As a rule kids are the most difficult to buy for during the Holidays. You may very well think you know exactly what they want but see by the look of disappointment on their faces you really didn’t have a clue. Even when they go to great lengths to tell you exactly what they want sometimes it’s still not right
Having been there and done that I tried something different recently that worked out very well. I planned and setup a “Treasure Hunt” for my favorite nieces and nephews. It really wasn’t very difficult and with just a little creative ability it can be a great success.
I started by simply walking around my property with a notepad. Whenever I saw something that would be a good place to hide a clue I wrote it down. I set it up so that they worked in pairs with the older kids helping the younger. Since I had three teams I searched out about thirty pretty good hiding spots. I then went to my office, sat down and made a list. I then assigned the hiding spots to each team. The hardest part was actually one of the most fun. I wrote out the clues in verse to try to confuse the kids and make them work for the answer. I was not necessarily concerned with rhyming, although some of the verses were in rhyme. I was concerned with continuity of the theme, “Mystery”. I expected this part to take me most of the day but, in the end it took only about an hour and a half.
I was slightly worried that they might be too obscure or hard as the children’s ages ranged from three to fourteen, but I figured I would just have to stand by to offer some help if need be.
The hardest part was assigning the proper clue to it’s hiding spot. Best to make two copies of the clues and only cut one copy apart, that way you can double check to make sure they are in the correct place. It is also a good idea to number the clues and to put the child’s name on the back with instructions in the beginning that if they find another child’s clue to put it back and be sure not to say anything about it especially to the other child.
The moment arrived. I gathered the kids and gave them their instructions. After making sure they all understood not only the instructions but the spirit and concept of the game I gave them an envelope with their first clue. I told them to carry the envelope with them to collect all the rest.
Then they were off. There was some head scratching, lots of laughter and some squealing as they discovered the obvious. I soon realized that this little game I had setup to occupy them for a little while so the adults could have some quality time together had turned into an affair for the entire family. All the adults were out in the yard going from clue to clue with cameras in hand, cheering and laughing with the kids. In the end it took them less than forty five minutes to discover and decipher the ten clues they each were assigned. Since each team’s final clue lead them to me I was able to make sure they had found all their clues then I gave them their prize.
Their prizes; were all the same; ten dollar gift cards to the local movie house. They immediately began making plans for their trips to the movies, when they would go, who they would invite, what they wanted to go see.
My prize; an experience we will remember, hugs form every one of them and their parents with a sincere “Thank you for the treasure hunt”, however as they left at the end of the day each one of the kids thanked me again and told me how much fun it was, but asked me to “make it harder next time.”
