The treasure hunt

Celebrations of all kinds are the perfect opportunity to go the extra mile for your child. And a treasure hunt is THE ultimate game. Why, you ask? Simply because it has all the ingredients for pure joy and happiness — whilst stimulating your little one's imagination, intellectual curiosity, and knowledge. It works brilliantly for a single child as much as for a whole group of siblings or a bunch of friends. In short, as you've probably gathered, this is the game to organise when you want to create a truly special occasion! And with just a few tips, you'll soon be a pro at putting one together.

How to create a treasure hunt: from what age?

It's a real joy to watch your child rise to the challenge throughout this thrilling game. The question is: at what age can they join in? Good news — the very youngest won't be left out. It's generally said that from 3 years old it works perfectly, as children have developed a degree of independence by then.

But in reality, as soon as your child can talk and understand, they can become a formidable little player. After all, what's required is to listen, understand, guess, answer, and search. This adventure adapts readily to all ages, and if you have a mixed-age group of players, that won't be a problem either.

Set a clear goal

The treasure hunt you put together will reflect exactly what you have in mind — there's no single version of the game. It all depends on the occasion. For a family celebration, for example, the aim might be for each child to find their presents. For a birthday party with friends, you might opt for a trail peppered with sweets at each correct answer, with the winner receiving a small prize at the end.

A treasure hunt is also a wonderful way to keep children busy during the school holidays, whether they're at nursery age or older. The questions and riddles can draw on their school knowledge too. You can also build the game around a specific theme — pirates and princesses are firm favourites.

But in reality, there are no set rules, so trust yourself! You might decide to make it a game full of good cheer, and ask each child to dress in colours that represent joy to them.

How to organise a treasure hunt: preparing the questions

This is the trickiest step — not necessarily complicated, but it takes time, as it needs to be tailored to your young audience. Take the example of three siblings aged 2, 5, and 8. Those who can't read yet will have riddles or rhyming clues that you read aloud to them.

In our example, the game takes place in a house during a family celebration where each child has presents to find. Whatever the occasion, the lucky players will be beside themselves with excitement. You can tailor the questions to each child without following a particular theme, drawing on their knowledge and their world — the aim being for them to move from room to room around the house to find clues and presents. Plan a minimum of 6 questions per child.

A closer look at the clues

Write each clue on a piece of paper folded into a small square (except for the first one). Then hide them wherever the players need to find them. The range of possible questions is vast, but each one should lead the player to guess a location in the house through a rhyme or riddle. For the oldest child, you could include a maths problem or ask them to spot a spelling mistake in a sentence. Once they give the correct answer, they'll get the next clue. That said, don't include more than two questions of this type — riddles and rhymes give them greater independence, meaning they won't need to come to you for help.

A few examples

For the youngest child, choose riddles based on their world. For example, to lead them to a clue hidden under their comfort blanket:

• You'll find your next clue under the thing that makes you feel safe at night

To find a clue in the fridge, the middle child might get:

• It's never warm in here

And for the eldest, a riddle leading to the word "hat", where one of their presents is hidden:

• Grandma is allergic to my first
• Your drawing pencils are in my second
• Under my whole you'll find a surprise

The treasure hunt begins!

To start, give each player their first clue. Read the riddle aloud to the youngest ones. Meanwhile, the oldest will have read theirs and already worked out where to go next. Depending on how many presents you have, plan a gift every two or three clues — so players find either a clue or a present at each stage. Each time a present is discovered, there'll be sheer excitement. You can also choose to hide clues outside: if you have a garden or friendly neighbours, they'll make perfect accomplices.

How to run a treasure hunt: create a kind and encouraging atmosphere

The aim of this game is to strengthen family and friendship bonds — as well as to stimulate learning in your children. They'll surprise even themselves with their performances, because laughter and joy are powerful motivators that encourage and reassure them.

When organising a treasure hunt for your own children, take the time to find the right clues and choose riddles that connect with their personal interests. If your child is a big fan of Fireman Sam, for example, hide the clue in their colouring book.

Whatever you do, address each child individually — taking into account both their strengths and their weaknesses. The last thing you want is for any child to feel left behind or less capable than the others. In practice, every child will be so absorbed in finding their own presents that you'll find, at the end of the game, that each one has stars in their eyes.