• 52 clues
  • Checked October 2026

Gingerbread Scavenger Hunt Clues

The gingerbread man has run away: seven notes lead from stop to stop, and the last to the cookies.

Gingerbread Scavenger Hunt Clues

All 52
  1. I tried your bed but I couldn't keep still. Look under the pillow. Catch me? Never will!Trail
  2. It's cold outside, so I borrowed a mitten. Check the basket where they're sittin'.Trail
  3. I hid in the socks. They smelled like feet! Check the laundry basket. I had to retreat.Trail
  4. That oven was hot! I needed to chill. Check the fridge door. I can't sit still!Trail
  5. I tried on your shoe. Too big for me! Look inside it, quick as can be.Trail
  6. I knocked on the door, then ran away quick. Check the doormat. That's my trick!Trail
  7. I read my story but skipped the end. Check the bookshelf, my speedy friend.Trail
  8. Run, run, run, but the running's done. I'm ____ with cookies for everyone.Cookies

Next step Next: a Christmas clue trail to a present

All 52 clues

Home trail 16

  • A bath? No thanks, I'd turn to mush! I hopped past the tub in a great big rush. Hide the next note: the bathtub. Tape it to the outside of the dry tub.
  • I bounced on the couch, one, two, three! Look under a cushion. You can't catch me! Hide the next note: the couch cushions. Tuck it under a cushion, one corner showing.
  • I hid in the socks. They smelled like feet! Check the laundry basket. I had to retreat. Hide the next note: the laundry basket. Lay it on top of the laundry.
  • I knocked on the door, then ran away quick. Check the doormat. That's my trick! Hide the next note: the doormat. Slide it under one corner, indoors.
  • I played with your toys while you were out. Dig in the toy box and give a shout! Hide the next note: the toy box. Lay it on top of the toys.
  • I pressed my nose against the glass. Check the windowsill as you pass. Hide the next note: the windowsill. Stand it against the glass.
Show all 52 clues (46 more)

Home trail, continued

  • I read my story but skipped the end. Check the bookshelf, my speedy friend. Hide the next note: the bookshelf. Stand it between two books, one end showing.
  • I started out in a mixing bowl. Look inside it. I'm on a roll! Hide the next note: the big mixing bowl. Lay it inside the bowl.
  • I swung on a branch of the Christmas tree. Check the lowest one. You can't catch me! Hide the next note: the lowest branch of the Christmas tree. Hang it on the branch like an ornament.
  • I tried on your shoe. Too big for me! Look inside it, quick as can be. Hide the next note: your shoe by the door. Push it into the toe of the shoe.
  • I tried your bed but I couldn't keep still. Look under the pillow. Catch me? Never will! Hide the next note: your pillow. Lay it under the pillow.
  • It's cold outside, so I borrowed a mitten. Check the basket where they're sittin'. Hide the next note: the mitten basket. Tuck it inside a mitten.
  • Round the table legs I ran and ran. Look under a chair. Catch me if you can! Hide the next note: a kitchen chair. Tape it under the seat.
  • Sugar and spice made me this way. Check the spice rack. I can't stay! Hide the next note: the spice rack. Stand it behind the jars a child can reach.
  • That oven was hot! I needed to chill. Check the fridge door. I can't sit still! Hide the next note: the refrigerator door. Hold it on the door with a magnet, low down.
  • Up the stairs, down the stairs, quick as a wink! Check the bottom step, I think. Hide the next note: the bottom stair. Tape it to the front edge of the step.

School trail 16

  • All that running, but I can't get wet! Check the fountain. You haven't caught me yet. Hide the next note: the drinking fountain. Tape it to the wall beside the fountain.
  • The custodian nearly swept me away! Ask which way I ran today. Hide the next note: the custodian. Ask the custodian to carry it and hand it over.
  • Down the slide with a whee and a whoosh! Check the playground door. Give it a push. Hide the next note: the door to the playground. Tape it inside the door, at a child's height.
  • I looked for a hat in the lost and found. Dig through the mittens. I'm not around! Hide the next note: the lost and found. Lay it on top of the pile.
  • I peeked in on the class next door. Knock and ask. I ran once more! Hide the next note: the classroom next door. Ask the teacher next door to hold it.
  • I ran so fast, I deserve a prize. Check the trophy case. Use your eyes! Hide the next note: the trophy case. Tape it to the glass, low down.
  • I ran to the library to find my book. Ask the librarian where to look. Hide the next note: the library. Ask the librarian to hold it at the desk.
  • I sang my song in the music room: you can't catch me! Then off I zoomed. Hide the next note: the music room. Tape it beside the music room door.
  • I told the principal I can't be caught. Check the principal's door. I'm off like a shot! Hide the next note: the principal's door. Tape it to the door, or ask the principal to hand it over.
  • I tried to leave by the big front door. Check the welcome mat on the floor. Hide the next note: the mat at the front entrance. Slide it under one corner, indoors.
  • I tripped and chipped my gingerbread toe. The nurse patched me up. Now off I go! Hide the next note: the nurse's office. Ask the nurse to hold it.
  • I typed you a note in the computer lab. Look by a keyboard. Quick, make a grab! Hide the next note: the computer lab. Lean it against a keyboard.
  • I zipped past the office, quick as a flash. Ask at the front desk about my dash. Hide the next note: the school office. Ask the office staff to hold it at the front desk.
  • In the art room I painted my buttons bright. Look by the brushes. I'm out of sight! Hide the next note: the art room. Stand it in the pot of brushes, or tape it beside the door.
  • In the cafeteria I hid by a tray. Nobody's eating ME today! Hide the next note: the cafeteria. Lay it on the stack of trays, or ask the kitchen staff to hold it.
  • In the gym I ran and jumped and spun. Look by the door. That was fun! Hide the next note: the gym. Tape it beside the gym door, at a child's height.

