Maya, this year's present comes with a challenge. Crack every clue to claim it.
Christmas for teens
A Christmas treasure hunt for teens that's actually a challenge
Teenagers can spot a baby rhyme from across the room. Cluejoy writes a Christmas present scavenger hunt with real wordplay, an optional secret code and their name on every card, so the last present of the day is the one they talk about.
Free preview · Full hunt $7.99 one-time · No account needed
Why a Christmas gift scavenger hunt works for teens
Hand a teenager a wrapped box and you get a polite thank-you. Hand them card #1 and the present turns into something they earn. Every riddle points to a real spot in your home where the next card waits, until the final clue gives away the gift.
Our teen riddles are written for roughly 13 to 17: sarcastic enough to feel grown-up, fair enough to solve without searching online. You choose from 40 hiding spots, or type your own, like the game console or Grandma's teapot, and put them in any order.
A Christmas Eve treasure hunt with code puzzles
Switch on a code twist and every riddle from clue 2 on becomes a secret message: number code (A=1 to Z=26), Morse code, a Caesar shift, the mirror alphabet, backwards words or an old phone keypad. The decoder prints with the hunt, so nobody stays stuck for long.
Hide the cards on Christmas Eve after they go to bed, or start the hunt after dinner as a family game. Plan 20 to 40 minutes for six to eight clues. Two teens? Give each one their own hunt with different spots, so nobody can follow the other.
Set it up tonight
Pick Christmas and Teens, add their name and the gift, choose the hiding spots, then print on A4 or US Letter. Four clue cards fit on one sheet. Your answer sheet lists every spot in order, so hiding everything takes about ten minutes.
Sample clues from a teen Christmas hunt
Real clues from the Cluejoy riddle library. Your hunt uses the recipient's name and your own hiding spots.
I've got needles but no thread, and I only get dressed up in December.
Hint: Check the branches.
Leads to: Christmas tree
Christmas-movie marathon headquarters. Dig between the cushions.
Hint: Where everyone sits for the Christmas movie.
Leads to: Couch
I never leave the kitchen, yet I'm always running. Better check me, Maya, before someone eats your clue.
Hint: “Is your ___ running?” Classic prank call.
Leads to: Fridge
A number-code clue, as it prints
This is the Christmas Eve codebreaker: from card 2 on, every riddle is written in number code. Can you crack this one before you open the answer?
Each number is a letter: A=1, B=2 ... Z=26. Dashes separate letters and slashes separate words.
6-21-12-12 / 15-6 / 20-15-14-7-21-5-19 / 2-21-20 / 14-15-2-15-4-25 / 20-1-12-11-19
Show the answer
Decoded: Full of tongues but nobody talks.
Leads to: Shoe rack
Questions
What age is the teen hunt for?
Roughly 13 to 17. The riddles use wordplay and a bit of attitude, and the code twist adds a real puzzle. For younger kids, pick Kids 9-12 in the generator instead.
Can siblings do the hunt together?
Yes. Make one hunt for the group and let them race each other to solve each card, or make one hunt per teen with different hiding spots.
Does it need a phone or an app?
No. It's a printable PDF: print, cut, hide. The only screen time is the five minutes you spend making it.
What does it cost?
Building and previewing your hunt is free. The full printable hunt with every card, the decoder and your answer sheet is a one-time $7.99.
Ready to make yours?
Pick the hiding spots, type the name and the gift, and print. About five minutes, start to finish.
Make the Christmas Eve codebreaker hunt