Scavenger Hunt Clues for Kids

Short, simple clues a young child can follow: where they sleep, where the toys go, where the soft teddy is. Read them aloud for children who are not reading yet.

Make printable cards from these clues

Opens the card maker with all 16 clues filled in (, 20 points in all). Edit any card, choose a find-it list or a clue trail, set the number of teams and print the cards and answer key.

These clues point to places a young child already knows in their own home. They are short, a few of them rhyme, and only one points into the bathroom, so children move from room to room. For children who cannot read yet, an adult reads each card, or you can draw a small picture of the answer on the back of the card.

The 16 clues and answers

#	Clue	Answer	Points
1	Time for bed! Look under the pillow where you rest your head.	Under your pillow	1
2	Brush, brush, brush your teeth! Look by the toothbrush cup.	Toothbrush cup	1
3	Time to tidy! Where do the toys go?	Toy box	1
4	Where does the family eat dinner together?	Dining table	1
5	Your shoes need a rest after running all day. Where do they stay?	Shoe rack	1
6	Find the book we read at bedtime.	Bedtime book	2
7	Click it on to watch a show. Look under the place where the TV sits.	TV stand	1
8	Find the softest friend you hug at night.	Teddy bear	1
9	Where do coats wait when we come home?	Coat hook	1
10	Crunchy flakes for breakfast live behind this door.	Cereal cabinet	2
11	Round and round go the clothes. Look next to the machine that washes them.	Washing machine	2
12	Ding dong! Look by the door where visitors knock.	Front door	1
13	It is cold inside and keeps the yogurt chilly.	Fridge	1
14	Find the chair that is just your size.	Little chair	2
15	Bounce, bounce! Look under a cushion on the couch.	Couch cushion	1
16	I am green and I drink water every week. Look by my pot.	Houseplant	1

Running a hunt for young children

Keep it short. Pick six to eight clues for preschoolers; use all sixteen for older children or a party with teams.
Give every child a job. With several children on one team, let them take turns reading or carrying the cards.
Use a find-it list for the youngest. They can find the places in any order and tick them off on the printable checklist.
End with something small. Set the finish to where a treat or a sticker is waiting.

How the printable cards work

Loading this set gives you one numbered player card per clue and a separate answer key. Played as a clue trail, the key adds a hiding list for the places; played as a find-it list, each team can print a tick-box checklist instead. Nothing is uploaded: the hunt is saved in your browser.

Planning the hunt

Easter Basket Scavenger Hunt: Three Printable Clue Trails That End at the Basket, by Age: Three 8-stop clue trails by age that end at the basket, how siblings share one trail without following each other, and two safety notes.
Rhyming Scavenger Hunt Clues: 20 Riddles With Answers, and the Rule That Stops a Rhyme Giving the Answer Away: 12 indoor and 8 outdoor rhyming clues, the four mistakes that make rhyming clues too easy or unsolvable, and a printable trail for two teams.
Birthday Scavenger Hunt: Clue Paths for Kids, Teens and Adults That End at the Present: Three ready trails (8, 9 and 10 cards) that finish at the gift, and how to write the personal clues adults remember.

Questions

What age are these clues for?

They are written for children of roughly 4 to 8. Children under about 6 will need an adult to read the cards.

Can kids who cannot read do a scavenger hunt?

Yes. An adult reads each clue aloud, or you draw a small picture of the answer on the card.

How long does a kids' scavenger hunt take?

It depends on the children and the house; start with six to eight clues and add more if they are still keen.

Can I add our own family places?

Yes. Load the set into the card maker and edit any clue or answer before you print.

More clue sets

Indoor Scavenger Hunt Clues16 clues · I am cold inside and bright when you peek. I keep the milk fresh for most of the week.Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Clues16 clues · We sit outside in summer, all around one table. Look under the chair nearest the house.Scavenger Hunt Clues for Adults and Teens16 clues · I decide whether the house is warm or cold, yet I never feel a thing.Christmas Scavenger Hunt Clues32 clues · I stand in the corner every December and hold up the shiny things. Look at the back of my stand, on the floor, away from the lights.Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt24 clues · Coats pile up on me when the guests arrive. Look under the top jacket.

All sets on one page: scavenger hunt clues with answers.