Indoor Treasure Hunt

Summer is here and vacation time is in full swing! While your days should be filled with fun and sun, eventually you are going to be hit with a stretch of rainy weather or hear those inevitable words, “Mo-om, I’m bo-ored!” So, what do you do when that summer boredom hits full swing? Have a treasure hunt! Kids of all ages love treasure, so this is sure to be a hit with any age group. Older kids can help the younger ones and everyone can share in the loot at the end.

The first thing youneed to send your kids on an indoor treasure hunt is a great treasure. Theoptions here are endless, just think of things your kids might like.

Candy is agreat treasure, especially if it is just an occasional treat at your house. Ifyour kids have been hit by the pirate craze, a bag of gold wrapped chocolatecoins is a sure hit. If you are trying to limit sweets, create a treasure boxfilled with small toys from the dollar store or even the items needed for a funcraft project, to keep the fun going a little while longer. You know your kidsbest, so be creative in finding prizes that they will all enjoy.

Now it’s time to hidethe treasure and come up with a way for them to find the hiding spot. Dependingon the age of your children, there are a few different ways for you to do this. Smaller children will do better with a treasure map, where “X” marks the spot.For very young children, you will have to help them read the map or enlistolder siblings to give them a hand.

Children who are readers can be given listsof instructions on how to find their treasure, taking them all over the housebefore rewarding them with their “booty.” This will not only be fun for them,but they will be reinforcing their reading skills and their ability to followdirections, as well. To make their maps and instructions really authentic, useyellowed parchment paper with torn edges. Hand out the maps and watch the funbegin.

Even if the treasureis something small, the thrill of the game is in the hunt. This is an activitythat will likely be requested again and again, so try and keep a few prizes onhand whenever possible. The minimal cost and effort required on your part willmake this a favorite of yours, as well.

Tweens and teens can even do thelegwork for you and take over hiding the prizes and creating the instructionsto find them. Everyone can get involved and the memories made from this simpleand fun activity will last you and your children a lifetime!

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