A family activity plan

An indoor treasure hunt, with clues you can actually use

Set up a manageable trail around the house using original clue cards, a grown-up answer key and simpler picture-clue variations.
Illustrative artwork from the game, rather than a photograph of a real outing or session.
A good treasure hunt needs a little mystery and a route that makes sense. It does not need a giant pile of sweets or a clue so cryptic that the family starts discussing whether the sofa has a secret identity.
This activity is suggested for ages 2–11 with adult help. Choose a few of the clues below that fit your home and the children taking part. Adults should set and check the route first; young treasure hunters can then follow it together rather than racing in different directions.

A little planning before the fun

Time to allow

Allow around an hour for preparing, hunting and sharing the finish. Three simple clues can make a 15-minute mini adventure.

Budget notes

Paper and pens you own are enough. The treasure can be a shared game, a drawing or choosing the next family film; buying treats is optional.
These are planning suggestions, not live prices or bookings. The shorter and longer versions give you room to adapt the activity to your day.
View this activity in the game →Browse all guides →

Your supply checklist

Tick off what you have gathered, or print a fresh checklist. Ticks are for this page only.

Make it happen

1. Choose a short route

Pick three to six locations that actually exist in your home and are safe for the children to reach. Use familiar rooms and ordinary objects. Agree which areas are out of bounds, and avoid places near heat, water, medicines or electrical equipment. You do not need to use every clue in the printable set.

2. Build the trail backwards

Put the treasure at the final location. The clue that points there goes at the previous stop, and so on. Keep the first clue in your hand to start the hunt. Write a little adult route list as you work. This simple backwards method prevents the classic experience of finding all the clues and somehow ending up inside the same shoe.

3. Check the hunt before launching it

Walk the whole route yourself. Read each clue, check its answer and make sure the next card is where it should be. Replace any clue that could point to several things with a picture or an extra hint. Keep the adult answer key separate from the cards you give to the children.

4. Hunt as a team

Read the first clue together and let people take turns spotting, reading or carrying the next card. Give a helpful hint if the search stalls; the point is discovery, not a test of how long everyone can remain politely confused. Celebrate good teamwork and keep the pace comfortable rather than turning the rooms into a racecourse.

5. Share the treasure and swap roles

Read the final note and enjoy whatever shared finish you chose. Ask which clue was the favourite and collect every card afterwards. Older children may enjoy making a second, shorter trail for an adult. Check their route with them before anyone starts searching, because “inside the oven” is not a creative direction to pursue.

Make it work for you

Ages 2–4

Use three picture clues or show the next object in a photograph. An adult stays with the child, reads the trail and helps them notice the hiding place.

Ages 5–7

Use straightforward object clues and take turns reading with help. Add a colour or room hint if your home has several possible answers.

Ages 8–11

Try a longer route, let children write a clue or add one small drawing challenge between stops. Keep locations accessible; making a clue harder does not mean hiding it higher.

Before you begin

Adults choose and check hiding places, supervise younger children and keep the hunt away from hazards and private belongings. Nobody needs to climb, open appliances or move heavy furniture to find a clue.

Ten clue cards and a grown-up key

Choose only the clues that suit your home. Copy each numbered clue onto a separate card, keeping the final answer-key line for the adult. Arrange the selected cards using the backwards method above.
1. We come in pairs and help your feet go out exploring. Where are we resting?
2. I have pages full of stories, and I wait beside other books. Find my shelf.
3. We sit here to relax together. Look beside a comfy cushion.
4. My soft job is looking after your head when you rest. Where am I?
5. We gather around me when it is time to eat. Find the table.
6. Clean socks and shirts sometimes wait in me before they reach a drawer. Find the clean-laundry basket.
7. Pens and pencils stand here when their drawing jobs are done. Find their pot.
8. We keep you warm outdoors, but wait here when you are home. Find a reachable coat.
9. Counters, cards or a board sleep in this box after a game. Find a game box.
10. I make a little patch of floor feel soft. Look beside a rug.
Grown-up key: 1 shoes; 2 a low bookshelf; 3 sofa cushion; 4 pillow; 5 table; 6 clean-laundry basket; 7 pencil pot; 8 coat; 9 game box; 10 rug. Adapt locations and clues to your home.
These prompts are included when you print the plan and checklist.
The treasure can be small. The very serious whispering on the way to the next clue is often the best bit.

How did your family get on?

Tell us which step helped, what needed explaining or what you would do differently. A small, specific suggestion is more useful than a gold star—though we do enjoy a gold star.
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Let the envelopes choose your next adventure

Choose activities your family would enjoy and let a little mystery settle the final decision. The sample game lets you try it before creating your own board.
Try a sample game →Build a family board →

A few more possibilities

Family cupcake decorating: tiny cakes, very big opinions →Blanket-fort film night: welcome to the cushion cinema →A family board-game tournament where good sports get a trophy too →
Prepared for Deal or Date · Updated 28 October 2026
These plans expand activities from our game catalogue. Text and illustrative artwork were prepared with AI assistance, then checked for catalogue accuracy, clear steps and practical variations before publication. They are suggestions to make your own, rather than accounts of personal trips or product tests.
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