Free Christmas I Spy Printable
A Christmas I Spy printable is one of those simple activities that has saved my sanity more than once during the holidays.
Whether I’m finishing up last-minute wrapping or just need ten quiet minutes, this seek-and-find worksheet keeps my son busy in the best way, he’s focused, he’s counting, and he’s having fun.
We’ve made it part of our December routine for years now. It’s not just entertaining, it’s sneaky learning, too.
Kids work on visual discrimination, counting, and even a bit of fine motor if they color it in. And because it’s low-prep and screen-free, it’s one of the first things I print each year when the decorations come out.
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What’s Inside the Christmas I Spy Printable
This free I Spy printable has been a staple in our house for years, equal parts festive fun and sneaky learning. It includes three pages:
- Page one is packed with classic Christmas icons, Santa hats, candy canes, stockings, and more. My son especially likes the sleighs, and since no item appears more than 10 times, the challenge stays engaging without feeling overwhelming.
- Page two is a black-and-white version that doubles as a coloring sheet. It’s great for downtime with crayons or keeping little hands busy during quiet moments.
- Page three is the answer key. You can use it to double-check their work or turn it into a color-by-number version for an extra layer of fun.
Why It’s More Than Just a Quiet Time Activity
This printable sneaks in a lot of learning without kids even noticing:
- Counting and comparing helps reinforce early math, especially for preschool and kindergarten-aged kids.
- Visual scanning builds attention to detail, I’ve watched my son zero in on each candy cane with laser focus.
- Creative expression comes in with the coloring version, especially when kids invent their own color schemes or patterns.
- Confidence grows when they finish it on their own and feel proud of getting it right.
How We Actually Use It
I usually pull this out while wrapping gifts or prepping dinner. My son spreads out on the living room rug with a clipboard and crayons, and I get a little peace and quiet. One year, he insisted the answer key was wrong because he found a hidden wreath I hadn’t even noticed.
I’ve also heard from teachers who laminate their copies and use them with dry-erase markers year after year. It’s low-prep, reusable, and works well during holiday stations or indoor recess.
Ways to Make It Extra Fun
Want to stretch the activity a little further? Here are a few creative twists we’ve tried:
- Story prompt challenge: After finishing, ask them to make up a silly story based on what they found. “Why were there so many presents in one spot?” “Did Santa drop his whole bag?”
- Time trial mode: Set a timer and see who can find everything fastest, then check accuracy with the answer key.
- Color code game: Assign colors to each item before they start (e.g. all stockings = green). Great for reinforcing both color recognition and visual matching.
These little tweaks turn a quick printable into a memorable part of your holiday season.
More Fun Christmas Printables
If your kids enjoyed the I Spy Christmas game, here are a few more festive activities we’ve come back to year after year. They’re great for quiet time, classroom use, or just keeping the holiday season playful and screen-free.
- Christmas dot to dot worksheets – These are perfect for practicing number order and fine motor control. My son always gets excited to see which picture he’s revealing, usually something festive like Santa or a snowman.
- Christmas color by number worksheets – Ideal for preschoolers and early elementary kids, these pages help with number recognition while giving them the freedom to create colorful holiday scenes.
- Christmas graphing worksheet – A fun way to sneak in some math! Kids count, sort, and graph Christmas-themed images. We’ve used them during our homeschool math warm-ups, especially in December.
- I spy Elf on the Shelf printable – This version adds a playful twist with the Elf theme. It’s great for building focus and visual scanning skills, and ties in perfectly if you already have an Elf visiting your home.
Christmas Activity Books for Kids
Around here, puzzle books are a holiday staple. They’re just the right mix of fun and learning, perfect for quiet mornings or when we need a break from screens. These are a few we’ve actually used (and loved), and they pair really well with our printable game if your kids enjoy visual challenges and creative play.
- Christmas Puzzles: Puzzle Mania – This one’s packed with tricky puzzles that make my son slow down and really think. He usually ends up curled up by the tree with this during quiet afternoons, pencil in one hand, cocoa in the other.
- Holly Jolly Holiday Sticker Book – If your kids like stickers, this is such a hit. My niece went through half the book in one sitting, adding characters to snowy scenes and making up stories as she went.
- Christmas Tales: Solve the Hidden Pictures – We both love this one, it’s like a storybook and a game in one. He’ll read the little stories out loud and then race to find everything on the page. It’s a fun way to sneak in reading and problem-solving.
- All I want for Christmas is Mad Libs. This Christmas-themed Mad Libs version is a family favorite, encouraging kids to practice parts of speech in a hilarious, interactive way.
Get Your Free I Spy Christmas Coloring Page Here!
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Last Updated on 24 July 2025 by Clare Brown