Christmas Scavenger Hunt for Kids: How to Play

A holiday scavenger hunt is an easy way to turn an ordinary afternoon into a shared activity. Our printable game uses familiar seasonal objects and requires no prizes, elaborate decorations, or special equipment.

How to set up the game

1. Download the free Christmas scavenger hunt PDF.
2. Print one copy for each child or team, or play together from a single sheet.
3. Choose safe areas to explore. Set boundaries clearly before starting.
4. Explain that participants should check off objects they can see, hear, or smell, rather than collecting them.
5. Let younger children team up with an adult or older sibling.
6. When everyone finishes, share favorite finds instead of focusing on who won.

Ideas for different ages

1. For preschoolers: read each item aloud and look together in one room.
2. For school-age kids: let them work in pairs and describe where they found each item.
3. For a mixed-age family: use teams, extra clues and a cooperative finish.
4. For a quieter option: point to items from the sofa rather than running around.

Make the message your own

Safety comes first: skip anything out of reach, avoid hot candles and fragile decorations, and never let a game encourage climbing. The printable includes visual and sound-based clues, so no one needs to handle delicate items.

Frequently asked question

What if we do not have every item on the list?

That is fine. Replace a clue with something you have, or simply count the items you did find. The point is spending time together.

For a custom message, try our free greeting message generator. You can also find printable cards and gift tags that go with your note.

Get the printable

FREE PRINTABLE • 2 games · 2 pages

Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Indoor and outdoor family finding games.

Download US Letter PDFDownload A4 PDF

Personal use. Print at actual size (100%).