Christmas I Spy Game for Kids

A Christmas I Spy game keeps kids busy with paper, markers, and sharp eyes. Your child draws 12 Christmas pictures on a game sheet, swaps sheets with a sibling or friend, then hunts for each item and circles it. You need no screens and no store run. Setup takes about 15 minutes, and one round fills 20 to 30 minutes.

What Do You Need to Play?

• White paper, 1 sheet per player
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Markers
• Crayons
• Dot stickers (for marking found items)
• Kitchen timer
• Newspaper (to protect the table)

How Do You Make the I Spy Sheet?

1. Give each player one sheet of white paper. Draw a 3-by-4 grid with the ruler and pencil to make 12 boxes.
2. Draw one Christmas item in each box: Christmas tree, star, candy cane, snowman, gift box, reindeer, bell, stocking, ornament, candle, angel, snowflake.
3. Label each picture with its name. Labels settle arguments later.
4. Color the pictures with markers or crayons. Slide newspaper under the paper first so markers do not bleed onto the table.
5. Trade sheets with another player. Each hunter plays with the sheet they received.

How Do You Play the Game?

1. Before the hunt, a grown-up walks through the rooms and checks that all 12 items exist in the house. Cross off any missing item and write in a backup: wreath, fireplace, snow globe, nutcracker.
2. Set the kitchen timer for 15 minutes.
3. Hunters walk through the house, spot each real item, and circle its picture on the sheet or press a dot sticker on it. No running indoors.
4. The first player to mark all 12 calls out "I spy them all!" and wins the round.

What If the Decorations Are Not Up Yet?

Draw a busy Christmas scene instead of a grid. Pack the 12 items into one picture: the tree, the star on top, stockings on the mantel, gifts underneath. Swap drawings with another player, set the timer for 10 minutes, and circle each hidden item you find on their sheet.

What If Something Goes Wrong?

• Pictures too small to read: redraw each item at least 2 inches tall. Labels fix the rest.
• Your house lacks an item: the grown-up walk-through catches this before the hunt. Cross it off and pick a backup from the list above.
• One child finishes fast and gets bored: run round two in reverse order, or let the winner hide 5 dot stickers around one room for a bonus hunt.
• Arguments over what counts: the grown-up acts as judge. Write "the grown-up decides" at the top of the sheet before the timer starts.

What Other Christmas Games Can You Make?

Pair this hunt with the Christmas Tree Scavenger Hunt for Kids for an outdoor round, then wind down with Christmas Bingo or the Christmas Word Search at the table.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What ages can play this Christmas I Spy game?

Kids ages 4 and up can draw their own game sheet and hunt on their own. Kids ages 2 and 3 can play too, with one change: an older sibling or parent draws the sheet, and the toddler points to each item instead of circling it. Walk with toddlers during the hunt so they keep clear of breakable decorations.

How messy is this I Spy game?

This game is barely messy at all. Kids draw on paper at the table, so the only risk is marker bleed-through onto the table. Slide a sheet of newspaper under each game sheet before kids start coloring. Stickers lift off paper without tearing it. After the hunt, the sheets stack flat for the recycling bin or the fridge door.

How long does the game take?

Drawing and coloring the sheet takes 15 to 20 minutes. The hunt itself takes 10 to 15 minutes with the timer set. Plan 30 to 40 minutes total for one full round. If kids want a second round, the drawn-scene version takes another 15 minutes since the sheets exist from round one.

Is this game safe for toddlers?

Yes, with two rules. First, skip the small dot stickers for kids under 3 and let them circle finds with a crayon instead, since stickers are a choking hazard. Second, no climbing: kids hunt at eye level only, and the grown-up moves any high decoration down or crosses it off the sheet before the hunt starts.

Be safe and have fun!