Hold a Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Kids love solving mysteries. But when it comes to Christmas, a child will be so inquisitive to try and find presents, they'll want to complete whatever item can get them their presents quicker. For a little spark into the Christmas spirit, prepare a Christmas scavenger hunt. This article will explain how to hold one when the time comes.

Steps

 * 1) Get out several sheets of paper and a colorful writing utensil. You'll need to create several clues to the "finder" to alert them to the next place where they'll find the next clue.[[Image:Hold a Christmas Scavenger Hunt Step 1.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Plan out your clue locations. If you can, prepare yourself with several boxes (boxes that look like gifts work best) to hide each clue inside. You can also place the clue underneath safe Christmas decorations, tinsel, or something else. Only use stuff that is associated to Christmas, and plan out where each will go so that you can tackle the actual clue writing.[[Image:Hold a Christmas Scavenger Hunt Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 3) Write your clues. Think up several rhymes that will help guide your kids to their next intended location.[[Image:Hold a Christmas Scavenger Hunt Step 3.jpg|center]]
 * 4) * Use your imagination when thinking up ideas. The key is to keep your kids mind's thinking, yet still keeping them uninformed until the very end.
 * 5) Spread the clues from all the clue-papers all around the house. Make sure to disperse them into several rooms over long distances. If you have more than one floor, you can even have them chase up and down the stairs at times. Criss-cross the notes. If you can, have the clues hit into every room of your house.[[Image:Hold a Christmas Scavenger Hunt Step 4.jpg|center]]
 * 6) * Make sure you second-guess your own kid's intended route-markings, after you place the clues in their intended spots.  Check to make sure the planned route you've set up for your kids can safely get them and you there, without crossing into a former location's answer.
 * 7) * A light mark of a pencil can help make sure you haven't crossed into a previous location's clue a second time around.
 * 8) * Clues that are in a room, can be placed in two different spots, but make sure they are easy to get access to.
 * 9) Don't try to place your clues in spots where you don't want your children to be. This could probably be inside cabinets in the bathroom or inside a master bedroom, or wherever you decide it imperative for them not to look.[[Image:Hold a Christmas Scavenger Hunt Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 10) Reveal the coveted surprise in the last room. Either wrap up several gifts in a separate box, or if the gift is larger than one other gift box, have it in a place where you can be assured your kids can't accidentally notice the first time around and move it shortly before the scavenger hunt begins.[[Image:Hold a Christmas Scavenger Hunt Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 11) Gather your children and let them try out your scavenger hunt. Enjoy the hunt, and get into the Christmas spirit![[Image:Hold a Christmas Scavenger Hunt Step 7.jpg|center]]

Tips

 * If the children are too small and you are still baby-proofing the house to keep them away from things, make sure you don't put any clues on a stairway path.
 * Make sure no clues are directly visible from any other walking path.
 * Make yourself a very basic outline of the house during the time when your kids are scavenging the house for the clues, making sure all notes have been properly found.
 * Tick off each clue as they are found on the map.
 * Use the map to help you remember where each clue is being kept, and to make sure each clue is properly located in the right order.
 * For some extra fun, have your kids go their own separate way around the house. Have your one child go to a bedroom on the first floor, while at the same time an older child may go to a washroom on the second floor (or on the opposite end of your house).

Related wikiHows

 * Create a Scavenger Hunt