Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt for Grandkids | Printable Holiday Game for Ages 0–17
$6.99
Four hunts for four ages: a picture checklist, a points hunt, a riddle hunt, and a teen photo challenge. Play it together in the car, or from two towns apart on the same night. Instant download, print at home.
Description
Christmas lights are the one show in town that’s free, close by, and better in pajamas. Every December I load up whoever’s willing, crank the heater, and drive around the neighborhood at about four miles an hour. This hunt turns that slow drive into a full-blown competition, with a page for every age and a champion crowned at the end.
And if your grandkids live hours away? Pick the same night. You hunt your town, they hunt theirs, and you compare scores on a video call. They will insist their neighborhood has better lights. Let them.
One Hunt for Every Age
Everyone in the car plays their own page, so the four-year-old and the fifteen-year-old can both win something.
Little Ones (Ages 0–5): Picture Checklist
Twelve big, bright pictures to find and color in. No reading needed. A grown-up can read the words.
Big Kids (Ages 6–9): The Points Hunt
Eighteen finds worth 5 to 20 points each, plus a bonus rule that gets everyone shouting. Santa on a roof is the jackpot.
Tweens (Ages 10–13): The Riddle Hunt
Eight riddles plus a bonus riddle, written to make tweens actually think. Solve it first, then spot the real thing out the window. Answer key included (printed upside down, so no peeking).
Teens (Ages 14–17): The Photo Challenge
Ten photo dares texted straight to Grandma, who is the official judge. All rulings are final and possibly biased. There’s even a spot to fill in a prize worth their while.
Three Ways to Play
- Together: Pile in the car or bundle up for a walk, hand out the pages and pencils, and go slow.
- Across the Miles: Same night, two towns. Text photos as you go, or compare scores on a video call.
- Mail It Ahead: Print their page and the scoreboard, tuck them in an envelope with a cocoa packet, and write the hunt night on the outside. All Mom and Dad have to do is drive.
What’s Included
- Cover page
- How to Play page for Grandma, with prize ideas
- Little Ones picture checklist (ages 0–5)
- Big Kids points hunt (ages 6–9)
- Tweens riddle hunt with answer key (ages 10–13)
- Teens photo challenge (ages 14–17)
- Family scoreboard and a cut-out Light Hunt Champion award
Good to Know
- 7-page printable PDF, US Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches)
- Instant digital download. Nothing ships.
- Print at home or at any copy shop. The hunt pages are mostly white to go easy on your ink.
- Print as many hunt pages as your own family needs, year after year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we play if the grandkids live far away?
Yes. That’s one of my favorite ways to play. Pick a night, mail or email their page ahead of time, and everyone hunts their own town. Compare scores by text or video call when everyone gets home.
What if I have grandkids of different ages in the same car?
Everyone plays their own page. Each hunt crowns its own winner, and then everybody votes on the Best Find of the Night on the family scoreboard.
Do I need a color printer?
Color looks best, especially on the Little Ones picture page, but everything still works in black and white.
Is there an answer key for the riddles?
Yes. It’s printed upside down at the bottom of the riddle page, so Grandma can check answers without giving anything away.
How do I get my file?
You’ll get a download link right after checkout, and it will also be in your confirmation email. If you have any trouble, email me at hello@grandmotheronpurpose.com.
License
This printable is for your personal and family use. Please don’t share, resell, or redistribute the file. If a friend wants to play too, send them here so they can grab their own copy. Thank you for supporting a small, grandma-run shop!
