Captain ClueA Christmas morning hunt that ends at the presents
The idea is simple: one present (or the whole pile) goes missing overnight, and the first clue is waiting where the children will look first, in a stocking or under the tree. Each clue leads to the next room, and the last one leads to the present.
It works just as well on Christmas Eve, on Boxing Day with cousins visiting, or for the one big present you want to make an event of.
Christmas clues for around the house
Copy these, or use them as a starting point. The answer is the next hiding spot: put the following clue there. Read them aloud for children who can't read yet.
- “I'm green all year and dressed up in December, with lights and baubles you'll always remember.” Answer: the Christmas tree.
- “We hang in a row, one for each sleepyhead; empty at night, but full when you jump out of bed.” Answer: the stockings.
- “I have 24 doors and you open one a day; look behind me now to find out the way.” Answer: the advent calendar.
- “I'm round and green and hang on the door; I welcome your guests, and I hide one clue more.” Answer: the wreath.
- “I keep things cold while the house is warm; the milk for Santa stays here till morn.” Answer: the fridge.
- “Where you dream of reindeer, sleighs and snow, look under the pillow, then off you go!” Answer: your bed.
- “Wrapped in paper and tied with a bow, but I'm not the treasure. Shake me and go!” Answer: the decoy present.
How many Christmas clues per age
Christmas morning is exciting enough already, so keep the hunt short. Children want to get to the presents, and that's fine.
- Ages 3–4: 3 clues, about 10 minutes, a grown-up reads each one.
- Ages 5–7: 4 or 5 clues, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Ages 8–10: 5 or 6 clues, 20 to 30 minutes, add a simple code.
- Ages 11–14: 6 to 8 clues with codes and riddles, up to 45 minutes.
Little kids vs older kids and teens
Little ones want to run, find and open: picture clues, three or four stops and a grown-up reading aloud. Older kids and teens find that too easy, so give them a proper puzzle: a code to crack (shift every letter by one), a riddle that only makes sense with the clue before it, or a time limit before the present is “handed back to the elves”.
With both at home, let the older ones be the elves: they read the clues aloud and guard the code, and the little ones do the finding.
Where to hide Christmas clues safely
Keep clue cards at child height and away from candles, the fireplace and the tree lights. Nobody should need to climb the tree or pull at its branches: tuck cards under it or tie them to the lowest branch with a ribbon. Stockings, the coat hooks by the door, the shoe rack, a sofa cushion and the fruit bowl are all good, safe spots.
Our sample: The Christmas Morning Detective Mystery
This sample hunt for ages 5 to 9 starts on a Christmas morning when one special present has vanished. The junior detectives follow tiny elf-boot footprints from the sofa to the bookshelf and the coat hooks, and find the gift by the coffee table, where a secret word on the gift tag opens the box.
All four clue cards and the answers are below, and you can download them as a free PDF to print. No email needed.
Make it your own Christmas hunt
Want clues for your own living room, your tree and the ages around your table? Captain Clue writes a complete hunt for your home in minutes: a story, clues with answers, hints and a list of where to hide each card. Preview it for free, then print it (€9) or play it on phones (€19).