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

Updated on 4/12/2022 at 9:45 PM

Spending time indoors can get boring, fast — there are only so many times you can plop the kids in front of "PAW Patrol" before they get restless and want to do something exciting. With a little imagination, some household items, and a little of your inner child, 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 because that can make the child lose interest quickly. 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 paint or arts and crafts. If not, just let them get out the wiggles as they traipse, safely, around the house, or turn up the speaker and have a mini dance party in between. Kids will love checking items off the list and keeping their minds occupied, and it will keep them busy and moving around for a few hours while you do whatever you want. (May we suggest a moment alone on the couch? A little Netflix binge? Or finally, getting in that phone call with a friend?) Scroll through to see six tips and suggestions for putting together a fun scavenger hunt for kids.

Rainy-Day Activities: 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, colored 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 favorite 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

Rainy-Day Activities: 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.

Rainy-Day Activities: 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.

Rainy-Day Activities: 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.)

Rainy-Day Activities: 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.

Rainy-Day Activities: 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!