Christmas Scavenger Hunt Printable
Ready-made indoor and Christmas lights scavenger hunt lists, or write your own. Every item prints with a tick box — no prep after printing.
How to run a Christmas scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt works best as something that fills time rather than something with a winner. Print one sheet per child, hand out pencils, and let them work at their own pace. The indoor list suits Christmas morning while presents are being sorted; the outdoor version is better as a walk after dark when the decorations are lit.
Children who can't read yet usually manage fine with a checklist — they recognise decorations and ask what the rest are. If you're mixing ages, pairing a younger child with an older one works better than simplifying the list.
The outdoor Christmas lights version
Choose your route before you leave rather than deciding as you go. Most streets have one house that goes all out, and planning around it avoids a lot of aimless walking in the cold. Take a torch even if the route is well lit, and set a turning-around point in advance so nobody argues about how much further to go.
For both versions, "look only, don't touch" is worth saying out loud at the start. Decorations at child height get pulled off trees otherwise.
Customising the list
Type one item per line in the box above and the page rebuilds as you type. This is useful for matching what you actually own — swap "nativity scene" for whatever your house has, or add your own in-jokes for a group who knows each other well. Around twelve items keeps most children busy for twenty to thirty minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pay or register?
No. The tool is free and doesn't ask for an email address.
What ages does this suit?
The indoor list suits roughly ages three to ten. Older children usually enjoy it more if you add a time limit or ask them to photograph each item instead of ticking it off.
Can I print several copies?
Yes — print as many as you like. They're for personal, classroom and community use.
How do I use less ink?
Press Toggle low ink mode before printing. Colours and backgrounds are stripped out, leaving black text on white.