If you’re needing a family tradition that lasts through the ages, try a Valentine’s Day Treasure Hunt. It’s received and loved by all generations. I have been making this event happen for the last 20 years. Nobody ever says they don’t want to do it anymore!
Preparation of Your Valentine’s Day Treasure Hunt
It takes a bit of planning ahead and a clear mind to plant all of the clues. Start with cutting out heart shapes from colored paper. You’ll hand everyone a first clue to get things started. Then, they have to hunt all over the house to find several more clues before finally finding their Valentine gift (candy, stuffed animal, jewelry, book, clothing, whatever your family loves to get).
When creating a chain of clues, I try to make each person go from one end of the house to the other, from the garage to the basement, from bedroom to kitchen – lots of zigzagging to prolong the fun.
Each clue is simply an instruction, nothing cryptic and confusing. “Now, go look under the spare bedroom desk” or “Check the storage room shelves.”
To lessen the prep work, temporarily place a sticky note on each clue to remind you where it will be hidden. (Take care, don’t hide the instruction to go next to the shelves on the shelves!) After all clues are written, group them together according to location in the house: a basement pile, upstairs pile, kitchen pile. Then get them all tucked into their places, knowing that the family will be crazily crossing paths when they’re hunting!
My kids have me figured out, and my adult son declared that since there is something in the dryer every year, he’s just going to start there and pick up the trail. So I guess the dryer is off limits for a few years. 🤷
It’s such a fun time when everyone is excitedly hunting things down.
Variations for Your Hunt
If your children have grown and moved out, invite them over for a Valentine Party. Or have a driving hunt, where they meet you at each next location throughout your town. We did that once, visiting a favorite childhood park and finishing at a gas station to fill everyone’s gas tanks.
If you’re out of town for Valentine’s Day, incorporate a hunt party wherever you are.
Whether you’re at the preschooler stage or the young adult stage, a Valentine Treasure Hunt can be a fun family bonding time!
This is a perfect recipe for Valentine’s Day. 💜💐💜 And it has proven to be a success over and over through the years with our grandchildren!
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY