Christmas morning is full of excitement, with presents to open and festive cheer all around. But what happens after the wrapping paper settles? For families with young children, we have a wonderful way to keep the magic going: a free printable Christmas Day treasure hunt! If you have stumbled across this before Xmas Day, donm’t forget to check out our Christmas scavenger hunt clue cards to help you with those ideas too. This treasure hunt is a fantastic activity to bring the family together, add a sprinkle of adventure, and make the day even more memorable. This Christmas Day treasure hunt could become a highlight of the holiday season for both kids and adults, creating lasting memories and extra excitement. Why wouldn’t you want to make some memories for you and the kids?
A Christmas Day Treasure Hunt could even become a magical tradition on Christmas Eve for your family, helping to create great memories with family and friends during the holidays.
Our treasure hunt is designed with little ones in mind. It uses simple rhymes and familiar festive images to guide them on a quest around the house. It’s a great way to add an extra special surprise to the day. Plus, the treasure hunt can be easily customized for different group sizes and locations, making it perfect for any family or group of friends. We have loads of other scavenger hunt ideas on KiddyCharts too, including a Christmas present scavenger hunt, an indoor scavenger hunt, and even a Christmas lights one!
What is the Christmas Day treasure hunt?
This is a ready-to-go activity designed to be simple for parents and tons of fun for kids. The printable includes eight rhyming clues that lead children from one common household spot to the next. The final clue reveals the location of a hidden treasure. Scavenger hunt clues and Christmas scavenger hunt clues are central to the fun of any Christmas treasure hunt, and can be tailored for different ages and locations.
The design is bright, colourful, and full of charming Christmas characters like Santa, reindeers, and gingerbread men. Each clue is easy to read so is perfect for early readers, or for parents to read aloud to younger children. It’s an excellent way to encourage teamwork, problem solving skills, and listening skills: all while having a great time. Participants can work together or compete, depending on the group. Treasure hunts can even be customized for different age groups and locations.
How to set up your treasure hunt
Getting this activity ready is as easy as pie. All you need is a printer and a pair of scissors.
- Download and print: First, download your free printable treasure hunt sheets. These are your printable scavenger hunt clues. Users can print scavenger hunt clues on card stock for extra durability and a professional finish.
- Cut the clues: Carefully cut out each of the eight clues. Writing your own clues or using themed printable scavenger hunt clues can enhance the experience.
- Hide the clues: This is the fun part! You need to place each clue in the location described by the previous clue. We’ll give you the answers below to make this super simple.
- Hide the treasure: Decide what your treasure will be. It could be a small gift you held back, a special chocolate, or a certificate for a Christmas movie night. Place this treasure in the final location revealed by the last clue.
- Start the hunt: Hand your child (or children) the first clue and let the adventure begin.
Setting up a printable scavenger hunt is straightforward and requires only minimal supplies. Many printable scavenger hunt resources offer themed clues to make the holiday experience even more special.
Clue answers and hiding places
To make setting up your Christmas Day Treasure Hunt a breeze, here are the answers to the riddles and where to hide each clue. The table below presents each clue, its answer, and the recommended hiding place for clarity and ease of setup.
| Clue | Answer | Where to hide the next clue |
|---|---|---|
| Clue 1: “I sparkle and shine with lights so bright…” | Christmas tree | Place clue 2 under the Christmas tree, perhaps tucked slightly behind a present. |
| Clue 2: “We hang up high and wait all night…” | Christmas stockings | Tuck clue 3 inside one of the stockings hanging up. For extra challenge, hide some blank cards as decoys among the stockings. |
| Clue 3: “We sit right here for snacks and cheer…” | The table or plate where you left snacks for Santa | Leave clue 4 on or near the plate you used for Santa’s milk and cookies. A clue could also reference ‘bake cookies’ as a playful riddle, leading participants to check the oven. |
| Clue 4: “After flying far and wide, Santa rested by your side…” | The sofa or a favourite armchair | Pop clue 5 down the side of a cushion on the main sofa. You can also hide some treats with the clues for extra excitement. |
| Clue 5: “When Christmas morning finally came, You jumped up fast and ran this way…” | Your child’s bedroom door | Stick clue 6 to the inside of your child’s bedroom door. |
| Clue 6: “You followed clues and did great work, Now find the place that’s cozy and warm…” | Your child’s bed | Hide the treasure under their pillow, duvet, or even under the bed. Make sure if its chocolate is doesn’t melt! |
In case it is easier for you to understand this without the use of the table, here is a list for you instead:
Clue 1: Christmas tree
- Clue: “I sparkle and shine with lights so bright…”
- Answer: The Christmas Tree.
- Where to hide Clue 2: Place it under the Christmas tree, perhaps tucked slightly behind a present.
Clue 2: Christmas stockings
- Clue: “We hang up high and wait all night…”
- Answer: The Christmas Stockings.
- Where to hide Clue 3: Tuck this clue inside one of the stockings hanging up. For extra challenge, hide some blank cards as decoys among the stockings.
Clue 3: Santa’s snack table
- Clue: “We sit right here for snacks and cheer…”
- Answer: The table or plate where you left snacks for Santa.
- Where to hide Clue 4: Leave this clue on or near the plate you used for Santa’s milk and cookies. A clue could also reference ‘bake cookies’ as a playful riddle, leading participants to check the oven.
Clue 4: Sofa or armchair
- Clue: “After flying far and wide, Santa rested by your side…”
- Answer: The sofa or a favourite armchair.
- Where to hide Clue 5: Pop this clue down the side of a cushion on the main sofa. You can also hide some treats with the clues for extra excitement.
Clue 5: Bedroom door
- Clue: “When Christmas morning finally came, You jumped up fast and ran this way…”
- Answer: Your child’s bedroom door.
- Where to hide Clue 6: Stick this clue to the inside of your child’s bedroom door.
Clue 6: Bed (Treasure location)
- Clue: “You followed clues and did great work, Now find the place that’s cozy and warm…”
- Answer: Your child’s bed.
- Where to hide the TREASURE: The final stop! Hide the treasure under their pillow or duvet.
Hunt clues can be hidden in creative places, such as inside toilet paper rolls or among mistletoe decorations to add a festive twist. After listing your hiding places, consider using visual clues like sketches or photos of the hiding spots for a little bit more of a cryptic challenge.
Skill challenges, such as building a block tower or balloon keep-ups, can be added for older kids to earn the next clue. For toddlers and pre-readers, use simple picture clues or ‘I Spy’ hints to indicate the next location.
Carol challenge clues, so riddles about Christmas songs, can also lead to the next clue for a musical twist. For a puzzle piece reveal, take a photo of the final prize location, cut it into pieces, and hide each piece with a clue for kids to assemble at the end. Final prizes could be items too big to wrap, ingredients for a festive meal, or a shared experience/big gift delivery.
Always ensure all hiding spots are safe and accessible for all ages, keeping clues away from hazards; obviously.
Christmas tree fun
The Christmas tree is the sparkling heart of the holiday season, and it’s the perfect place to kick off a festive scavenger hunt. Kids love searching through the twinkling branches, and you can make it even more magical by hiding clues or small prizes among the ornaments and decorations. Try tucking a clue behind a favorite ornament, or nestling a tiny gift deep in the branches for a real treasure hunt experience. You could EVEN get really adventurous, and buy a ornament that you camn actually hide the clue INSIDE.
For a themed scavenger hunt, challenge kids to find specific types of decorations, for example, like a snowman, a reindeer, or a green bauble, before they can move on to the next clue. You could even create a list of items to find on the tree, turning it into a fun scavenger game for the whole family. The final clue might lead to a special present hidden under the tree, making the hunt even more exciting.
If you want to expand the adventure, use Christmas scavenger hunt ideas that take kids around the house, with the Christmas tree as the grand finale. Whether you’re hiding small prizes, clues, or even a special note from Santa, the tree is a fantastic spot to add a little extra magic to your holiday treasure hunt.
Candy cane surprise
Candy canes aren’t just for eating, they’re also perfect for adding a sweet twist to your Christmas scavenger hunt. You could hide candy canes around the house or yard, and let each one lead to the next clue or a fun challenge. Kids will be thrilled to discover a candy cane peeking out from behind a cushion or hanging from a doorknob, and the excitement will build with every find.
For a themed scavenger hunt combined with this idea, ask kids to search for items that are red and white, or shaped like a candy cane. You can even set up a “candy cane treasure hunt,” where each clue is attached to a candy cane, guiding kids on their adventure through the house. The final treasure could be a bundle of candy canes, a small gift, or a festive treat waiting at the end of the hunt.
Candy canes also make great rewards for completing challenges or solving tricky clues. Whether you use them as hints, prizes, or part of the hunt itself, candy canes add a fun and festive touch that will have kids excited to join in the holiday fun.
Ideas for making the hunt extra special
This treasure hunt is fun on its own, but you can easily add a few creative touches to make it even more magical.
Roll the clues
- Roll the clues: Roll each clue up like a little scroll and tie it with a festive red ribbon.
Leave a trail
- Leave a trail: Use a trail of chocolate coins or candy canes to lead from one clue spot to the next. Obviously if you have pets, particularly dogs, then you very much do need to be careful with this one due to the chocolates….
