If you're stuck at home during a school break or snow day, why not turn it into an adventure? Create your very own treasure hunt with some fun and creative scavenger hunt clues for kids.
This activity gets everyone moving around the house, hunting for a hidden item or the next clue. Each clue leads to the next spot, and in the end, there's a special treasure waiting—whether it's a toy, a treat, or a surprise!
30 Scavenger Hunt Clues for Kids
Fun Clue Ideas to Entertain Kids and Adults Alike
A scavenger hunt is perfect for kids because it encourages them to think on their feet and work independently (or with friends or siblings, if you have company). Plus, it teaches them valuable skills like following directions and understanding the order of steps.
With our list of scavenger hunt clues (including answers), you'll have everything you need to turn your home into an exciting game zone for the day!
Types of Scavenger Hunts
The type of scavenger hunt you create depends on the age of the kids involved. Adjust the level of complexity and the scope of the search accordingly. Determine what kind of hunt is best for you and your kids, then create and print out the clues.
- Indoor Hunt: Ideal for younger kids with shorter attention spans, an indoor hunt features simple clues that guide them from room to room, with a treasure waiting at the end.
- Backyard or Neighborhood Hunt: For older kids who can handle a hunt without supervision, expand the search to your backyard or even your neighborhood. Bigger hunts work well in teams, but always use the buddy system.
- Themed Hunt: Holidays and birthdays are perfect for a themed scavenger hunt. Align the hunt’s theme with the party or holiday, and let multiple treasures serve as party favors for guests.
- Photo Hunt: Older kids can take part in a timed photo scavenger hunt, where they must photograph all clue items within a set timeframe. Alternatively, you can give clues as photos for a different twist.
Clues Ideas for Indoor Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger hunt clues should challenge the brain with hints that make kids think. Rhyming clues are especially fun and engaging for younger kids. For preschoolers who can’t read yet, you can create a hunt using picture clues you draw or print from the computer.
This ready-made list of scavenger hunt clues contains answers that can be found around the house. (See answer key below):
- I have four legs, but I don't have feet.
I come in handy when it's time to eat. - My job is to put an end to sleep,
Which I do with music, a buzz, or a beep. - For fast heating or cooking, I am tops.
And, oh, that good smell when my popcorn pops! - I'm packed really full of boxes and cans.
I may hold a broom or a mop or a dustpan. - Flour and sugar and coffee and tea,
I keep these handy but hard to see. - I can take you to places you've never seen,
But first, type your password in on my screen. - I'm loaded and unloaded, but I'm not a truck.
Having a helper like me is a great piece of luck. - I rain on you when you need a scrub.
I'm very much like my friend the tub. - I make it possible to have fresh food.
Everyone agrees I'm one cool dude. - Watching your favorites is lots of fun.
But don't watch too much! Kids need to run. - I never get angry, but I do get hot.
I'm the perfect place for a pan or a pot. - It's my job to give all your clothes a tumble,
Which I do while making a bit of a rumble. - I have a round knob and also a lock.
Visitors and salesmen may give me a knock. - I'm one part chair and one part bed.
Up with your feet and down with your head. - I take your clothes for quite a spin.
But first, they get wet. That's how I begin. - I'm filled with feathers or other soft fluff.
To sleep without me can be quite tough. - Turn me on, and I'll give you a light.
I'm used some in the daytime but mostly at night. - A story, they say, can take you away,
But a book still needs a place to stay. - I have drawers and also a nice flat top.
For homework I'm helpful—keep working, don't stop! - I'm hungry! I'm hungry! Please feed me a slice.
I'll spit it back out all brown and nice. - I'm not a selfie, but I do show faces.
Find me in bathrooms and a few other places. - Adults go here when they first wake
And at other times when they need a break. - Most every day, you step on me.
All I require is a bend of your knee. - I go round and round and get really hot.
In larger families, I'm used quite a lot. - I'm paper, but I'm not used for writing a letter.
The spot by your potty suits me much better! - I have hands but no arms and also a face.
And my hands always move at the same steady pace. - I may have eyes, but I really can't see.
People love to make fries out of me. - The more I dry, the wetter I get.
A little one can be used for soaking up sweat. - I hold all the words you need to know.
Use me to make your vocabulary grow. - I'm never wicked, but I do have a wick.
I come in all sizes, from skinny to thick.
Answers: 1. Kitchen or dining table, 2. Alarm clock, 3. Microwave, 4. Pantry, 5. Kitchen canisters, 6. Computer, 7. Dishwasher, 8. Shower, 9. Refrigerator, 10. Television, 11. Kitchen stove, 12. Clothes dryer, 13. Front door, 14. Recliner, 15. Clothes washer, 16. Bed pillow, 17. Lamp, 18. Bookshelf, 19. Desk, 20. Toaster, 21. Mirror, 22. Coffee maker, 23. Stairs, 24. Clothes dryer, 25. Toilet paper, 26. Clock, 27. Potato, 28. Towel, 29. Dictionary, 30. Candle
Making Your Own Scavenger Hunt
Make your scavenger hunt your own by customizing the list of clues to include items from your home, backyard, or neighborhood. If you have multiple items that fit the same clue, have the kids search in different spots before moving on to the next one.
Vague or tricky clues can extend the game, giving the kids both a mental and physical challenge, which adds to the excitement. For an extra layer of fun, you can assign point values to each clue based on its difficulty. Tweens especially love this kind of challenge!
For more fun activities, check out Tali’s Fund’s resource page for creative and educational ideas to keep kids entertained!
Outdoor Scavenger Hunts
When the weather's nice, treat the kids to an outdoor treasure hunt! Just like the indoor version, use clues to lead them to different items or spots in your yard or around your house.
If they’re old enough, you can even take the hunt to the neighborhood—just make sure traffic isn't a concern. An enclosed park can be a great, safe option too! Create clues that point to different features and structures within the park for a fun and adventurous experience.
Photo Scavenger Hunts
A treasure hunt with a camera is a great way to mix in some technology and add an extra layer of fun, especially since tweens love using devices like phones in their daily activities. There are two ways you can set up a photo scavenger hunt:
1. Take pictures of unique or hidden spots around your home or yard and use them as "photo clues." Print out these images and place them in specific locations to guide the child to the next spot.
2. Make the entire hunt photo-based by giving clues where the answer is something that needs to be captured in a photo. Set a time limit for the kids to find and snap pictures of the objects. They can work in teams or go solo. This option works best for those old enough to handle digital cameras or smartphones.