An indoor scavenger hunt is a great fun and educational activity that parents can setup for their kids. It’s a perfect activity for rainy days or for days when you are stuck inside your home.
There is an added benefit of cost-effectiveness, as there is no need to buy additional things for this activity. Just by using the things already available in the home, parents can organize an indoor scavenger hunt.
Benefits to Kids
- It’s a lot of fun
- Improve their problem solving skills
- Nurture creativity
- Physical activity
How to set up an Indoor Scavenger Hunt?
Parents can easily set up an Indoor scavenger hunt for their kids, by following the steps below.
Don’t forget to add a little bit of creativity from your side to make the activity fun and enjoyable for the kids.
(a) Decide the theme of the hunt
Parents have the option to choose whatever theme they like. Some examples for themes are Science, Sports, Storybooks, Alphabets, Pirates, Household items, Puzzles.
(b) Make a list of items for your kids to find
Create a list of items based upon the chosen theme. For example, if it is a puzzle theme, you can include items like a Rubik’s cube, a jigsaw puzzle, etc.
Some more examples are given below to spark your imagination.
- Science or nature theme – a rock, a leaf, a picture of a planet, a thermometer, etc.
- Sports theme – a baseball, a soccer ball, a basketball, a tennis racket, etc.
- Household items theme – a spoon, a fork, a roll of tape, a laundry basket, etc.
(c) Create a list of clues for the items
Suppose you have decided upon the Science or nature theme. A sample set of clues for this theme are given below.
- I’m a leaf that is used for making tea, can you find me in the house? (clue for a green tea leaf)
- I’m a tool used to measure temperature, can you find me in the house? (clue for a thermometer)
- I’m a tool used to inflate things, can you find me in the house? (clue for an air pump)
- I’m a representation of the Earth, I have countries and oceans on me. Can you find me in the house? (clue for a globe)
(d) Hide the items across the house
It is time to hide the items in the house. Parents can choose either the entire house or some parts as the designated activity area.
It is wise to omit areas or rooms that are not safe to the kids, while deciding the designated area of play. And make sure that the items are not in plain sight.
(e) Decide the prize for winner
The prize for the winner is a step that parents should not omit at any cost. Because prizes or treats are what makes the activity fun and enjoyable to the participants.
The prize or treat may be awarded to the contestant who has completed the most tasks.
Toys, chocolates or gift baskets – all are great options. Special privileges like choosing the movie for family time or deciding the next place for family outing can also be considered for rewards.
(f) Create copies of clue sheets
Create as many copies of clue sheets as the number of participants. Make sure the order of clues is different for each of the participants, so that the scenario of ‘all the kids moving together’ can be avoided.
Conducting the Scavenger Hunt
- Hand over the clue sheets containing the list of items to find, to all the participants.
- Set the ground rules (for ex:- No breaking, No jumping on the furniture)
- Set the time limit. (For kids, 30 minutes to 1 hour timeframe is preferable)
- And, start…
- It is time for the participants to search for the hidden items on the basis of clues.
- Once the time limit is over, all the participants will bring back the collected items to the overseeing parent.
- Overseeing parent will check, which participant has completed most number of tasks.
- Award the prize to the winner.
Note: Don’t forget to include a participation prize too, so that other participants may not feel left out.
A final note
Always supervise the kids during the activity, so that it can be conducted in a safe and fair manner.
