Who’s ready for a treasure hunt?! I am beyond excited for this post. I spend HOURS on it, but it was really fun to create!
But before I continue..check out this cuteness that happened next to me on the couch:
What a great support group I have! They tried to hold strong and wait up for me, but the fatigue won out!
Santa’s Christmas Treasure Hunt
You can do the treasure hunt a variety of different ways: As a countdown to Christmas (12 days of Christmas for Kids), all in one day, or at random. You can also have a fun prize at the very end, or provide a fun treat or activity with each clue. If you choose to use the Treasure Hunt as a countdown to Christmas, I would include a fun treat or activity everyday to help fuel the magic and excitement!
Here are a few ideas for each of the areas on the map:
Gingerbread Village. This one is easy. The activity to go along with this clue could be gingerbread cookies, building gingerbread houses, or using play dough on these gingerbread play dough mats.
North Pole. For this one, the clue could lead the kids to the freezer for a fun treat, or the activity could involve insta-snow, making your own snow globe, or even making igloos out of sugar cubes! There are also a lot of ideas on Pinterest for a North Pole Breakfast.
Manger Scene: Personally, this is the clue I would use the day before Christmas because I like to start setting the mood for the true meaning of Christmas. For this one the treasure could be a Little People Nativity Set, or as simple as Nativity sticker scenes. You could also make Gingerbread Nativity scenes. Pinterest has a lot of ideas for those too!
Frosty The Snowman. For an activity for this section of the map, you could simply enjoy a family snow day. Make snowmen, go sledding, etc. For the treasure, you could provide a snowman kit or snow art, a Snow block or Snowball maker, or if you don’t have snow where you live, you can make shaved ice or snowman shaped sugar cookies!
Polar Express. If you live in Utah, you can take your kids on the actual North Pole Express train, or you can just provide the movie or read the book 🙂 Or you can let them play with a train set. Or make a gingerbread train. The options are endless.
Fa La La La La. For the place on the map with the girl singing, I have the following clue: “‘The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer is Singing Loud For All to Hear’ CLUE: Where is there music playing?” And then wherever I typically play my Christmas music (Ipod, TV, etc.) is where the treasure would be. For this one we will either watch the movie ELF, or have a dance party, or karaoke. Any other genius ideas for music?
“Oh Christmas Tree.” For this section of the map, the treasure will be found under the Christmas tree. The activity could be growing your own Christmas Tree, making ornaments, making Christmas tree cones, or anything else Christmas tree-related (they don’t even have to be related, I just think it’s fun to do it that way).
Candy Cane Lane. You don’t really need me to provide any ideas for this section of the map. Just type “candy cane” into Pinterest and you will find plenty of ideas 🙂 For me, I will probably provide candy cane kisses as the treasure for this one. They are a family favorite. If you enjoy candy cane kisses, try making candy cane hot cocoa with them!
Santa’s Reindeer. This one would be fun for giving a fun Reindeer Christmas book, or providing your kid with reindeer antlers. Or even better, as mentioned in my post on fun Christmas Traditions, you could save this clue for one of the last days before Christmas and make Magic Reindeer Dust!
I don’t think you need anymore of my ideas, I think you get the general idea 🙂 I’d love to hear what you come up with!
Santa’s Treasure Map Printable
Click on the picture to pull up the treasure map pdf. And here are the blank treasure map clues.
Here’s your printable map along with some blank treasure map clues to write your own clues on! If you’d rather use the ones I came up with, you can find them in my Etsy shop. Almost all of my printables on my blog are completely free, but I charge a small amount for this one to try to make up for all the hours I spent making them. I purposely priced it really cheap at $2.99 so most everyone can afford them! If you are hard-up this Christmas and don’t have time to make your clues, send me a message and I will send them to you.
Here’s an example of a few of the clues (I generalized them so that they can be found in almost all homes. As long as you have a Christmas tree, beds, a freezer, a front or back door, etc.).
