Saturday, April 23, 2016
T is for Treasure Hunt
Arrange a Treasure hunt for the kids. Give them a written clue for the hidden location of the next clue. Continue with a series of hidden clues that eventually leads to the treasure of treats and prizes.
This game will keep them occupied for as long as a trail of clues can be extended. Written clues can be as simple as a message telling them to proceed to a specific place, or can be written in poem form where figuring out the clue is an added task. It really depends on the ages of the children who will be participating. If they are older, figuring out the meaning of a cryptic message will be half the fun. If they are younger, simple directions to the next location are all that will be needed. You could also pair the youngest child with the oldest and make teams in that manner that can help each other in figuring out the clues.
Be as creative as time allows with the clues, writing them on heavy construction paper and adorning them with color and bright stickers. Leaving objects at each location instead of a written message to indicate where the next stop is can also be a good way to structure the game.
This is a great activity to get kids to run off some energy. My husband and his brother recall that when the aunts, uncles and cousins came for a visit, this activity would keep them crisscrossing the farm for a long time. This kept them out from under the adults who were visiting or making preparations with food. The older cousins helped interpret the clues for the younger ones as they huddled over the written clue.
Placing some small treats, not enough to ruin a meal, at each successive location can encourage them to move ahead and keep going forward with the goal of getting to that last hidden treasure. The treasure at the end could consist of small paper sacks, one for each child with their name on it containing small age appropriate toys.
Another idea would be to have a piñata hanging from a tree at the final stop along with a plastic bat and blindfold. As long as there is at least one responsible, older teen there who can be trusted that no one will get hurt, that would be a great finale when toys and candy come spilling out of the papier-mâché animal or figure.
If the reunion is not being held at someone’s home, you could modify the game by bringing the board game Clue with you. It would make a great rainy day activity if you were stuck inside for hours on end while a downpour pelts the playground and water park. Typically played with 3-6 players, ages 8 to adult, if you again put teams in place, this could keep them occupied for some time. Bring the individual treasures out at the end of the games for each of them.
Enjoy hunting for treasure!