29 Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids
1. Neighborhood Social Distancing Teddy Bear Scavenger Hunt
Some neighborhoods in New York City teamed up to set up scavenger hunts kids can do while safely social distancing. Residents have been putting teddy bears and in windows for kids to find while walking, biking or driving by. Get in touch with your neighbors and see if your block can do the same! Don’t have teddy bears lying around the house? Fret not: Etsy has a slew of adorable decal templates for you, like this one that comes in a number of colors and offers free shipping.
2. Stay-at-Home Scavenger Hunt
Has there ever been a more appropriate time for this free stay-at-home scavenger hunt? The clues are left up to interpretation (i.e., “something you can see through”), so your kids are free to get creative.
3. Backyard Nature Scavenger Hunt
This free printable backyard nature scavenger hunt has stuff your kids can find within the safety of your own yard (or even just the sidewalk areas outside), like small rocks and crawling bugs.
4. Glow in the Dark Scavenger Hunt
Great for older kids and team efforts, this free glow in the dark scavenger hunt has the added bonuses of a secret code and puzzles.
5. Spring Backyard Scavenger Hunt
Perfect for this time of year, this free, printable spring-themed backyard scavenger hunt features things like “a purple flower” (great if you’ve got crocuses blooming!), birds, puddles and ants.
6. Bug Alphabet Scavenger Hunt
Have little ones still learning their letters? This free bug-themed alphabet scavenger hunt will help them learn their upper- and lowercase letters.
7. A Few of My Favorite Things Scavenger Hunt
This sweet scavenger hunt is designed to help your kids find things they particularly love. If you’re having a tough time during quarantine, this can be a great one to do with them to restore gratitude and get centered. On the Hunt for Things I Love Printable Scavenger Hunt, $2.50, Etsy
8. Indoor Items Scavenger Hunt
This set of scavenger hunts will encourage your kids to find things around the house, including some of their toys—which may come in handy when begging them to put them away or aiding them in rediscovering toys they forgot about to keep them busy during social distancing. Printable Indoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids, $3.99, Etsy
9. Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
Explore your neighborhood while maintaining safe distance from others with this neighborhood scavenger hunt, which can also inspire you to scope out new favorite places to visit once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt and Summer Bingo, $4.50, Etsy
10. Rhyming Treasure Hunt
This rhyming treasure hunt is a great customizable scavenger hunt option for birthdays—or any other day you all need a pick-me-up and a prize. Indoor Rhyming Treasure Hunt, $5.69, Etsy
11. Color and Pattern Scavenger Hunt
Challenge your kids to find items in various colors and patterns (white dots, anyone?) around the house. Printable Scavenger Hunt Games for Kids, $2.28, Etsy
12. How Many Scavenger Hunt
Keep your kids busy and get some insight on your own inventory of items with this scavenger hunt, which has your children count how many of each item listed you have in your home. Printable Scavenger Hunt Games for Kids, $2.28, Etsy
13. Leaf Scavenger Hunt
Get in touch with nature and discover what sorts of trees are in your neighborhood with this leaf scavenger hunt. Printable Leaf Scavenger Hunt Worksheets, $3.95, Etsy
14. Frozen Scavenger Hunt
A great option for kids who are obsessed with Anna, Elsa and Olaf (and honestly, who isn’t?!). Frozen Printable Scavenger Hunt Game, $3.25, Etsy
15. Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Kids missing their pals? Host a virtual at-home scavenger hunt with friends using this template and Facebook invitation. Facebook Event In-the-House Virtual Scavenger Hunt Game, $6.99, Etsy
16. Outdoor Virtual Scavenger Hunt
This template allows you to invite friends to a virtual outdoor scavenger hunt on Facebook and can be customized with your kids’ names. Virtual Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Facebook Event, $6.99, Etsy
17. Avengers Infinity Stones Scavenger Hunt
Your little ones will feel heroic when they join Captain America, Loki, Iron Man, Thor and more to gather the Infinity Stones with this fun Avengers-themed scavenger hunt. Printable Avengers Infinity Stones Treasure Hunt for Kids, $1.99, Etsy
18. Trail of the Wolfman Treasure Hunt
This printable game is great for older kids and horror fans, featuring logic games, puzzles and more. Trail of the Wolfman Treasure Hunt, $5.95, Etsy
19. Fairy Princess Scavenger Hunt
Hide princess-themed treasures around the house to keep kids occupied with this printable fairy princess scavenger hunt. Glitter is optional, but recommended (if you don’t mind the vacuuming afterward, that is). Fairy Princess Printable Scavenger Hunt, $2.59, Etsy
20. Sight Words Scavenger Hunt
This free DIY scavenger hunt is great for kids learning vocabulary and sight words. Print or draw a floor plan of your home and hide letters for them to put together into their words.
21. Outdoor Sketching Scavenger Hunt
This free printable outdoor scavenger hunt from Buggy and Buddy comes with a fun twist: Your kids can draw what they find.
22. DIY Color Scavenger Hunt
This fun DIY scavenger hunt from I Heart Crafty Things will keep you all busy for a bit! Get some white paper lunch bags. Color some swatches on the front with markers, crayons or colored pencils, then send your kids out into the yard (or around the house!) to fill the bags with an item of each color.
23. Outdoor Sensory Scavenger Hunt
This free printable scavenger hunt from The Inspired Treehouse helps kids explore their senses while getting fresh air.
24. Shape Scavenger Hunt
A great option for preschoolers, this shape scavenger hunt is free to print from The Many Little Joys and great for indoors and outdoors.
25. Reading Scavenger Hunt
This free scavenger hunt has an added bonus: It gets your kids reading! This free printable reading scavenger hunt map from Modern Parents Messy Kids will keep your children’s heads in books during social distancing (and possibly beyond).
26. Nature Mandala Scavenger Hunt
This printable guide to making a muffin tin mandala scavenger hunt can help teach kids not just about art and nature, but also geometry. Muffin Tin Nature Scavenger Hunt and Mandala Makers, $3.00, Etsy
27. Rhyming Riddle Scavenger Hunt
Your kids will get a dose of poetry with this scavenger hunt, which uses stuff already in your home—and is free to print from Celebrate Every Day With Me.
28. Flashlight Scavenger Hunt
This free printable guide from Life Is Sweeter By Design lets your kids embark on a flashlight scavenger hunt in your home or yard at night.
29. Word Family Egg Hunt
Chances are you still have some plastic eggs around leftover from Easter, right? Fill each with plastic letters and number each egg. Hide the eggs, then use this free printable from Sweet Sounds of Kindergarten and follow the instructions to keep your kids occupied for quite a while. Kids want a binge-watching day? Here are 20 of the best family movies to watch on Netflix.
