Free Christmas Scavenger Hunt Clues For Kids (Printable Riddles)

Every Christmas Eve, I like to add a little extra fun before bedtime, and this scavenger hunt has become one of our favorite traditions.

These printable Christmas scavenger hunt clues are designed to be easy for kids to follow, with rhyming riddles inspired by familiar holiday songs.

You can use them to lead to a small gift, a stocking, or even just a fun surprise. They all work indoors, so no matter what the weather’s doing, the hunt can go on. Just print the clues, hide them around the house, and turn Christmas Eve into a fun little adventure.

Printable Christmas scavenger hunt clue cards featuring rhyming riddles and colorful illustrations inspired by holiday songs.

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How to Set Up the Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Getting this scavenger hunt ready takes just a few minutes, and you don’t need anything fancy. Here’s how we set it up in our house:

Start by printing the Christmas treasure hunt clues. I usually print them on cardstock to make them a bit sturdier, but regular paper works just fine too.

Cut out the clues and decide on the order that works best for your home. I’ve left them unnumbered on purpose so you can customize the path. Grab a piece of scrap paper and jot down your chosen sequence, then number the backs of the clues to keep track while hiding them.

Hide each clue in the location described by the previous one. So for example, if the first clue leads to the Christmas tree, hide the second clue in the tree, and so on until you reach the final surprise.

Three festive children's books—Stick Man, A World of Cookies for Santa, and The Littlest Christmas Tree—are stacked together with one of the printable Christmas scavenger hunt clues placed on top. The clue reads, “Jingle Bells Batman smells. Oh no, where should he put his dirty clothes?” with an illustration of yellow bells tied with a red bow. Perfect visual for a holiday activity featuring Christmas scavenger hunt clues alongside classic storybooks.

The last clue should lead to a small gift, a treat, or even their stocking, whatever makes it feel magical.

If you’re playing with multiple kids, you can either:

Have them work as a team and take turns figuring out each clue.
Or split into small teams and see who finishes first (just remind them to put clues back where they found them for the next team).

Either way, it’s simple, screen-free fun that turns an ordinary evening into a Christmas memory.

A Christmas scavenger hunt clue card reading “Rocking around the Christmas tree…” lies next to festive props including two candy canes arranged in a heart shape, a “Reindeer Flight Practice Zone” sign, a green beaded necklace, and a North Pole-themed signpost pointing to Santa’s Workshop and Candy Cane Lane. The clue card features a decorated Christmas tree and a wrapped gift, making it a playful and colorful addition to holiday scavenger hunt fun.

Christmas Scavenger Hunt Riddles

These 12 festive riddles are all designed for indoor play and work in any home. Each one is inspired by a popular Christmas song and leads to a common household spot. Feel free to use them in any order that works best for your space.

Santa Claus is coming tonight. Where will you leave him a tasty bite? (leave your clue where you will leave Santa’s treat)
All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth….. If you already have them make sure you look after them… (where the children brush their teeth)
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, with every Christmas card I write (where the children do their school work, or where they have seen you write cards)
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. The next clue is where you keep warm (either by a fire if you have one, or a heater)
Jingle Bells, Batman smells. Oh no, where should he put his dirty clothes? (in a hamper, or washing machine)

A neatly arranged grid of twelve illustrated Christmas scavenger hunt clue cards, each featuring a festive rhyme and colorful drawing, surrounded by shiny red, blue, green, purple, and pink beaded necklaces. Clues reference classic holiday themes and objects, like “where you keep warm” (fireplace), “in your shoes,” “by the phone,” and “look in the mirror,” paired with cheerful images including Santa, reindeer, a sleigh, and a decorated Christmas tree. The cards offer a fun, rhyming scavenger hunt experience for kids, perfect for holiday activities at home.

Silent Night, Holy Night. Where do you spend your silent nights? (Child’s bed)
Baby, it’s cold outside – your next clue is where you left your coat (in their coat pocket)
Step into Christmas, the next clue is in your shoes (in their shoes)
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, the next clue is hiding there (either under the rug in the hall, or anywhere near there)
Rocking around the Christmas tree…. (hiding in the Christmas tree)
Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer had a very shiny nose. Have you got one? Go and have a look in a mirror (any bathroom mirror)
We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, the next clue is by the phone (next to mommy’s cell phone, or home phone if you still have one!)

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More Free Holiday Treasure Hunts

If your kids loved this Christmas scavenger hunt, here are a few more festive options to keep the fun going:

Reindeer scavenger hunt clues – Track Santa’s reindeer with playful rhymes that lead to hidden surprises.
Christmas photo scavenger hunt – Perfect for older kids and teens, this version uses phones or cameras to snap silly and festive finds.
Santa scavenger hunt printable – Follow clues from the big guy himself in this cozy indoor treasure trail.
Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt clues – Let your elf lead the way with themed riddles and holiday mischief.

Want a ready-made option?
If you’d rather grab a scavenger hunt that’s already put together, we’ve used this one on Amazon and it was a hit, no prep needed!

Get Your Free Christmas Scavenger Hunt Printable Here!

To get your free kids printables, simply add your name and email address to the form below.

If you don’t see the form below, click here to get the free riddles.

Other Scavenger Hunt Ideas

If your kids love a good treasure hunt, here are more free printable scavenger hunts to try throughout the year:

Halloween Rhyming Scavenger Hunt – Spooky clues perfect for October fun.
Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt Clues – A festive way to keep kids entertained before the big meal.
New Year’s Eve Hunt List – Ring in the new year with a playful countdown challenge.
Star Wars Scavenger Hunt – A galaxy-themed adventure for little Jedi.
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt – Great for getting outside and exploring your local area.

And if you’ve got older kids who like a challenge, check out our escape room clue ideas for even more puzzle-solving fun.

Last Updated on 28 July 2025 by Clare Brown