🎄 The Great Christmas Morning Jingle Hunt 🎄
Host Guide
What you'll need
- These pages, printed
- Scissors
- Tape or 8 small envelopes
- The big presents, already tucked in the dryer
- Optional: a pen so players can write down their secret letters (see Make It Last Longer)
Setup time: About 15 to 20 minutes.
How to play
- Print and cut out the 9 clue cards along the ✂ lines.
- Use the Hiding Map below to hide Clues 2 to 9. Each card goes at the spot listed, not the spot it describes.
- Hand Clue 1 to the players to start the hunt.
- Players read each clue, race to the spot, and find the next card there. Grandpa Joe can be the official Head Elf Reader and read every clue aloud for our 5-year-old.
- If anyone gets stuck, read the Backup Hint from the Answer Key. Clue 9 leads to the presents!
Notes and swaps
- Fireplace mantel: I left this one out to keep little hands away from the fire.
- Behind the Christmas tree: I swapped this for the piano bench, because the tree lights' cord and outlet are usually back there.
- Oven mitt drawer: I skipped it, since it usually sits right next to the stove.
- Kid height: Every spot is reachable for a 5-year-old. Tape the fridge card low on the fridge door. Put the coat closet card on the closet floor.
- Piano bench: A grown-up should help lift the lid so no fingers get pinched.
- Pillow: If the kids' room has more than one pillow, pick one. The hint says "a pillow," so any will do.
- Dryer (prize spot): Make sure it's turned off, cool, and empty of laundry before you hide the presents. Remind players to open the door and reach in, not climb in.
- Pickles: Check that Pickles isn't shut inside the coat closet or dryer when you're done hiding things! 🐱
- Spare spots: These are all safe swaps from your list if you want to change anything: cookie jar, under the fruit bowl, behind the tree (only if no cords are nearby).
- Safety: Please keep an eye on the youngest player as everyone dashes around, and remind the crew to walk, not run, near doorways.
Hiding Map
| Clue # | Hide this card at | It leads players to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hand to players at start | Under the couch cushions (Living room) |
| 2 | Under the couch cushions (Living room) | Fridge door (Kitchen) |
| 3 | Fridge door, taped low (Kitchen) | Toy box (Kids' bedroom) |
| 4 | Toy box (Kids' bedroom) | Shoe rack (Hallway) |
| 5 | Shoe rack (Hallway) | Inside the piano bench (Living room) |
| 6 | Inside the piano bench (Living room) | Under the bath mat (Bathroom) |
| 7 | Under the bath mat (Bathroom) | Coat closet floor (Hallway) |
| 8 | Coat closet floor (Hallway) | Under the pillow (Kids' bedroom) |
| 9 | Under the pillow (Kids' bedroom) | Inside the dryer (Laundry room) |
| 🎁 Prize | Inside the dryer (Laundry room) | The big presents! |
Printable Clue Cards
✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Clue #1 🎅
Ho ho ho! It's Christmas, wake up, sleepyheads! Your very first clue isn't far from your beds. Where the family snuggles to watch holiday shows, Lift up the soft squishy seats and look under those!
Picture hint: 🛋️ Secret letter: C
✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Clue #2 ❄️
A tall humming box keeps the milk nice and cold. It's chilly as the North Pole, or so we've been told! Check out its door where the magnets all meet. Your next clue is there, right by something to eat!
Picture hint: 🧊 Secret letter: H
✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Clue #3 🎁
Santa's elves make toys by the sleigh-full each year, But you've got a spot where your toys live right here! Lift up the lid where the teddies all hide. Your next clue is snuggled with playthings inside!
Picture hint: 🧸 Secret letter: R
✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Clue #4 🦌
Reindeer have hooves, and Santa has boots. Elves wear pointy slippers to match their green suits! Where your pairs wait in rows to go out in the snow, Peek in among them. Your next clue's below!
Picture hint: 👟 Secret letter: I
✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Clue #5 🎶
Fa la la la la! Hear the carolers sing! Plink plonk go the keys with a ding-a-ling-ling! The seat by the music has secrets inside. Ask a grown-up to lift it, where the songbooks hide!
Picture hint: 🎹 Secret letter: S
✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Clue #6 🛷
After sliding down chimneys, old Santa's all sooty. He needs a big bubble bath, rub-a-dub-dooty! Where drippy toes land when the bubbles are done, Lift the fluffy floor square. This hunt's getting fun!
Picture hint: 🛁 Secret letter: T
✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Clue #7 🐱
Pickles the cat thinks this spot is the best, Where winter coats hang for a cozy cat rest! Open the door where the puffy coats are about. Look low on the floor. There's a clue there, no doubt!
Picture hint: 🧥 Secret letter: M
✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Clue #8 ⭐
Last night you were dreaming of sugarplums sweet, While Santa crept by on his tippy-toe feet. Go back to the place where your sleepy head lay, And lift up the fluffy thing. Hip hip hooray!
Picture hint: 🛏️ Secret letter: A
✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Clue #9 🎄✨
You've followed the clues, you've been clever and quick. Now here comes the BIG one, a surprise from Saint Nick! Find the round tumbling box where warm socks spin around. Open its door and see what you've found!
Picture hint: 🧺 Secret letter: S
✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Answer Key and Backup Hints
| Clue # | Answer (spot) | Backup hint |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Under the couch cushions | "Where do we all sit together to watch TV? Look under where you sit!" |
| 2 | Fridge door | "It's in the kitchen, and it keeps the food cold!" |
| 3 | Toy box | "Go to your bedroom. Where do your toys go at clean-up time?" |
| 4 | Shoe rack | "Head to the hallway. What do you put |