When it's too cold to play outdoors at birthday parties or on any other day, treasure hunting is a great pastime for kids to have fun. They are very stimulating and challenge children physically and intellectually. Here are some ideas for organizing one for kids.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Hunt
Step 1. Get to know your audience
Each child likes different kinds of clues. Usually, the most difficult task for an organizer is to choose the right difficulty for the treasure hunt, depending on the age of the participants. There are a few other aspects you should consider:
- The age and sex of the children; you have to make sure that the intellectual level of the game is adequate for the participants.
- The duration of the treasure hunt; Younger children get bored easily and tend to be more irritable when bored.
- Do children have special food allergies or do they want special treats?
Step 2. Choose a place that is large and appropriate for the age of the children
Participants should have enough space to move around, but not too much to risk getting lost. For small children, it may be a good idea to organize a treasure hunt in groups, or to have each participant accompanied by an adult, if you want everyone to have the opportunity to move in an extended area without them getting lost or losing their orientation.
- For children between 2 and 4 years of age, organize a treasure hunt in a house they know well. Choose a small area that you can control.
- For children between 5 and 8, organize the game inside and outside a house. Again, make sure attendees are under adult supervision and that the outside of the house is separated from public land.
- For children between 9 and 12, choose an environment such as a school or park. Participants will have the opportunity to be more independent.
- For teenagers, organize a treasure hunt in a small town, a flea market or a large open field.
Step 3. Decide on a format or theme for your treasure hunt
To organize an event of this type, it is not enough to send around a "herd" of children without any criteria. Often, the ones that are most successful have a common thread that characterizes them: whether it's a theme like The Hobbit or a format, such as a cooking game where each clue leads to an ingredient for a recipe. Of course, a classic treasure hunt with clues and maps will do just fine too!
- The themes are an excellent excuse to make all participants wear a costume, who will live a more "realistic" experience. For example, you could buy cheap eye patches and plastic swords to organize a pirate treasure hunt.
- Do you want the competition to be more heated? Divide the boys into two teams and have them compete for whoever gets to the treasure first. This allows children to improve their team play and communication skills. Make sure the participants are old and mature enough to accept the competition.
- Will the kids be rewarded with prizes after each clue or will they have a big surprise waiting for them at the end of the game?
Step 4. Decide how long the treasure hunt should last
A good rule of thumb is to choose twice as many clues as the age of the participants. Of course, even older kids might get tired after 26 clues. Come up with 5-15 clues, depending on how long it takes to switch between them.
Step 5. Choose an exceptional treasure
The last clue should lead to a treasure or a fun activity, a reward for everyone who beats the game. Consider also preparing a reward for the first person or team that will arrive at the end of the hunt, in order to create competition and expectation.
- Decorate a box with photos or card, then fill it with candy, coins, or toys.
- The treasure does not have to be a concrete object. You can prepare a big meal, a party or a "secret grove" full of games.
- If you are organizing a treasure hunt for small children, prepare some consolation prizes; all participants should go home with something.
Step 6. When writing the clues, start with the last treasure and work backwards
Knowing the ending, it will be easier to guide participants where you want. Each clue must lead to the next, so find a way to write a clue that leads to where you are, hide it, then repeat the operation once you reach the next step. Of course, you have to make sure that the last clue you write (the first that the children will find) is hidden in the starting point!
Remember that the first clue should be pretty simple and that the next ones should get progressively more difficult
Step 7. Create simple rule sheets
Distribute them at the beginning of the game and ask the children to always keep them handy if they are old enough to read and use. If the participants are too young, give the sheets to the carers and parents, who can help them. Also write any special details on the sheet. You can include:
- All the places to avoid and those where no clues are hidden.
- Where to "deliver" the clues or what to do in case you get stuck.
- The numbers to call in an emergency, for example if a child gets lost.
- The time limits, or the time at which to return to the "base", even if the last clue has not yet been reached.
Part 2 of 3: Writing Different Kinds of Clues
Step 1. Create rhyming clues and puzzles
The most used clues in treasure hunts are simple pairs of rhyming lines. They can be easy to interpret, like "To find the first clue, look near the beginning", or more cryptic, like "One white and one black, we are in the same place, but you will only meet us if the taste is not right " (salt and pepper).
Step 2. Use pictures as clues
Draw a picture or take a picture of the place to investigate. This is a perfect clue for young children, who will be able to interpret it easily. For larger participants, you can make the clues less mundane by using vintage photos, satellite imagery, or extremely close-up close-ups.
Step 3. Match some of the clues to games
For example, you could take three identical paper cups. Show the children which glass the clue is hidden under, then quickly mix the glasses. Participants will have to guess which glass contains what they are looking for. You can organize egg races, small obstacle courses or mini treasure hunts, delivering the clue only at the end of the game.
This method can add variety to your treasure hunt. Send participants around for the first 4-5 clues, then set up a game halfway through the hunt. After the break, children can eat, drink and apply sunscreen before continuing to look for the next 4-5 clues
Step 4. Use secret codes or invisible ink to make the clues more challenging
The easiest way to get the effect of invisible ink is to write with a white crayon, then have the children go over the words with a highlighter. You can also make invisible ink yourself, letting the kids figure out for themselves what they need to do with their "blank" clue.
