Fun Finds For Mom

Treasure Hunt

My sister and I would play this game when we used to babysit together. We were pretty good babysitters. We shared a dollar an hour. And we were prepared. We brought babysitting kits filled with puppets and activities. I think we even had a certificate from our babysitting class. The most requested game in our repertoire was always the treasure hunt game.

I started playing this with my son when he was three. No matter how rambunctious he is, he will always find a way to entertain himself while I write out the clues, and then sequester himself in a bedroom while I hide them.

Here’s how it goes. I write several clues – anywhere from 6 to 10 – and tear them into strips of paper. Then he waits in a room where no clues will be hidden, while I hide the clues around the house. When I’m done, I hand him the first clue, and off he goes. The smile on his face this afternoon really made me wish I posted pictures of my kids on the Internet. This is a good game for when your other child is napping. Quiet, yet very exciting. The treasure today was a Dum Dum lollipop that I got at the doctor’s office yesterday. He was a very happy boy.

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Posted Wednesday, October 15, 2008 in Uncategorized

8 Comments »

  1. gina on October 15th, 2008 at 5:31 pm:

    Oh cute! I used to do these with my older two when they were little…I should done one with my littles- they’d love it I’m sure!

  2. Kimmie on October 16th, 2008 at 6:00 am:

    Thanks for the beautiful image (and the memories) Elaina…sure made me smile!!!

    xoxo Your sis

  3. Mom on October 16th, 2008 at 10:27 am:

    This sure brings back memories to me, too. You were the babysitters MOST in demand in the neihborhood with your little babysitting box that you made and filled with interesting stuff for the little ones. Do they still do stuff like that today? And you both took that babysitting class through the city’s Parks and Recreation program as I recall. You started out “babysitting” for each other for an hour or so when you were old enough (11?12? who can remember?) and each earned 50cents an hour each as I recall. Ahhh, those were the days.

  4. Kimmie on October 17th, 2008 at 1:19 am:

    Babysitting *for each other*?! Are you serious, mom? I really do have a poor memory, I guess…that is pretty funny though!! ;)

  5. Dad on October 17th, 2008 at 7:07 am:

    And all the time he was chasing around the house, he never figured out that his real treasure was the one hiding the clues.

  6. donna f on October 17th, 2008 at 1:24 pm:

    I just had my 1 year old’s b-day party and I did another version of this which was great for all age kids (and adults). We took pictures of fall items in the woods around our house and then I made up little cards with the pics on them. Each team had to search for all the items and everyone got a “prize bag” at the end. The most fun was the group that actually found a live snake!! If I can attach the card I will.
    Donna

  7. Elaina on October 19th, 2008 at 9:18 pm:

    I love that idea Donna. Oh if only you know how reading about “fall items in the woods around our house” makes me long for cooler surroundings. We went to a Pumpkin Festival today and when we got back to our car, the car thermometer said 108 degrees.

    And dad, all I can say is “Awwwww…”

  8. michelle on October 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 pm:

    aw, what a FUN game to play! my 6 year old will love it!

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