One room, ages 3 to 5 12

  • A toy oven? No more ovens for me! Look in the play kitchen. Then come find me! Hide the next note: the play kitchen. Lay it inside the toy oven.
  • I built a tower and knocked it down. Look in the blocks. I'm leaving town! Hide the next note: the block bin. Lay it on top of the blocks.
  • I can't wash my hands, I'd melt away! Look by the sink. I couldn't stay. Hide the next note: the sink. Tape it to the cupboard door under the sink.
  • I couldn't reach the doorknob. I'm too small! Look by the door, next to the wall. Hide the next note: the door. Tape it beside the door, at a child's height.
  • I drew you a picture, then off I ran. Look in the crayons, fast as you can. Hide the next note: the crayons. Slip it in among the crayons.
  • I looked at a book with pictures of me. Check the book basket. One, two, three! Hide the next note: the book basket. Stand it among the books.
  • I sat in your chair. It fit just right! Look underneath. I'm out of sight. Hide the next note: your chair. Tape it under the seat.
  • I sat on the rug for a story, too. Look under the corner. A note for you! Hide the next note: the story rug. Slide it under one corner.
  • I smelled the snack and ran in fear. Look under the snack table. I was here! Hide the next note: the snack table. Tape it under the tabletop.
  • I took a nap with the teddy bear. Look right beside him. I was there! Hide the next note: the teddy bear. Sit it in the bear's lap.
  • I tried on a coat. It was way too big! Look by the coat hooks. I danced a jig. Hide the next note: the coat hooks. Hang it from a low hook.
  • I tried on a hat, a cape and a shoe. Check the dress-up clothes. Peekaboo! Hide the next note: the dress-up clothes. Pin it to a costume, low down.

Last notes 8

  • The chase is over, clever crew. I'm waiting ____ with a snack for you. The last note. Write in the blank where the cookies wait: on the snack table, say, or back in the classroom.
  • I ran and ran and now I'm beat. Look ____ for a gingerbread treat. The last note. Write in the blank where the cookies wait: on the snack table, say, or back in the classroom.
  • I'm tired of running, so here I stay. Find me ____ and shout hooray! The last note. Write in the blank where the cookies wait: on the snack table, say, or back in the classroom.
  • No more notes. You win the race! I'm resting ____. Come see my face. The last note. Write in the blank where the cookies wait: on the snack table, say, or back in the classroom.
  • Run, run, run, but the running's done. I'm ____ with cookies for everyone. The last note. Write in the blank where the cookies wait: on the snack table, say, or back in the classroom.
  • You can't catch me! Oh, wait. You did. Look ____ and lift the lid. The last note. Write in the blank where the cookies wait: on the snack table, say, or back in the classroom.
  • You caught me! I'm all out of run. Find me and my friends ____. The last note. Write in the blank where the cookies wait: on the snack table, say, or back in the classroom.
  • You followed every crumb I dropped. Look ____. That's where I stopped. The last note. Write in the blank where the cookies wait: on the snack table, say, or back in the classroom.

How this list was compiled: An original list of October 2026: notes a runaway gingerbread man leaves behind, each sending the children to the next stop. Sixteen notes are for a home, 16 for a school building and 12 for a single playroom or preschool room; eight last notes leave a blank for where the cookies wait. Nothing was copied from another clue list. The runaway and his boast that nobody can catch him come from the traditional tale The Gingerbread Man, first printed, as The Gingerbread Boy, in St. Nicholas Magazine for May 1875 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gingerbread_Man, read on 11 October 2026); no line of any retelling is quoted. Every hiding place is one a child reaches from the ground: no stove, oven, garage, pool or road, and no note asks anyone to climb. At school a note marked for a member of staff is handed over by that person. Licence: own work

How it works

The baking tray is empty, and the gingerbread man has left notes. These gingerbread man scavenger hunt clues are written in his voice: each one brags about where he has been and sends the children on to the next stop.

Read the full guide

Home, school or one room

The page opens At home: seven notes and a last one. At school sends a class round the building, to the library, the gym and the nurse. Several of those notes are handed over by a member of staff, so ask them first. Ages 3 to 5 is four notes inside one room, short enough for a preschool class.

Set the chase

Press Print and cut the notes apart. Fill the blank in the last note with the place where the cookies wait. Then lay the trail from the end to the start, and leave the first note on the empty tray.

  • Leave a few crumbs beside each note. The youngest children spot crumbs before paper.
  • Read each note in a squeaky voice. The sock joke lands best that way.

Questions and answers

How do you do a gingerbread man scavenger hunt at school?

Read the story to the class, then show them the empty tray and the first note. Walk the children from stop to stop in the order the notes give. The last note leads back to the room, where the cookies wait.

What are some silly gingerbread man scavenger hunt clues?

The ones where he gets into trouble. I tripped and chipped my gingerbread toe. The nurse patched me up. Now off I go! Or his note about the play kitchen: A toy oven? No more ovens for me!

How does the gingerbread man hunt end?

With cookies. Each last note has a blank for where they wait, such as the snack table or the classroom. One reads: You can't catch me! Oh, wait. You did. Look ____ and lift the lid.

What age is the gingerbread man hunt for?

Ages 3 to 8. Every note names the next stop, so nobody has to solve a riddle. Preschoolers get the four-note trail inside their own room, and older classes take turns reading the notes aloud.

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