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How to Put Together an Indoor Scavenger Hunt

6 Tips For Putting Together an Awesome Indoor Scavenger Hunt Your Kids Will Love

Apr 15 2020

Spending time indoors can get boring, fast — there's only so many times you can plop the kids in front of PAW Patrol before they get restless. With a little imagination and some household items, you can put together a fun scavenger hunt for your family to do together. You can keep it simple and just dream up some items for your kids to search out, or you can go all out with riddles and clues.

But remember: scavenger hunts are what you make of them — they don't have to be overly complex. If your kids have special interests, try to incorporate them. If they like animals, make it a safari theme, or if they like drawing, make it something to do with art. If not, just let them get out the wiggles as they traipse around the house. Kids will love checking items off the list, and it will keep them occupied and moving around for a few hours while you do whatever you want (may we suggest a moment alone on the couch?). Scroll through to see six tips for putting together a fun scavenger hunt for kids.

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Write the Scavenger-Hunt List

Writing the list a few days (or hours) before you plan to do the scavenger hunt will help you find all of the items you have lying around your house you want to use. The list should consist of small and large items. If you're doing a themed scavenger hunt, think of items that go with the theme such as stuffed animals, coloured items, or craft supplies. If you're good at making riddles and your kid is a little older, you can even include a few of those on your list. A few ideas for general scavenger-hunt items include:

  • A paper clip
  • A plastic cup
  • Something red
  • Something that stretches
  • Your favourite toy
  • Something with a number on it
  • An item you can write with
  • Something that looks like an animal
  • An item that looks like a square
  • Something with your name on it
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Think Cheap

You shouldn't have to go out to buy anything for your scavenger hunt. Use things you have around the house to create your list, and hide them in unique places your kids might not expect to see them (hiding is optional if you'd like an even easier activity to pull off). They'll go sleuthing around the house searching for one thing and end up finding another, keeping themselves entertained for a while.

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Make a Clue About Exercise

Get your kids moving with a riddle or clue about exercise — it'll help them get more energy out. You can say something like, "Show Mom or Dad 10 of your best jumping jacks," or whatever movement you prefer.

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Have Kids Answer a Few Riddles to Get More Scavenger-Hunt Lists

If you really want to keep them going, at the bottom of your first scavenger-hunt list, you can add a note that says something like, "Find Mom or Dad to answer a riddle to get another scavenger-hunt list." Make the riddles age appropriate, and have your kids try to solve them to receive an additional scavenger-hunt list with different items to hunt down (this helps if you make your lists in advance).

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Include a Snack Stop

Scavenger hunts can take a long time, and your kids might get hungry halfway through. Write a clue about stopping for or finding a snack to eat while searching for more items. For example, "Find a piece of fruit in the fridge." Then put a note on the item in the fridge you want them to munch on so they don't just grab anything.

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End With a Prize or Activity

Have the final clue be something about picking a prize or doing a fun activity like an indoor craft or watching a movie. Again, just use things you already have at home, and be creative. Good luck!

Image Source: Pexels / cottonbro

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