Party guide
A birthday treasure hunt, planned in six steps.
A treasure hunt fills 15 to 40 minutes of a party, gets everyone moving and ends with something to share. Here is how to plan one that works for a group of excited children.
The plan
- 1
Match the clues to the ages
Pictures for under-fives, rhymes for ages 6 to 8, riddles for 9 and up. For mixed ages, pair a picture with a rhyme on each card.
- 2
Pick the length
5 clues for about 15 minutes, 8 for about 25, 12 for about 40. Leave time for cake.
- 3
Choose the spots
Use places you can reach easily during the party. Keep clues out of the room where food is set out.
- 4
Split into teams if the group is big
More than six children? Run two or three teams on separate trails, each with its own colour, ending at the same treasure.
- 5
Hide everything before guests arrive
Put the clues out in order and keep the list with you. Ask another grown-up to stay with each team.
- 6
End with something to share
A treasure chest of party bags works well: every child gets the same thing.
A sample 5-clue party trail
A short indoor trail for ages 6 to 8, using rhymes from the Hiddlewink library. Hand clue 1 to the children. Each rhyme leads to the spot where the next card waits. Put the treasure in the toy box, where the last rhyme sends them.
Rhyme · ages 6 to 8
It hums all day and it hums all night,
Open the door and on pops a light!
The milk and the cheese keep cool in there,
So open it up and peek, if you dare!
Answer
Rhyme · ages 6 to 8
Standing tidy, none will fall,
Thick and thin and short and tall.
Find the one that's sticking out:
Open it up and give a shout!
Answer
Rhyme · ages 6 to 8
When dreams come out and stars are bright,
It hugs your head till morning light.
So lift it up and give a pat,
Your clue is snoozing under that!
Answer
Rhyme · ages 6 to 8
They come in pairs, a left and right,
You take them off to sleep at night.
Some have laces you can tie,
Peek in one, your clue's nearby!
Answer
Rhyme · ages 6 to 8
Bouncy balls and building blocks,
All piled up inside a box!
Look on top of all the fun,
There's your clue - so off you run!
Answer
Ages and clue styles
| Ages | Clue style | Clues | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 | Picture clues, read aloud | 3 to 5 | Low spots, one room at a time, a grown-up walks along |
| 6 to 8 | Short rhymes | 5 to 8 | Let each child read a card out |
| 8 to 12 | Riddles and secret codes | 8 to 12 | Number codes and mirror writing keep them busy |
| Mixed | Picture and rhyme on each card | 5 to 8 | Older children read, younger ones spot the picture |
Party-day tips
- Run the hunt early in the party, when energy is high, not straight after cake.
- Put the birthday child’s name on the first and last card.
- Make one grown-up the clue-keeper with the list of spots, to help anyone who is stuck.
- Keep a spare first clue. Someone always finds clue 1 before you hand it over.
- Tell children not to open drawers or cupboards unless a clue says so.
Let Hiddlewink write the whole hunt
Pick the ages, the rooms and a theme. Hiddlewink puts the clues in order for your home, with a cheat sheet for the hider. Print the cards, or play from your phone.
Make a free party huntFree, no sign-up.
Questions
How long does a birthday treasure hunt take?
About 15 minutes for 5 clues, 25 for 8, 40 for 12. Groups are a bit slower than a single child.
How do I stop the fastest child solving every clue?
Take turns. Each child reads or solves one clue, or use teams with a set reader for each card.
What if the party is outdoors?
Use garden or park spots such as a tree, a bench or the gate. Weigh clues down with a stone if it is windy.
Is Hiddlewink free?
The free version makes a 5-clue hunt with rhyming clues or riddles in the Treasure Map or Pirates theme. Pro (USD 4.99, one payment) adds picture clues, secret codes, longer hunts and every theme, including Christmas Elves and the Present Hunt.