New Year's Day Family Scavenger Hunt (Free Printable)
Print a free New Year's Day scavenger hunt made for the slow first morning of the year. The 28 finds mix household objects with little memory and wish prompts, so the whole family plays in pajamas.
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The hunt list
All 28 finds are loaded above. The ones with points are prompts to talk, not objects to fetch, so a grown-up can read them aloud for early readers.
- A photo from last year that makes you smile (2 pts)
- A calendar for the new year
- The oldest thing in the kitchen
- Something you got as a gift this winter
- A shoe that is too small for someone now (2 pts)
- A book someone finished last year
- A drawing made by the youngest person here
- A ticket, program or wristband from a day out (2 pts)
- A pencil to write a wish with
- Something you learned to use last year (2 pts)
- A leftover from last night's celebration
- A mug for the first warm drink of the year
- A coin with last year's date on it (3 pts)
- Something that needs fixing this year
- A seed, bulb or houseplant to grow this year (2 pts)
- A map, globe or picture of a place you want to visit
- A blanket big enough for two people
- A game the family played most last year
- Something you have outgrown and could pass on
- A hat for a walk later today
- A family member who can name one good thing about last year (3 pts)
- A family member who can name one hope for this year (3 pts)
- Someone willing to tell a funny story from last year (3 pts)
- A song to start the year with, played out loud (2 pts)
- A note to your future self, sealed in an envelope (5 pts)
- A window to watch the first daylight of the year through
- A high five for everyone in the room (2 pts)
- Something that will still be here next New Year's Day
How to run a slow New Year's Day hunt
January first is a day when nobody wants to rush. This hunt is written for that mood. There is no timer and no winner, only a list that nudges the family to notice what happened last year and what they would like to happen next.
- Print one sheet for the household, or one per child if they like to tick their own boxes.
- Start after a late breakfast. Read the list together and let people claim the finds they like best.
- Objects come to the kitchen table. Talking prompts are answered out loud, and anyone can pass.
- Save the sealed note to your future self for last, and put the envelopes somewhere you will find them next December.
- End with the walk you found the hat for, if the weather allows.
Ways to change it
- Grandparents on a call. Put a phone on the table and let a relative far away answer the memory prompts too. The story items are often their favorites.
- Photo year. Instead of fetching objects, scroll through last year's photos together and find one for each month.
- Tidy start. Lean on the outgrown and needs fixing items and finish with a bag for donation and a short repair list for the year.
- Toddler version. Keep only the object finds, such as the blanket, the mug and the hat, and let the little ones carry everything to a pile.
Tips for a gentle morning
Let the talking prompts stay optional. A child who had a hard year may prefer to fetch the coin and the calendar, and that is fine.
Keep a pen and envelopes ready before you start. The note to your future self is the item families remember most, and it stalls if people have to hunt for paper.
Play music while you search. One song to start the year is on the list for a reason.
Keeping the morning safe
Clear away leftover party items first, especially glass, candles, sparklers and anything with small parts. Keep the hunt to rooms an adult can see into, ask children to walk on floors that may still be scattered with decorations, and save the outdoor walk for after everyone is dressed for the cold.
Printing for New Year's Day
Checklist layout with the name line on prints cleanly on one page. Turn shuffle off so the talking prompts stay grouped near the end, where they work best. If you plan to keep the sheet with the sealed notes, print on heavier paper so it survives a year in a drawer.
FAQ
How is this different from the New Year's Eve hunt?
The Eve hunt is a party game with photo poses and noisemakers. This one is quiet and reflective, built for a slow morning with the whole family at home.
How long does it take?
About 45 minutes if you talk through the prompts, or 15 minutes if you only fetch objects. There is no timer, so stop whenever the coffee runs out.
Can we play it on a different day?
Yes. It works on any day of the first week in January, including the last day of winter break before school starts.