Treasure Hunts: Easy, Magical Family Tradition

Treasure hunts are a thing in our house, thanks to “The Treasure Hunt Fairy.”

My stepdaughter knows I’m the Treasure Hunt Fairy. It doesn’t matter. It’s fun for both of us to pretend and play along with each other.

This fairy visits during the night or when nobody’s watching and leaves fun, rhyming clues all over the house for a “treasure hunt.” One clue leads to the next, and the next, and so on, until you arrive at the “treasure!”

And here’s the most magical, versatile part about this treasure hunt tradition:

The “treasure” can be anything.

“Treasure” Examples:

TREASURE HUNTS CAN LEAD TO SOMETHING BIG:

1. A birthday present (a new bicycle in the garage)
2. A ticket to an upcoming concert (Taylor Swift, perhaps? Keep reading for a fun story…)
3. A friend or family member waiting to surprise you!
4. A note or riddle that announces family vacation plans. (A trip to the beach or to visit grandparents)

BUT, BEST OF ALL, THEY CAN LEAD TO SIMPLE THINGS LIKE:

1. A note that reveals somewhere you’re going today (splash pad, playground, library, nature walk)
2. An activity set up to do, either together or for your child to do independently (Making oobleck, coloring, writing a letter)
3. A small gift/surprise (a new book, bubble bath, chapstick, stickers)

The fun is in the treasure hunt. That’s where the magic is.

A great way to enhance exciting announcements…

My husband won last minute tickets through his job to Taylor Swift’s concert. If you don’t already know… this was a huge deal.

“How should we tell her when she gets home from school?”

Perfect opportunity for a treasure hunt! It took me about 25 minutes*, from start to finish. It was a short treasure hunt but still added an element of fun that enhanced the whole experience.

*That included making up the clues, which is the part that takes the longest. Click here to use my clues as a template and save yourself time!

Here’s how I set up:

1. Write the clues: This part is the most time-consuming. I’ve got quite a few treasure hunts under my belt, so I’m now able to easily make up rhyming clues and plan out where they’ll go. Yours don’t have to rhyme! Just get creative with what’s around you.

I typed these clues up on my Notes app on my phone while feeding my toddler.

If you want this treasure hunt as a guide, click here to use my clues!

2. Print the clues. To make things easier on myself, I always include where the treasure is hidden on each clue, so that when I’m hiding it, I can quickly remember where it goes. (For example, under the toothbrush holder)

3. Cut up the clues into strips.

4. Fold up the clues and number them.

5. Place the first clue in plain sight. Since Aliya was about to get home from school, I put it on the front door, hoping she wouldn’t miss it.

(She missed it. I still had to point it out and say, “Hey what’s that?”)

5. Hide the clues where they go! Scotch tape is handy for this part.

6. Have the last clue lead to the treasure*. In this instance, it was a printed-out ticket to the concert that I folded up and placed in an envelope.

*If your “treasure” is something physically big, like a new bike, just make sure none of the clues will accidentally lead your kiddo there too soon.

Yes, this activity takes some prep time, but it’s definitely worth it.

This is not an everyday activity. It’s a once-in-a-while thing that enhances special occasions or brightens up gloomy, rainy days. Whatever the “reason,” treasure hunts have become a fun, memorable tradition in our family.

Also, it’s one special way in which my stepdaughter and I can connect. And that’s what this stuff is all about.

Here is a template based off of this treasure hunt I did for my stepdaughter. You can download and print to use as-is. Or you can copy and paste, edit the text, and tweak it to better fit your needs/setup. ⬇️

I plan to make more time-saving treasure hunt guides like this one soon. What would be helpful to you? Holiday-themed? Let me know in the comments.