Go on a Christmas treasure hunt
Santa has come and gone, the gifts are all unwrapped, and the cat is chewing on a ribbon in the corner. But there’s still one more trick up your sleeve…a Christmas treasure hunt! This fun family activity is a great way to keep kids busy and continue the day’s excitement.
Here are some ideas to create your own treasure hunt—and a new Christmas tradition:
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.
Decide on a prize
You can use the treasure hunt to let the kids find the gifts that are too big to wrap (like bikes) or something the whole family will enjoy sharing (like a big-screen TV for the family room). Or, just find some little gifts like a pile of candy canes, sheets of holiday stickers or a Christmas ornament.
Create simple clues
For little ones who can’t read, draw a map of the places you’ve hidden your clues and leave intriguing pieces of the treasure as encouragement to keep going. For older kids, create silly riddles or word scrambles.
Make it fun
You can make clues Christmas-themed. For instance, lead them to a hidden candy cane stash with a cute clue like this: We’re red and white and sweet to eat. Find us for a yummy treat. Or, make your clues physical to encourage everyone to get active. Use ideas like this: Hop to the kitchen table and peek under! Take giant steps to the window and look for snowflakes! Don’t forget to kiss Mom on your way to the family room!)
Add a little competition
Have the family split into teams for some friendly competition. You can even name your teams—for instance: the Stocking Stuffers vs. the Turkey Gobblers or Socks vs. Skins.
Start the clock
When you’ve created your clues, start hiding! Number the clues as you go, and don’t forget to make an answer key for yourself (just in case). Set a time limit for more fun, but be sure to help with the clues if they’re too hard to figure out.
Shop Christmas
See allYou may also like
See more-
Mother's Day How to make an indoor picnic for Mom this Mother’s Day
It’s not always a picnic trying to find the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, but creating an indoor picnic can be! With...
-
Baby Gifts for new parents: Thoughtful things to give and do
We know what to get for babies: onesies and blankies and binkies. But what about the newly overwhelmed moms and dads?...
-
Gifting Gift ideas to celebrate parents
How do you say “I love you” to parents that mean so much—the ones who’ve handled plenty of diaper changes (the really...
-
Calendar Flip Woo-Hoo—summer’s here! June 2024 holidays and celebrations
Summer is here in all her glory and we are ready. Warm days and cool drinks lay ahead. So it’s time to flip the ca...
-
Calendar Flip Yay for May! May 2024 holidays and celebrations
Flowers are blooming, students are graduating and moms are getting some well-deserved appreciation. What a fabulou...
-
Calendar Flip Welcome back, spring! April 2024 holidays and celebrations
Oh, spring, we’ve missed you most of all. We don’t even care that you bring showers—we’re just excited to be outsi...
-
Easter Easter basket ideas for all ages: DIY decorations, gifts and more
Excited to get hopping on those Easter baskets? We love to see it. And we love to inspire it, too! So we’ve put toget...
-
Graduation The College Survival Guide: Make the perfect graduation gift even better
The College Survival Guide was created to turn the most-requested high school graduation present (money) into a de...
-
Easter 25+ ways to make Easter extra fun for kids
When it comes to Easter, we love leaning in to joy, faith and the beauty in creating core memories for the whole fami...
-
Birthday 25+ ideas for creative, personal birthday care packages
When a friend’s birthday rolls around and you can’t be together to celebrate, the next best thing is to bring the cel...
-
Valentine's Day 200+ Valentine’s Day gift ideas for everyone in your heart
In junior high, I made a giant Valentine’s Day collage for my first girlfriend. She loved it. Was it amazing or dorky...
-
Valentine's Day DIY Valentine's Day treat bags for kids
One of the best things about kids valentine treat bags is the surprise element—there could be anything in there! But ...
-
Calendar Flip Hello, Love: February 2024 Holidays and Observances
Let’s warm up this cold month with love and connections. From valentine cards to dressing up your pet, this month has...
-
Calendar Flip Spring Forward: March 2024 Holidays and Observances
Color us excited! From the wearin’ of the green and more sunny fun to colorful Holi festivals and celebrating crayons...
-
Calendar Flip Welcome a New Year: January 2024 Holidays and Observances
HAPPY NEW YEAR! If that hurt your head, you might have celebrated a little too much. When you’re feeling better, we h...
-
Christmas Christmas wishes: What to write in a Christmas card
Get sample messages, tips and watch our new video guide to write the perfect Christmas card.
-
Winter What is Lunar New Year?: Shining a light on a celebration shared by billions
Lunar New Year is celebrated by an estimated 2 billion people around the world. It’s a holiday that marks the arrival...
-
Winter Find your Chinese zodiac sign just in time for Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is the longest, most celebrated event for billions of people in Asian communities around the world. Ea...
-
Kids Free Black History Month coloring pages to celebrate with the family or in the classroom
There are so many way to celebrate Black History Month. And we absolutely love the ones that can be done as a family ...
-
Birthday 60+ winter birthday party ideas for kids and adults
Having a winter birthday can be pretty bittersweet. On one hand, there’s literally magic in the air around your big d...