For children of all ages, you can turn off all the lights in a room so that it is completely dark. Then ask the participants to look for clues with flashlights or by feeling everywhere
Step 5. Hide the clues in something "lousy" or fun to explore
You could dip a clue into a bowl of spaghetti "brain", forcing the kids to search inside with their hands. If you have the ability to create waterproof clues, you can arrange them on the bottom of the pool, giving children a chance to dive in to collect them (under adult supervision). Whatever pretext you need to make them move and try different experiences will make them have a lot of fun.
Step 6. Consider creating multi-part clues if the participants are quite large
For example, for a few euros, you can have a personalized puzzle made on the internet, which you can print and match with a clue. Hide a piece of the puzzle along with each clue, so that the kids put it back together to reveal the ultimate secret. Here are other ideas to try:
- Hand out letters along with each clue, as part of an anagram. The resulting word is the code for another clue or answer that reveals the ultimate treasure.
- Ask themed questions, such as "The last answer is the one thing all other clues have in common" or "The last clue is the first letter of everyone else."
Step 7. Use age-appropriate quizzes that include popular songs and characters
If your treasure hunt is themed, clues like this are especially fun. For example, you can ask, "What part of the house did Harry Potter have to live in as a child?" and see all the children running to the closet to find the next clue.
Make sure the questions are within children's reach before turning them into clues
Step 8. Use a map instead of a classic "clue"
You can combine it with puzzles or clues made up of several parts. Draw a map with illustrations and some intentionally confused parts (such as an area erased "by mistake"). Place a small prize or clue needed to get the final treasure anywhere on the map to prevent kids from running straight to the last stage of the game.
Part 3 of 3: Carry out the Treasure Hunt
Step 1. Suggest to participants in advance what clothing is best for them
A treasure hunt at home and one organized outdoors in the woods are very different. Since only you know the clues and places to visit during the game, make sure everyone knows what to wear.
Also consider the climate, especially if the game is organized outdoors. If it rains, will the treasure hunt continue anyway?
Step 2. Find a fun way to present the first clue to the children
The general idea of a treasure hunt is that each clue should lead to the next, until the participants reach the final prize. The first clue, however, should be delivered with theatricality to start the treasure hunt in the best way:
- Deliver the clue in a flashy container, such as a sealed envelope with sealing wax, a small chest, a bottle, etc.
- You can deliver the clue to all attendees at the same time, with a billboard, banner or by announcing it aloud.
- Organize a game or challenge, such as a cake-eating contest, egg race, etc. When the participants complete the competition, they will receive the first clue.
Step 3. Offer help and advice to children who don't know how to play
While the treasure hunt should be slightly challenging and you should avoid interfering too often, attendees would get frustrated if they got stuck on a clue. Prepare a couple of "back-up" clues to point the kids in the right direction if you notice they are having too much trouble.
Make sure all attendees know where to find you or their parents. Reveal the location of the clues to some of the companions for help
Step 4. Provide the children with water, snacks, and sunscreen, especially if the treasure hunt is long
While trying to win, children certainly don't think about hydrating or protecting themselves from the sun. So take care of their needs yourself or leave a few bottles of water and sunscreen at the clues for them to refresh themselves during the game.
Granola bars are great snacks. You can distribute them at the beginning of the game or in the middle
Step 5. If the area where the treasure hunt takes place is not very small, assign a companion for all children under 10
Younger participants shouldn't be left alone, unless you can always keep an eye on them. Thanks to this system, all children will be able to complete the game quickly and safely.
Advice
- Depending on the age and self-confidence of the children, as well as the location and difficulty of the treasure hunt, they may not want your guide. Always ask participants what their preferences are.
- Try to vary the clues. You can use codes, anagrams, puzzles, riddles and games, so that you never repeat the same clue twice.
- If you don't want the treasure hunt to be too competitive, let the kids take turns reading the clues.
- If you decide to write clues on paper, you can fold them in many different ways to make them more interesting. Search the internet to find origami appropriate for your theme or simply fold them like an accordion.
- Make sure the final prize is rewarding; While the experience itself will be a lot of fun, children want to work hard to achieve something they enjoy.
- Ask the participants to solve a puzzle to get a clue. For example, you could hide a parchment on a toy boat that "sails" in the pool and provide the children with a fishing net.
- If the participants are quite large, you can include phone calls and emails in your treasure hunt.
- Treasure hunts are not exclusively reserved for party guests, but can also be organized as a family, such as an Easter egg hunt to be played in the garden.
- Don't prepare too many clues or younger children would be confused.
Warnings
- Make sure you distribute the treasure equally to all the children! The last thing you want is to make a baby cry because he got less candy than his friend.
- If necessary, consult the owner of the environment in which the treasure hunt takes place. Nobody likes to be swept away unexpectedly by children!
- Children can get bored, even on a treasure hunt! Don't be offended in that case.
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Depending on the environment in which the treasure hunt takes place, children will likely need to remain under the supervision of an adult.
- Children under six must always be under the supervision of a teenager or adult.
- If the treasure hunt does not take place in a home, children under 10 must also be monitored.
