Christmas Quest 2022
It’s a Mile family tradition to have our kids complete a puzzle or hunt of sorts each year for Christmas. Like most traditions, the origins date back many moons, just after the kids learned the legend of Santa. And just in time too, because that was the year, they got a trip to Disneyland. No way was I going to let that poser get credit!! Both kids enjoyed the journey of discovering the gift and solving the puzzle so much that they asked for every gift to be given that way. A compromise was struck, and we decided to make it a Christmas tradition.
We’ve done clues that lead to more clues, we’ve had tasks (that masqueraded as chores or vice versa) that had to be completed to unlock gifts, hunts to gather clues, riddles, and detective work. Until this year, the kids worked together to complete the quest. Now that they’re both elder teens and less willing to work together, we decided to send them in separate directions. Additionally, we used multiple forms of media – like this blog – and real-life clues.
Here’s how it went
After opening the usual under-the-tree and stocking gifts, we had to direct the kids to the table with the starting point and instructions.
Each flyer had a unique QR code that opened onto individualized playlists. Using a combination of music, lyrics, and the pictures to direct them where to go, they had to find each decoration or ornament that contained a clue.
The ever-important instructions
Where to start:
How to play:
- The playlist contains songs and pictures that will help on your quest.
- Use the pictures to discover where the item is located.
- Pictures will contain the objects, but they may not be in the exact same spot in real life.
Completing the Quest:
- Once you’ve found all the objects in real life, you’ll need to take what you’ve found on them to solve the final puzzle.
- Identify and locate the final item, look inside to get the prize!!
Each ornament or decoration was located throughout our house or in their vehicle. Most of these items have been up all season, however the night before Christmas Mr Mile added stickers to each of the objects that corresponded to the song in their playlist.
Bean had to find:
Converse – WHI (corresponding song: Step into Christmas)
Grinch – TE (You’re a Mean One Mr Grinch)
Silver Bells – TE (Carol of the Bells)
Marshmallow aka the S’morenament – AP (A Marshmallow World)
Reindeer heart – OT (Last Christmas)
The letters spell out: WHITE TEAPOT another object in the house that had to be located. Inside was a cash “prize” because, really, what do you get broke, elder teens.
Bills’s Extraordinary Playlist
As with Bean, each ornament or decoration was located throughout our house or in their vehicle with stickers to solve the final puzzle. However, for Bill it was little more challenging 1) he specifically asked for more of a challenge and 2) some of his items blended in a little too well.
Bill had to find:
Turtle “doves” (not actually birds) – R (corresponding song:12 Days of Christmas)
Mistletoe – ED (I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus)
Hawaiian Santa – S (Mele Kalikimaka)
Nightmare Before Christmas – A (What’s This?)
Birdhouse – CK (Walking in a Winter Wonderland)
The letters spell out: RED SACK.
And then it was done. Another Christmas Quest completed and a new one soon to come!