By age
The right clue for every age.
A clue that delights a 5-year-old bores a 10-year-old, and a riddle for a 10-year-old stops a 5-year-old cold. Here is what works at each age, with the same hiding spot written four ways.
One spot, four ways: the fridge
All four clues lead to the fridge. Hide the next clue under a magnet on the fridge door, or on a low shelf inside.
Picture clue · ages 1 to 5, read aloud
Brrr! Find the big cold box where the milk and cheese live.
Answer
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
Riddle · ages 9 to 12
I keep things cold, but I'm not a snowman. Magnets and drawings are often stuck to my front. What am I?
Answer
Number code · ages 8 to 12
6-18-9-4-7-5
Each number is a letter: A = 1, B = 2, C = 3… Crack the code!
Answer
What works at each age
| Ages | Clue style | Clues | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | A picture of the spot, a grown-up walks along | 3 | About 10 minutes |
| 3 to 5 | Picture clues with one line read aloud | 3 to 5 | 10 to 15 minutes |
| 6 to 8 | Short rhymes they read themselves | 5 to 8 | 15 to 25 minutes |
| 8 to 9 | Easy riddles, a few simple codes | 8 | About 25 minutes |
| 9 to 12 | Riddles and secret codes | 8 to 12 | 25 to 40 minutes |
Secret codes for older children
Codes hide the name of the next spot. Here are the kinds Hiddlewink uses, each hiding a real spot. Tap "Answer" to check.
Backwards word · ages 8 to 12
KCOLC
This word got turned around. Read it backwards!
Answer
Shift code · ages 8 to 12
CPPLT
Every letter jumped one step forward in the alphabet. Move each one back a step (B → A).
Answer
Scrambled letters · ages 8 to 12
OILLWP
Unscramble the letters to find where your next clue is hiding.
Answer
Missing letters · ages 8 to 12
T_W_L
Some letters ran away! Fill in the gaps.
Answer
Mirror writing · ages 8 to 12
SHOES
Hold this card up to a mirror (or read it right to left).
Answer
Mixed ages
Put a picture and a rhyme on the same card. Little ones point at the picture and shout the answer. Older ones read the rhyme. Nobody waits.
Or give the older children a job: they read every clue aloud and keep the treasure safe until the end.
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 hunt for their agesFree, no sign-up.
Questions
What kind of treasure hunt clues suit a 5-year-old?
Picture clues: a clear drawing of the next spot with one line a grown-up reads aloud. Keep the trail to 3 to 5 spots.
What clues suit a 7 or 8-year-old?
Short rhymes of four lines that they can read themselves, five to eight of them. Confident readers can try a few easy riddles.
What clues suit a 10-year-old?
Riddles with a twist, plus secret codes such as number codes, backwards words and pigpen. Eight to twelve clues.
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.