Treasure hunt: why it’s good for children
A treasure hunt is all about looking for something and then finding it. An outdoor treasure hunt game encourages children to be active and to explore.
A treasure hunt is a fun and satisfying experience for children.
What you need for a treasure hunt
You can do a treasure hunt anywhere, but an outdoor space with plenty of interesting things to look at and places to hide things can be a lot of fun.
Here’s what you need for a treasure hunt:
- paper and pencils to prepare the clues in advance
- a ‘treasure’ to hide
- someone to supervise your child while you hide the treasure and clues – for example, someone to take your child for a short walk or play with your child in another area.
Your ‘treasure’ can be a household item. For example, a colourful ball, a plastic bottle or a peg can work really well.
How to have a treasure hunt
You set up a treasure hunt by hiding clues and the treasure. The clues can be simple drawings that your child has to find. Each clue tells your child where to find the next clue. The final clue leads to the treasure.
Here’s how to have a treasure hunt:
- Plan the hunt first. Decide where to hide the treasure and work backwards. For example, you might plan to hide the treasure beneath the slide. The clue to the slide might be at the water fountain. The clue to the water fountain might be at the park bench and so on.
- Draw pictures for each of the clues. For example, draw a picture of the slide, a picture of the water fountain, a picture of the park bench and so on.
- Hide the treasure and the clues while your child is supervised somewhere else.
- When you’re ready, tell your child it’s time for the treasure hunt. Give your child the first clue and encourage them to look for the others until they’ve found the treasure.
- Talk with your child about the treasure hunt. For example, ‘Was it hard?’ or ‘Was it fun?’ Praise your child for not giving up until they had found the treasure.
Adapting a treasure hunt for children of different ages or children with diverse abilities
Your younger child might find hunting for clues a bit challenging. You can have a simpler treasure hunt by getting your child to look for everyday items in the park. Here’s how:
- Make a list of things for your child to collect – for example, a round pebble, a pointy leaf, a red flower or a seed.
- Give your child a basket or bag for the things they find.
- Talk with your child about the shapes, colours and textures of the things they find. Try comparing the things. For example, ‘Which is bigger – the leaf or the flower?’
Another way to hunt for treasure is to draw a very simple map of the park, showing landmarks like the slide, the water fountain and the park bench. Use an ‘X’ to mark the spot where you’ve hidden the treasure.
Your older child who’s learning to read might be able to read written clues with your help. Treasure at the end is a good way to encourage your child to try!
All children learn and develop through play. Our articles on play and autistic children and play and children with disability are great starting points for adapting this activity guide for children with diverse abilities. You might also like to explore our activity guides for children with diverse abilities.
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FAQs
Improves Problem-Solving Skills: Treasure hunt games usually require students to solve puzzles or riddles to progress through the game. This helps students develop problem-solving skills and enhances their critical thinking abilities.
How to write clues for a treasure hunt for kids? ›
How to Write Scavenger Hunt Clues for Kids. First, simply identify an item you want to be found. Next, match a clever phrasing that indicates where the item is located but in a somewhat mystifying way that requires some problem-solving. Writing scavenger hunt clues for kids can be easier than you might think!
What are some good scavenger hunt clues and answers? ›
FAQ: Scavenger hunt clues
- If you want to eat, then take a seat! (Dining room chair)
- One of me per day keeps the doctor away. (Apple)
- I can't mix batter, but I can bake a cake. (Oven)
- I come in pairs, I'm easy to lose, I go between your feet and your shoes. (Socks)
Hidden Benefits of Scavenger Hunts
- Social Skills. ...
- Sensory Regulation. ...
- Mind and Body Exercise. ...
- Connecting With Nature.
Treasure Hunts help people develop new skills and strengthen and reinforce other skills such as leadership, communication, and problem solving. This is of equal benefit to employees and employers combined.
What is an example of treasure hunt activity? ›
List of treasure hunt ideas
- Inked Treasure Hunt. An Inked Treasure Hunt is one of the best funny treasure hunt ideas for adults. ...
- Photography Treasure Hunt. ...
- Clothing-themed Treasure Hunt. ...
- Name Hunt. ...
- Bilingual Ensemble. ...
- Code Hacking Hunt. ...
- Color-themed Desk Hunt. ...
- Cooking Ingredients Hunt.
40 best clues for your ultimate scavenger hunt
- You cut me on a table, but I'm never eaten. ...
- A band that doesn't play instruments but has plenty of styles. ( ...
- Everything ends with me. ...
- How many glasses of water can one drink on an empty stomach? ( ...
- I am not a lamp, but I can light up. ...
- I am not an organ, but I have 13 hearts.
How to Plan a Treasure Hunt for Kids
- Choose a location for your treasure hunt for kids. ...
- Choose a theme and format for your kid's treasure hunt. ...
- Decide where you will hide your treasure, and work backwards. ...
- Create your kids' treasure hunt clues. ...
- Do a final treasure hunt run-through.
Keep the first clue and hide the other four round the classroom as instructed before the class. Pupils can do the treasure hunt in pairs, groups, or as a class. Read, or ask a pupil to read, the first clue aloud. You can also write or project the clue onto the board.
What is the treasure box activity for toddlers? ›
Exploring items in a treasure box is a great way to teach your child new naming and descriptive words. It's also a fun way to help them to understand the world around them. You can fill your box with absolutely anything - from items in nature to toys to objects lying around your house.
Writing secret codes is another way to generate clues. Using numbers in place of letters is an easy way to create the code (eg. 1=a, 2=b, 3=c, etc.), but using pictures or symbols can add a little something special.
What is a treasure hunt with clues? ›
A treasure hunt is a game or activity in which items are hidden in a particular area for children to search out and find. Usually, they're given a set of clues to help them do this. Treasure hunts are very versatile activities.
How to give clues to find a gift? ›
Clues should be linked to memorable places or objects throughout the house, eventually leading to the gift's hiding spot. If you have more than one gift, try hiding different presents along the way with clues that eventually lead to the most important one. Route the hunt throughout the home, and vary the hiding spots.
What is the learning outcome of the treasure within? ›
The learning outcome of the chapter 'The Treasure Within' is that every student needs to be encouraged to outshine in his life. Sometimes the circ*mstances bring out the best in an individual and may project the areas where they were once considered weak.
What is the moral of the story treasure hunt? ›
The moral of this short story about finding treasure is: “Hard work always pays off.”.
What are the learning outcomes of treasure baskets? ›
A treasure basket can offer a baby many different learning experiences. The variety of objects within the basket enables them to develop their concentration skills and assists them in making simple choices – this in turn develops a child's confidence and self esteem.
What is the outcome of scavenger hunt? ›
Scavenger hunts help build children's observational skills and teach collaboration and teamwork which enhance their language and communication skills, problem-solving skills, and social-emotional intelligence.
