This post covers a couple of products from Clued In Kids, a Soccer Treasure Hunt and a Thanksgiving Treasure Hunt. I always like it when I can share information with my children and they do not even know they are absorbing new concepts. I’m not a fan of making learning fun 100% of the time and at all costs. But, as far as possible, I try to make sure that school time is enjoyable.

For those who have never heard of a treasure hunt, it is an activity which starts with you hiding different clues in different spots around your home. The first one, you hand to your children and they go looking for the second clue after they solve the first one. After 12 clues, they find the treasure, which could be anything you think they would appreciate: a small toy, a game, a cupcake, a treat, a ticket to a special place, chocolate etc. For us, it was lollipops.

The Thanksgiving hunt ends in the laundry room, with the treasure buried in the dryer.

I have a stash of them in my car because the bank tellers give them to me every time we go through there. So they were actually free. If you have a re-gifting closet or shelf, if you can print a nice coloring page for them to find as the treasure, if you have a bag of marshmallows drying in the pantry, you’re in business. You don’t have to go out and spend money on something big for them to find at the end of the treasure hunt. These are just some ideas. You know what makes your children tick more than anybody else.

These treasure hunts contain practice in math, social studies, history, science and other subjects. They also have different themes. They are printable PDFs. Of course you can always print them black-and-white, but I thought they looked so much better in color. I think it’s worth splurging on color if at all possible.

The pages will have to be cut in half, because each 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper contains two clues. Do not print these both sided. Obviously, you want to have each clue hiding in a different place.  Continue reading »