“Christmas” is spelled wrong on one of these treasure hunt clues. I fixed it, no worries!
THANK YOU EVERYONE! I’d love to hear about your kid’s experience with Santa’s Treasure Hunt!!!
Here are some further instructions:
If you want to do it all in one day: Each clue will lead to the next paper clue, and a prize can be found at the end.
If you want to do it as a count down (12 days of Christmas, etc.): Leave a clue in the same place every morning (under the tree, next to your Elf on the Shelf, etc.). Instead of the clue leading them to the next clue, it will lead them to a prize, activity, or treat. Then they will wait until the next day for the next clue.
If you are doing this on Christmas morning, the clues could also lead to their stocking where a coupon from Santa is waiting for them!
photo credits: KB35 via photopin cc and amazon.com
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 Kristina Manscill
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Totally cute!! I LOVE IT!!!! I think we are definitely going to be doing this 🙂
Thanks Delina! You’ll have to let me know how your kids like it!
LOOOVE this so much! I am so excited to try it out with my kids, even though they may be a bit young yet. 🙂 I had no trouble downloading the map, but when I clicked on the link to the blank clues, it took me to the map again? Can you either re-post the link or email them to me?
Thanks for all that you do!
Thanks for letting me know of the error Katie! I just sent you the printables from my Etsy shop in thanks!
Hello! Do you still have the fun clues available? I looked on your Etsy shop an they are no longer there. Thank you!
Hey Nicole. There was a glitch with the Etsy listing today. If you send me your email address I’ll send them over to you!
Pinned and am Featuring at Family Fun Friday!
Monica
http://www.happyandblessedhome.com
This is perfect!! I have an Advent calendar where I’ve put in something nice to do for every day (plus a small chocolate) leading up to Christmas. But for Christmas day, I wanted to do a scavenger hunt so the kids could have a little fun and find a special treat at the end of the hunt. This is just so cute…like I said….it’s perfect! Thanks so much!!
Oh, and I just visited your Etsy shop for the clues, but the instant download button wasn’t working. How can I get the fun clues?
Love this idea. You spent a lot of time and energy on this and it shows. How creative. You must have had so much fun. I’ve just pinned it so I can do some this year and maybe all next year. Thanks for sharing.
You’re so welcome! Thanks for stopping by.
Hi, these are fantastic! I too am looking forward to doing this with my son, very magical 🙂
I’m having trouble getting into esty, is there another way to purchase the clues printable?
Many thanks
Are the clues still available?
Miriah, yes! They are
Hi again, I managed to going to esty this time & Habe it hazed the clues. They too are fantastic! Thanks! Have a magical christmas 🙂
Thanks Katie! You have a magical one as well! And thanks for the idea for the next printable! 😉
That’s meant to say…, , I have purchased the clues
Every year on Christmas eve I do a treasure hunt for my kids to find their Christmas jammies. I’m using your clues this year. Thank you!!! I can’t wait! (Aaaaaand you made my job a lot easier 🙂
Yay! I’m so glad!
Love this! I can’t wait for Christmas day for my cute grand kids to do it.
I am totally going to use this!! Only I am going to expand it so that it works as a countdown from the beginning of December. Thank you for taking the time to create this and inspire others to have more family time!!
That is a great idea Dawn!
Hello! I love to buy the clues. Do you still have them available?
Hi there is it possible if you could send me the clues
Many thanks
Such a cute idea!! I love this. I think this might have to be a new tradition at our house. I love the holidays! Is there any way you could send me a copy of the clues? I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Love this idea. I haven’t been able to access etsy. Please can you send me a copy of the clues?
Thank you so much xx
I would love a copy of the clues as well. You are so talented! Thank you
Wonderful Idea! You are amazing! Are your clues still available online? I would love to get a copy of them!
I do a scavenger hunt each year with my grandchildren before we make a gingerbread house …this is too cute and would make my job so much easier. How do I get your map and clues from your etsy site?
click on the etsy link in the post. I just did and it worked!