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Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Children

Scavenger hunts make an ideal activity for groups of children. You set a list of items for them to find--sometimes objects that have been deliberately hidden, sometimes not--then send them on their way. The winner is the child who finds the most items on the list or who completes the list in the shortest amount of time. Scavenger hunts should be tailored for the age group of the kids involved--younger children should have easier lists--and adults should always be on hand to keep things safe.

Outdoor Scavenger Hunts
- Outdoor scavenger hunts are ideal for family outings or for sunny days when you wish to get the kids away from the video game console for a while. Prepare a list of natural items that can be found in the local area. If you're going to the beach, for instance, have them look for shells or seagull feathers, whereas parks can produce acorns or leaves of a particular color. Alternately, hide a bunch of items in your yard with a particular theme attached to them, turning the scavenger hunt into an exercise for the kids' imagination. Plastic swords and chocolate coins can be a lost pirate treasure, whereas ribbons or tiaras can come from a fairy princess. If you're comfortable letting the kids out at night, then plant a series of glow-in-the-dark items or paint rocks with phosphorescent paint and hide them in your yard.
Indoor Scavenger Hunts
- Indoor scavenger hunts work best when you pre-plant the items, rather than having the kids look for already-existing items (they're apt to overturn everything in your house otherwise). A themed hunt works best: Plant items that correspond to superheroes, ninjas, Barbie dolls or whatever else will pique the kids' interest. Another idea entails a magazine scavenger hunt, sending them to look for particular articles through magazines and newspapers around the house. During the holidays, indoor scavenger hunts can establish a festive mood: Easter egg hunts are already a holiday tradition, but you can do Halloween hunts with miniature pumpkins, St. Patrick's Day hunts with green items, or Christmas hunts using gingerbread cookies and sleigh bells.
Information Hunts
- Information hunts do not entail the children collecting items. Instead, each list contains a series of questions whose answers require a search through the area. For example, have the kids name a specific item on the pantry shelf or tell you what's inscribed on a stone in the backyard. If you have older kids who can be trusted on their own, try playing this at the mall, where they can collect the prices of different items. Whoever finds the lowest price for a given item gets an extra point.

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