Treasure hunt for children: Treasure hunt on children’s birthday parties

Age: from 4 years

Number: at least 4 players

What you need: Treasure (sweets, small toys, etc.), treasure map, index cards, clipboards, pencils, chalk

This is how it works: Is the treasure hunt only for older children? Oh no! With a bit of imagination, treasure hunts can also be designed to be age-appropriate for kindergarten children. With the help of an adult to read the questions and help them write down the answers, even the little ones can complete a treasure hunt. An adult should definitely accompany the little treasure hunters: on treasure hunts, children usually cover longer distances where they are not allowed to be left unsupervised.

The principle of treasure hunt for children

The principle of every treasure hunt is always the same: all the children go together in search of a hidden treasure by following a predetermined route. The little adventurers’ efforts can be rewarded with sweets or small toys at the end of the treasure chest.

Preparing for the treasure hunt

A treasure hunt requires good preparation. You can mark the route to be walked with chalk arrows in advance. Another possibility is to hang or put the notes in hidden places. The notes then give a clue to the next station. The final stop is the treasure itself, or a clue as to where the treasure is.
You also prepare index cards with questions in advance. You can compile these questions individually depending on the route that is to be walked. Simple questions such as:

• How many swings are there in the playground?
• What color are the curtains of pizzeria xy?
• Which animal can be seen on the company sign of veterinarian xy?
• How many floors does the building on the corner have?

The process of the treasure hunt at the children’s birthday party

Before starting the search, give the index cards to the children. When it comes to treasure hunts, it often happens that some children hardly give others an opportunity to respond. It is therefore recommended that you distribute the individual questions to the children in advance. This way every child gets a turn later and you avoid having to fight with cheeky daredevils. For each correct answer, the children get a piece of a prepared card. Once all the questions have been answered, the children can put the map together like a jigsaw puzzle. A thick cross on the sketch of the apartment or garden tells you where the treasure is.