Make a Treasure Hunt

Parents, caregivers and even teachers can make a treasure hunt to keep kids busy indoors or outdoors.

Send kids on a treasure hunt during a birthday party.

A treasure hunt is a great indoor party game for kids to play during the cold winter months or during a rainy summer afternoon. Making a treasure hunt is an activity perfect for a birthday pirate themed party, but it can work for other holidays and special occasions, too. Make one of the Easter egg hunt activities a treasure hunt or plan one that keeps kids busy on New Years.

The theme of the hunt really depends on the time of year and occasion. Consider these themes for a kids' treasure hunt:

• Jack Frost’s Stash: Clues should lead to cold-weather accessories, like boots, coats and comforters. The final treasure at the end may be a box full of cocoa and mugs.
• Birthday Bonus: Send the birthday boy/girl on a treasure hunt to find his/her presents. Alternatively, give each child attending the birthday party a few clues that leads them to their own bag full of children’s birthday party favors.
• Rub-A-Dub-Dub: Keep kids busy on a rainy day by sending them on a hunt for various bath items in the house. Have them gather a clean outfit, towel and bath toys. The final treasure might be a new bottle of colored bubble bath.
• Cookie Jar Thief: Parents who have three or more kids (or daycare providers with several children) can plan a mystery hunt. Write a little story about missing cookies and show kids an empty cookie jar (complete with crumbs). Plant clues around the house or center that leads to a particular child’s bedroom or cubby. The final treasure, of course, is a box full of cookies.
• Puzzle Hunt: Each clue will lead to a piece of a puzzle that kids put together at the final spot. Glue the puzzle together for hanging in the birthday boy/girl’s room, or draw a name out of a hat to send the puzzle home with one child after the party.
• Beach Bums: Create a fun treasure hunt for outdoors. Kids can gather beach accessories on their hunt. Send them with clues to find shovels, pails, sifters and more. Make the final clue a new sand castle mold in their sandbox, a note telling them they can go to the beach/swimming pool or a pair of new sunglasses.

Not every treasure hunt needs a theme. Older kids might think themes are childish. It is better to plan a treasure hunt with riddle-like clues to keep older kids involved in the hunt. In groups of children with age differences, pair up youngsters with pre-teens or alternate clues for each age group to solve.

A treasure hunt is not easy to throw together without a little planning. To ensure that everything is in place before kids arrive, follow these steps:

1. Choose a theme several weeks or days ahead of the party date.
2. Compose a list of clue spots, numbering them from one to ten (or fifteen).
3. Draw a map that either leads to the first clue or leads from the last clue to the treasure.
4. Write down kids treasure hunt clues, numbering the back so it is easy to remember where to put them (match them up with the numbers in Step 2).
5. Keep a list of clues and answers in case kids get stuck.
6. Purchase the final treasure.
7. Set clues into place an hour or so before the party begins.
8. Keep kids busy with other activities until the treasure hunt starts, to avoid them stumbling upon a clue and ruining the fun.

Although treasure hunts are usually considered kids’ party games, they are perfect for using during an indoor recess or cold winter weekend. Plan a treasure hunt, putting all of the clues, maps and treasures into a shoebox or plastic container. Keep it hidden in a closet, ready to use whenever the time is right.

A treasure hunt is not always a big group effort. Turning it into a team competition can make it a fun game for kids who are older or help control large groups of young children, who may get distracted if they are not right in the midst of the action.

To make a treasure hunt into a team game, plan a hunt with two sets of clues, both leading to the same hidden treasure. Color-code the clues so each team knows which belongs to them. The first team to reach the treasure is the winner.

Kids from toddler to teen will all enjoy a treasure hunt geared towards their favorite activities, books, subjects and movies. Older kids can even help make a treasure hunt themselves.

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