's birthday is in December, it can be their birthday hunt.

Create a personalized hunt. Free preview, then print at home for $29.99.