Printables: Treasure Hunt and Scavenger Hunt Games

Whether it's a big birthday or an everyday afternoon, anyone can play our instant Treasure Hunt game. Just print out the Parents.com Clues and Treasure Chest pages, grab a pen, and take a few minutes to hide the clues from your kids. If you've got more time and imagination, try using Blank Clues instead.

(You'll need Adobe Acrobat version 6 or better)

1. On each clue sheet, write in the words of where you are hiding the next clue.

For instance, for clue #1, you'd write "Keep your eyes open near the __________" and fill in "tree," "swings," "couch" or wherever. Help them read the words as they find the clues; you can also draw a picture of the location.

Write in a place that they have to puzzle out. For instance, "tree" might be "place where birds make their nests," "swings" might be "place where you pump your legs," or "couch" might be "place that has arms but isn't a person."

Write in your own description of where the seekers should look next. Make rhymes, or customize using family lore or language (like, "Now look where Daddy takes off his slippers"). Print out as many copies of the Blank Clues as you need.

2. Put the clues in their places. Hint: It sometimes helps to keep a list for yourself of where you put the clues.

Appeal to their sense of adventure by making them really hunt for and solve the clues, both mentally and physically.

3. Let your kids find the clues, one at a time. Sometimes with many kids playing it's fun to have a small prize or treat at each clue, too, or use our >Award Winner coloring page. Once a child has found and read the clue, she should put it back where she found it so others can find it, too.

4. More ways to make it fun: With a larger group, you can have players return to a central location when a clue is found?so everyone knows when that is, have the player(s) finding the clue shout out. This way everyone can hear the clue being read aloud, and go off in search of the next one at the same time.

5. Another variation: Create two sets of clues, one for each team. (Or as many teams as you want.) Mark the clues with the team's name. Each team has to find its clues only, but there's one treasure at the end.

6. At the end, the player or team that finds the Treasure Chest printable first wins! You can have a small prize or treat at the finish, too, or use our Award Winner coloring page. To make it fair for a larger party, have everyone come back to a central location after they find the Treasure Chest; the team that comes in first wins, but make sure there are enough prizes or awards for everyone who played.