Personalise the treasure
- Personalise the treasure: The prize doesn’t have to be a physical gift. It could be a “voucher” for staying up an extra 30 minutes, choosing the family Christmas film, or a trip to the park.
Team up
- Team up: If you have more than one child, encourage them to work together. This builds teamwork and makes the final reward a shared victory.
Award bonus points
- Award bonus points: Give bonus points for creative or extra festive actions, like finding the most items on the list or convincing someone to wear a Christmas sweater.
Complete challenges
- Complete challenges: Add fun challenges to complete at each clue location, especially for older kids who enjoy more difficult puzzles or activities.
Personalize the hunt
- Personalize the Hunt: Include inside jokes or family trivia as part of the clues to make the experience more meaningful and memorable.
Expand with the shop
- Expand with the shop: For even more fun, you can find additional scavenger hunt sets or themed printables on our site or in the shop, perfect for expanding your Christmas Day treasure hunt.
Adapting for neurodivergent children
Treasure hunts can be a source of great joy, and with a few small adjustments, they can be wonderfully inclusive for neurodivergent children. Scavenger hunts are similar to escape rooms and other games, as they encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and the thrill of solving mysteries together. These activities can help build team bonds and enhance personal growth for all participants.
- Visual supports: Before the hunt begins, walk through the locations with your child. You could even take photos of the spots (the tree, the fireplace, the sofa) and show them on a phone or tablet as they find each clue. This reduces uncertainty and helps them understand what to look for. You can also use technology like QR codes, photos, or videos to complete challenges, making the hunt accessible and engaging for everyone.
- Sensory-friendly treasure: Choose a treasure that aligns with your child’s sensory preferences. This could be a favourite textured toy, a weighted lap pad, or some kinetic sand, rather than something that might be overstimulating.
- Keep it calm: Christmas can already be a sensory-rich day. Choose a quiet time for the hunt, away from the hustle and bustle of guests. Read the clues in a calm, steady voice and allow plenty of time for processing. The goal is fun, not speed. If your child gets stuck on a clue, it’s perfectly fine to offer hints or support to keep the game enjoyable and maintain momentum.
- Use the pictures: The printable has lovely, clear pictures. For children who are non-verbal or prefer visual cues, you can point to the picture on the clue (like the Christmas tree) to help them connect it to the object in the room.
For extra excitement, you can theme your Christmas Day treasure hunt around imaginative scenarios, such as saving the world from a holiday disaster or embarking on a festive rescue mission.
We hope you and your family have a wonderful time with this Christmas Day Treasure Hunt. It’s a simple way to create precious memories and add an extra layer of fun to an already special day. To download this, just click on the button or the image below, and it is yours:
We do hope you like these ideas, we have loads of others that are relevant to this treasure hunt, including scavenger hunts for different times of year, and more for the festive season:
Scavenger hunt ideas
Here are some fabulous scavenger hunt ideas on KiddyCharts for you to check out.
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Day 2: Summer scavenger hunt printable #KiddyChartsSummer
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We have loads of Christmas ideas too:
Christmas Printables on KiddyCharts
More fantastic Christmas printables for you all to download on KiddyCharts. Make Christmas a little more magical for the kids.
Printable Christmas countdown calendar: Includes positive mantras, editable and giant calendars!
A wonderful countdown Christmas Tree for the kids. Download the free version, or pay a little bit for an editable version of a giant one!
Santa nice list certificate: Free and personalised!
A FREE editable Santa's nice list certificate for the boys and the girls everywhere.
Decorate your own Christmas Tree free printable
Looking for an activity for the kids - try this one. Print out and decorate your own fabulous paper tree!
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Finally, we LOVE adult and kids colouring. Why not colour in a Christmas Tree with the kids; we have an adult one and a child's Christmas Tree colouring sheet here.
Check these out as well, off KiddyCharts:
Scavenger hunt ideas from the web
If we don't have enough ideas from KiddyCharts for you, here are some more on other sites.
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Scavenger Hunts for Kids
Enjoy these fun scavenger hunts for kids.
Thanks so much for coming to see us again today, we love seeing you all.
Helen
Helen Neale
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, website editor and a qualified counsellor with experience of working with both children and adults. She is a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapists, with her own private practise. She also freelances with her local Mind organisation. Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, use those grey cells at the same time, and supplement her counselling income. KiddyCharts has reach of over 680k across socials and the site. The site works with big family brands to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. She is a specialist counsellor for neurodivergent individuals and brings this expertise to her resources and the site. She is also an ADHDer herself. KiddyCharts gives 51%+ profits to charities, focused on supporting mental health and a community in Tanzania Helen has also worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on. Get in touch TODAY!