Cryptic Clues for a Kids Christmas Treasure Hunt

Looking for a fun and easy way to celebrate Christmas Eve? Our printable treasure hunt is the perfect festive activity for little elves!

Christmas Treasure Hunt Instructions 🎅

Get ready for a holly-jolly adventure with your little elves! Follow these simple steps to set up your Christmas treasure hunt around the house:

1️⃣ Print Your Clues – Open the PDF on our Pixie Freebies landing and print all three sheets of clue cards. There are 18 clues in total.

2️⃣ Cut Them Out – Carefully cut along the lines to separate each clue card.

3️⃣ Set Up the Hunt – You can place the clues in any order that works for your home. Hide each clue in a location that leads to the next clue.

4️⃣ Keep the First Clue – Do not hide the first clue! This is the one you’ll hand to the child(ren) to start the game.

5️⃣ Hide the Final Treasure – The last clue should lead to the final surprise — perhaps under the Christmas tree, in a stocking, or even tucked into their bed for a magical ending!

6️⃣ Start the Adventure! – Hand over the first clue and watch the excitement unfold as your kids follow the trail to their Christmas treasure.

🎁 Alternative Idea: You can also use these clue cards as part of an advent calendar! For larger gifts that don’t fit in the drawers, tuck a clue inside instead and send kids on a mini treasure hunt to find the hidden item.

This exclusive set of 18 clue cards is available for free—sign up for our mailing list to unlock instant access. Join now and let the adventure begin!

Handy Tips for a Magical Hunt 🎁

✅ Adjust the Difficulty – For younger children, use fewer clues to make the hunt shorter and easier. Simply remove some cards before setting up.

✅ Customize the Locations – Swap any clues that don’t fit your home for ones that make sense for your space (like under the tree, by the stockings, or near the cookies for Santa).

✅ Make It More Exciting – Hide small surprises along the way, such as candy canes, stickers, or tiny notes from Santa’s elves to keep the excitement going.

✅ Christmas Treasure Ideas – The final “treasure” doesn’t have to be big—just something festive and fun! Here are a few ideas: