Christmas Scavenger Hunt: 35 Ideas for Indoors and Outdoors (Kids and Families)

A Christmas scavenger hunt is one of the easiest holiday games to set up: hand out a list, start a timer, and let everyone race around the house or down the street. It works for toddlers (with help), school-age kids, teens and competitive grown-ups alike. Here are two ready-to-use lists, one for indoors and one for a winter walk.

How to play

1. Make teams of 2 to 4 people. Mix ages so little ones have a helper.
2. Give each team the list and a pen. For younger kids, read the items aloud.
3. Set a time limit: 15 minutes indoors, 30 to 45 minutes for a walk.
4. Tick off each item as you find it. Indoors, bring the item back to the "base". Outdoors, just spot it (or snap a photo).
5. Most items found wins. If there's a tie, the fastest team wins.

Indoor Christmas scavenger hunt (20 items)

1. Something red
2. Something that sparkles
3. A sock
4. Something shaped like a star
5. Something soft
6. A ribbon or bow
7. Something that smells nice
8. A spoon
9. Something green
10. A picture of a snowman (or draw one!)
11. Something that makes a jingle sound
12. A book with a winter cover
13. A blanket
14. Something round like an ornament
15. A mug for hot cocoa
16. Something gold or silver
17. A hat or scarf
18. Something that lights up
19. A wrapped present (don't open it!)
20. Something smaller than your thumb

Winter walk scavenger hunt (15 things to spot)

1. A pine cone
2. A bird
3. Footprints in the snow, mud or sand
4. A wreath on a door
5. Something red outside
6. A house with Christmas lights
7. A snowman, or a picture of one
8. A holly or evergreen leaf
9. A puddle or an icicle
10. Someone wearing a hat
11. A star shape
12. A gift-wrapped package
13. A tree with no leaves
14. Your breath in cold air (or a cloud shaped like an animal)
15. A dog going for a walk

Tips for different ages

• Toddlers and preschoolers (2 to 5): use 6 to 8 items and add pictures next to the words. Let them carry a basket.
• Kids (6 to 10): use the full list and add a rule that every item must be returned to its place afterwards.
• Teens and adults: turn it into a photo hunt, add bonus points for creativity ("the most festive photo of a spoon") or use riddles instead of plain items.
• Parties and classrooms: give each team a different color pen and run indoor and outdoor rounds back to back.

Make it part of a bigger game night

A scavenger hunt is a perfect "get moving" round between quieter games like Christmas bingo and Christmas trivia. See our full list of Christmas games for family.

Printable version

Both lists come from our Family Christmas Game Night Pack, as printable tick-off sheets with space for names and finishing times. The pack also includes 40 trivia questions with answers, 12 bingo cards, 36 Who's Most Likely To cards, a Left-Right gift swap story, This or That, a scoreboard and champion certificates. It's $10 as an instant download.