Author:  Maria Alfano

Creating a Christmas treasure hunt for the grandkids is a lot of fun for you and for them.  I don’t know any child who doesn’t love a Christmas gift.  Or, for that matter, any grandparent who doesn’t like to give them. Can’t you just see their faces now, all lit up with the joy of receiving that special something that they asked for?  But, if you’re sneaky like I am, you want to make them work just a little to get what their hearts desire.

You can both have a little fun and excitement with a well-planned Christmas treasure hunt.  No matter how big or how small your home is, there are plenty of hiding spots for clues and gifts.

When my children were growing up, I started with small treasure hunts for their Easter eggs and slowly progressed to a more elaborate Christmas treasure hunt.  To this day, they still talk about the fun they had running about the house looking for goodies.  I did the same thing with my nephews (who are considerably younger than my children).  Needless to say, they too enjoyed the thrill of the hunt.

Create A Christmas Treasure Hunt Surprise For The Grandkids

I know what you’re thinking.  You don’t have time to create a treasure hunt and prepare a Christmas dinner for the family.  I promise, this will be fun and will only take a few minutes of your time.  The best thing about this is you can do it days in advance so it won’t interfere with any other preparations.  There is nothing to spoil or go bad so create away.

This post is all about how to create a funfilled adventurous Christmas treasure hunt for your grandchildren.

What You Need

Be prepared with the supplies you need to make this treasure hunt a big hit.

Sticky Notes – call me old-fashioned, but I prefer a hand-written clue over a computer-printed clue.  besides, sticky notes don’t require tape and they won’t hurt the paint or any other surface like scotch tape can.

Pen/Marker – you can’t write a clue down without a writing tool.  I like to use different colored pens or fine tip markers to make the clues more fun.  Of course, you can stick to one color.  That’s totally up to you and how much time you have available for this task.

To Be Considered

How many children – for a small group of children, the hunt can be spread out and each child gets their own set of hints.  If you have a larger group of grandkids, then consider preparing a set of clues for each age group.  They can go together to uncover the next one.

Child’s age – consider things like, can they read?  Do they have the ability to decipher riddles?  Perhaps, they will need mom or dad to help them out if they are too young to read.

Location – where will this hunt take place?  Is it an indoor or outdoor hunt?  If you live in a colder climate, then perhaps outdoors may not be a good idea.

Gift – the size of the gift will determine where it ends up.  You can’t put a bicycle behind the bookshelf in the living room as it will be easily spotted.  But, hiding it in the bathtub won’t be such a challenge.

What To Do

Prior to the hunt

Route – plan out the route each child will travel.  Determine where the clues will be placed.  Find the final spot where the treasure will be hidden.

Clues – write out the clues.  To make it fun, you should have at least 4 or 5 clues per child (or age group).  Make sure to number the clues so you know where to place them on the day of.  If you have more than one grandchild, you will want to add their name to the clues too.

Day of the Hunt

Gifts – hide the gifts in predetermined locations around the house.

Notes – place the sticky notes in place.  I like to start with the final clue first and work my way backward till I have clue #1 left.  It’s easier to do it that way so there is no confusion about what goes where.  And,   the clue left in your hand is the one that your grandchild gets at the start of the big event.

Ready, Set, Go!

You will need to set the ground rules before they embark on this adventure.  Tell them what you want them to do…no running or pushing.  Everyone gets a chance to read the clue before moving on to the next one.  No one opens their gift until they bring it back for all to see what they found.

Now the fun begins.  Hand your grandkids the clues and let them loose.  You may need mom or dad to help out the little ones as they roam around looking for what Grandma’s Santa left for them.  Or, you may need to answer some questions if they get stuck on a clue.  Either way, they will have fun and you will love the joy on their faces as they come back with the ultimate prize.

Sample Clues

If you are entertaining more than one child in more than one age group, it is important not to have the clues bump into each other or it may spoil the surprise.

Younger Children

For children under 6, you can use these sample clues.  The end result will be the present is found in the restroom.

1 – Brrrr it is cold outside.  I need my coat.  This hint will lead the child to the hall closet where the coats are hanging

2 – Fido is thirsty.  He needs some water.  This clue will lead them to the dog or cat food bowl where the next clue is waiting for them

3 – Grandpa would love a nice cold soda.  This should lead them to the refrigerator.  Once they open the door, the sticky note will be on a can of soda that is placed at their eye level.

4 – Somebody’s little hands need washing before dinner.  With this clue, they will head to the restroom, and surprise, they will find their gift waiting for them.

Older Children

For older children, you can make it a little more mysterious and make their brains work as much as their feet do while running about the place.  Their gift will be hiding in the laundry room.

1 – Sit down.  Stand up.  The feast is about to be served.   The feast begins in the kitchen.  It hasn’t been served yet so they will need to know where the food starts its journey to the dining table.  Somewhere in the kitchen will be their next clue.

2 – There is no boogeyman here but you will find me instead.  The boogeyman is usually under the bed or in the bedroom closet.  You decide which one is more appropriate for the child and have the clue waiting there for them.

3 – Stinky!  Smelly feet have no place in this house.  Cover them up!  This clue should lead the child to the shoe closet.

4 – Fee Fi Fo Flay.  This is where yesterday’s clothes lay.  This is the last hint that takes them into the laundry room where they will find the ultimate prize waiting for them.

In Summary

You will be the coolest and best grandparents ever.  The grandchildren will have so much fun with this Christmas treasure hunt.  Whether you make it elaborate or simple, they will love it and you will love seeing their faces lit up with joy!  You can turn this into an annual event and make it a new tradition for your family.

We would love to hear how your Christmas treasure hunt went.  Share your ideas and results.